Bedwetting

Bedwetting, also known as nocturnal enuresis, is a condition involving the loss of bladder control at nighttime. Most children can control their bladder during the day but not during the night. Especially children under the age of four. But if children are still having bladder control problems by the age of 7, it is worth consulting your primary care provider already.

You can consult the best urologist in Brooklyn if you have symptoms of bedwetting. Contact us at Doral Health and Wellness Urology Center and talk to our urologist for a consultation.

Bedwetting is more common in boys than girls and it affects more than 5 million children in the United States. This can be frustrating to children especially when they start to spend nights away from home, such as camps, sleepovers, and field trips.

Types

There are two types of bedwetting. Care and treatment for both types are very similar.

  • Primary nocturnal enuresis – this describes your children who never had dry nights since potty training
  • Secondary nocturnal enuresis – this describes your children who never wets the bed for almost six months and then starts bedwetting again. Mostly, this type of bedwetting is caused by stressful events.

Causes

Physical and psychological conditions can lead to bedwetting. Bedwetting is caused by a combination of things including:

  • Genetics (family history)
  • Small bladder size
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Stress, fear, and insecurity
  • Neurological disorders
  • Prostate gland enlargement
  • Sleep apnea

Hormonal imbalance also plays a part in bedwetting. Everyone’s body produces antidiuretic hormones (ADH), which send signals to your body to slow down the production of urine during nighttime. When your body doesn’t produce sufficient ADH, you may experience nocturnal enuresis because your bladder can’t hold a higher volume of urine. Diabetes is also another disease that can cause bedwetting.

Treatment

Bedwetting is a condition that requires treatment and often, treatments for bedwetting start with these simple changes. Including:

  • Reducing the amount of your fluid intake before going to bed
  • Creating a schedule for using the bathroom
  • Wetting alarm devices
  • Prescription drugs

Lifestyle change can also help in addressing bedwetting. Setting a limit on fluid intake before going to bed is a big help in controlling bedwetting. You can also cut out any caffeinated or alcoholic drinks during nighttime because caffeine and alcohol are bladder irritants and diuretic which causes you to urinate more.

For children, a stressful event in their young life can sometimes cause bedwetting. Also, refrain from punishing your child for any bedwetting incidents. It is important to have an open and honest conversation with them regarding their condition. It is important to reassure them that it can and it will eventually stop.

Talk to your medical provider if you’ve recently developed this condition as an adult. At Doral Health and Wellness Urology Center, our team of urologists can help you manage your symptoms and condition. To schedule an appointment, please visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212. You can also give us a call at 1-347-384-5690 or visit our website at http://www.urologistbrooklyn.com/.