Treating Sleep Apnea in Men Might Reduce Trips to Bathroom

Listen up guys! How often do you wake during the night to go to the bathroom? Kind of a personal question, I know. But, if you have been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate and believe that’s why you’re up so often at night—there may be a solution on the horizon.

A group of researchers recently found that obstructive sleep apnea may be an underlying cause of awakening and urination in men with enlarged prostates. The study included men 55 to 75 in age, diagnosed with benign prostate enlargement (BPE) and reported nighttime urination at least once nightly.

Results from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev study revealed that 58% of men with BPE may have OSA and the sleep disorder may be the actual cause of the sleep awakenings. The study results are published the March-April issue of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine and covered by Medical Daily.  

Said Dr. Howard Tandeter, one of the researchers, “If nocturia severity in benign prostate enlargement patients is actually a pre-existing sleep disorder, this can now be treated and help improve patients’ quality of life.”

Makes me think of the “chicken and the egg” theory. Which really does come first? Waking, or the need to go to the bathroom? And…what about the guys who may be waking during the night and aren’t aware of either sleep apnea or BPE? After all, an estimated 2% to 4% of Americans are undiagnosed but have sleep apnea…that’s about 1 in 5 folks in the U.S.

No matter what, if you’re waking often at night, sleep apnea may be the cause. Taking care of your sleep apnea just might solve other symptoms you have too.