In addition to being uncomfortable and potentially painful, a urinary tract infection (UTI) can seriously disrupt your sleep.
The good news is that there are a few tactics you can use to lessen the discomfort at night.
In this post, we’ll define a UTI, go over its signs and symptoms, and offer advice on how to get a better night’s rest when you have one.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
✅ It’s time to consult your doctor if you continue to develop UTI symptoms while taking medication to cure it.
✅ Additionally, if you frequently acquire infections, ask your doctor if they may prescribe an antibiotic for you to take each time.
✅ If your UTI symptoms do not go away on their own in five days or if you develop fevers and nausea, Blackwell advises seeing a doctor.
✅ While your UTI is being treated with antibiotics, your doctor may also recommend a prescription to treat your overactive bladder and prevent nighttime incontinence.
✅ As you age, your risk of UTIs increases. More aging-related problems that may interfere with sleep are discussed below, along with solutions.
A UTI, what is it?
Any portion of your urinary system, including your kidneys, ureters (the tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder), the bladder itself, and the urethra, can get infected with a UTI (the tube that empties urine from the bladder to the outside of your body). The bladder and urethra—the lower urinary tract—are where the majority of UTIs occur.
Although both sexes can get UTIs, women are more likely than men to do so due to the architecture of the female genitalia.
UTIs can affect everyone, but some people are more likely than others to have them. Men and women in their 50s and older, postmenopausal women, uncircumcised infant boys and toddlers, male and female elders, diabetics, people with neurological conditions, catheter users, and sexually active women are among those who are more susceptible to develop a UTI.
What signs and symptoms of a UTI are most typical?
UTIs don’t usually present with symptoms and can be confused with other illnesses. However, some signs and symptoms are frequently linked to UTIs.
These include the following: a strong, constant urge to urinate, an unpleasant burning sensation when urinating when your urine is cloudy. Urine that appears red, bright pink, or cola-colored is a sign of blood in the urine, strongly smelling urine, and pelvic pain in women.
With a UTI, how should you sleep?
Sleeping problems can result from UTI symptoms.
According to Virginia Blackwell, MD, of dofeve.org, “this is because UTI has uncomfortable symptoms that may interfere with sleep, including the continuous urge to urinate, pelvic discomfort, and frequent urine.” Even though UTIs might keep you up at night because of pain and discomfort, there are several ways to treat them.
With a UTI, here are some recommendations for improved sleep:
- Be sure to get enough water throughout the day, and cut back on coffee. The bacteria that are infecting you will be flushed out if you drink enough of water. Limiting your caffeine intake will lessen your frequent “go-needs” and urge to urinate.
- Reduce your nighttime fluid intake. Drinking beverages in the evening, especially just before bed, may make you wake up in the middle of the night to use the restroom. Limit the time you drink liquids in the evening.
- Steer clear of meals and beverages that aggravate your bladder. Caffeine, alcohol, carbonated beverages, chocolate, citrus juice, acidic fruits and juices, spicy foods, and tomatoes or goods containing tomatoes are among them.
- Urinate before going to bed. Your ability to thoroughly empty your bladder may be hampered by a UTI. When you go to bed, try “double voiding,” which involves emptying your bladder once, then waiting a while before attempting it again. As soon as you feel the desire, let out your bladder because holding urine will worsen the symptoms.
- Plan bathroom breaks during the night. Every two to four hours, you can set your alarm to wake you up so you can urinate. This will stop your bladder from becoming overfilled and overflowing, which could lead to a wet bed or a frantic urge to urinate.
- Put on pants or an incontinence pad. You won’t have to worry about waking up to a damp bed if your UTI causes your bladder to leak at night if you wear this special underwear. This may allay worries about urinating as you sleep, according to Blackwell. If you do have an accident, use these instructions to remove pee stains from a mattress.
- Use a heating pad as you sleep. To lessen bladder pressure or discomfort, place a heating pad or hot water bottle (covered in a towel) against your abdomen.
- Take a sitz bath with baking soda. An uncomfortable UTI may be made more bearable with a sitz or baking soda bath. It might also aid in eliminating bacteria and associated odors. All you need to do is dissolve 1/4 cup of baking soda in warm water and take a 15 to 30-minute bath. Warm water can improve your sleep while baking soda can help with pain relief.
- Use painkillers as necessary. Take into account using an over-the-counter analgesic that is designed to ease the discomfort, burning, and urgency associated with UTIs, such as phenazopyridine.
Other more common questions
Does lying down worsen a UTI? Although lying down could make a UTI less uncomfortable, it might also make it more obvious. This is due to the fact that certain laying positions can exert pressure on your bladder and increase the urge to urinate.
Do UTI signs and symptoms worsen at night? It’s possible that UTI symptoms get worse at night. Women’s UTI symptoms intensify while they sleep or at night since their urine flow is at its lowest, according to Blackwell.
When should a UTI be treated by a doctor?
It’s time to consult your doctor if you continue to develop UTI symptoms while taking medication to cure it. Additionally, if you frequently acquire infections, ask your doctor if they may prescribe an antibiotic for you to take each time.
If your UTI symptoms do not go away on their own in five days or if you develop fevers and nausea, Blackwell advises seeing a doctor. While your UTI is being treated with antibiotics, your doctor may also recommend a prescription to treat your overactive bladder and prevent nighttime incontinence.
As you age, your risk of UTIs increases. More aging-related problems that may interfere with sleep are discussed below, along with solutions.