No adult wants to admit that they wet the bed, but that doesn’t mean you can afford to ignore it if it happens to you. Occasional or one-time bed-wetting usually isn’t a problem, but if it’s a regular occurrence, it may be a sign of a more serious issue. In particular, it could be a side effect of sleep apnea, a dangerous condition where breathing is repeatedly interrupted while you’re asleep. Is your bed-wetting a warning that you need to be treated for a sleep disorder? Here is what you need to know.
How Can Sleep Apnea Cause Bed-Wetting?
Bed-wetting and making multiple trips to the bathroom during the night are both potential symptoms of sleep apnea. According to an article by the American Sleep Apnea Association, one research study showed that over 84% of sleep apnea patients reported frequent urination at night. In comparison, 82% of patients in the same study reported snoring, which is often considered one of the most telltale signs of sleep apnea.
Why is there such a strong link between sleep apnea and urination? The answer lies in what happens to your body during a sleep apnea episode. When you stop breathing, oxygen levels in your blood go down while carbon dioxide levels go up. This causes the blood to become more acidic, which the rest of the body takes as a sign that something is wrong.
Your brain will briefly awaken you so breathing can resume; when this happens, the heart lets out a special protein that tells the rest of your body to get rid of sodium and water, and thus the need to urinate arises. And because sleep apnea episodes can occur multiple times throughout the night, the need to urinate occurs far more often than usual. This can mean waking up to use the bathroom more often, but you might also end up urinating while you’re asleep – hence why bed-wetting might start to become frequent.
How Can Sleep Apnea and Bed-Wetting Be Treated?
Treating your sleep apnea will also help put a stop to your bed-wetting, so you’ll want to have the issue diagnosed by a professional as soon as possible. The most well-known type of sleep apnea treatment is CPAP therapy, which keeps the airways open throughout the night with a steady stream of air. However, many patients find their CPAP machine to be uncomfortable and stop using it, defeating the purpose of the treatment.
For people who are CPAP-intolerant, a sleep dentist may recommend oral appliance therapy. A custom-fitted oral appliance prevents the soft tissues near the back of your mouth from blocking the airway by repositioning the jaw or holding the tongue in place. When worn every night, an oral appliance can significantly reduce your sleep apnea symptoms, bed-wetting included.
If you’ve been having frequent nighttime accidents and think sleep apnea is to blame, now is a good time to have a sleep study performed. Once a diagnosis has been made, your sleep dentist can help you figure out the best way to find relief so that you can enjoy uninterrupted slumber again without having to worry about finding any wet spots once you wake up.
About the Author
Dr. David J. Drummond graduated from the Northwestern University Dental School in Chicago in 1982. He entered the United States Army Dental Corps after his graduation, and he left active duty in 1988 to pursue a private practice in Lawton. He is a Diplomate in the American Sleep and Breathing Academy, meaning he has years of training and experience when it comes to treating sleep apnea. If you think your bed-wetting is a sign of a sleep disorder, you can make an appointment with Dr. Drummond today by visiting our website or calling (580) 355-0344.