Frequent Urination at Night Could be a Sign of Developing Diabetes, Heart Disease in Men

Men who frequently urinate at night are at high risk of developing major health complications such as heart disease and diabetes, according to researchers from Australia.

The condition is called nocturia where a person often gets up at night to pass urine. The condition is considered to be a sign of some other systemic illness.

"The need to urinate at night is a problem with urine storage, and this disrupts sleep. It is an indication of and can also exacerbate other health conditions," said Professor Gary Wittert, Head of the Discipline of Medicine at the University of Adelaide.

"Nocturia, combined with the sensation of not being able to hold on (urgency), or frequent urination, suggest the presence of overactive bladder syndrome. We're now beginning to understand the broader relevance of this in relation to other health problems," Wittert added in a news release.

The research team said that presence of lower urinary tract symptoms might be contributing to the condition. Previously it was believed that overactive bladder was related with problems in the prostate gland. The new study clarifies that bladder problems are more likely to be caused due to obesity, diabetes or heart problems.

Wittert said that doctors should look into the other possible factors that might be increasing activity of the bladders in men suffering from nocturia and help avoid future health problems.

The study is published in the Journal of Urology.