Be honest: How many times a night do you shuffle sleepy-eyed to the bathroom, hoping you don’t trip over a dog toy, run face first into a wall or step on a dreaded LEGO? If your bladder refuses to let you get a good night’s sleep, it could be because of a serious underlying problem. According to a recent study, adults who urinate once or more a night are more likely to have elevated blood pressure compared to those who sleep through the night.
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Researchers collected health data on 1,882 adults, including 792 men and 1,102 women. The participants had an average age of 64 years old and had received a blood pressure reading as part of an annual checkup in 2017. About 45% of the participants had high blood pressure — defined as more than or equal to 140/90 mmHg. Each participant answered a questionnaire to provide details on the frequency of their nighttime urination. A total of 69% (1,295) reported frequent nighttime urination, and about half those who reported nocturia had high blood pressure.
Scientists used this data to calculate that those who urinated once or more a night were 40% more likely on average to have high blood pressure, compared to those who did not urinate at night. The link between nighttime urination and high blood pressure was found in both genders. While researchers did not test salt consumption, they suspect that excessive salt consumption may also play a role in frequent urination and high blood pressure.
About 70 million Americans and 1 billion people worldwide have high blood pressure. When left untreated, it can raise your risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, dementia and more. According to the study, it’s possible that lowering blood pressure levels may also help stop nighttime urination. To help lower your blood pressure naturally:
• Address insulin and leptin resistance
• Eat real, unprocessed food
• Mind your sodium to potassium ratio
• Load up on fresh veggies
• Optimize your vitamin D level
• Boost your omega-3 intake
• Consider intermittent fasting
• Exercise regularly
• Avoid smoking and other forms of pollution
• Walk barefoot
• Address your stress