I’m going to the toilet in the middle of the night more – is this normal?

DR Zoe Williams helps a reader wondering if it’s normal to have to go to the toilet more often at night when you grow older.

Dr Zoe is our resident doctor and is here to help YOU.

Olivia West

GP Dr Zoe Williams is here to answer your health questions[/caption]

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Q: I’M a 58-year-old male and think I’m in reasonable shape. But over the last 12 months I find myself waking up to take a pee.

This doesn’t happen every night. I also find when I wake my mouth is very dry and I need to drink which might be making things worse?

A: It’s not uncommon for men in their 40s and 50s to urinate once a night, and for men in their 60s and 70s to urinate twice a night.

Benign enlargement of the prostate is the common cause for men needing to urinate more as they get older.

Other common symptoms include finding it difficult to start urinating and feeling as though you’ve not fully emptied the bladder.

Prostate cancer is a rarer cause but has the same symptoms.

What you’re describing isn’t unusual, but if you’re concerned it’s worth doing an online consultation or seeing your GP.

There are a few other reasons why you might be urinating in the night, and these may need to be eliminated.

A bladder or urinary tract infection can increase the need to pee as can conditions such as high blood pressure, and certain kinds of heart disease.

A dry mouth could be unrelated and caused by breathing (or snoring) through your mouth at night.

But a condition like diabetes could cause an increased need to urinate, a dry mouth, and increased thirst.

TIP: Cooking fats add extra fat and calories to your food.

Olive oil is usually a healthier option than saturated fat sources such as lard, ghee, coconut oil and vegetable oils.

Try steaming or grilling foods instead.