Nocturnal enuresis, also known as bed wetting, is the involuntary release of urine from the bladder during sleep. MayoClinic.com states that bed wetting that starts in adulthood is not normal, and generally has an underlying medical cause. Many conditions can cause bed wetting in adults. Medical evaluation is often required to determine the cause and initiate treatment if appropriate.
Urinary Tract Infection
Infection of the lower urinary tract or bladder may make it difficult to hold urine. Infections cause the urinary tract to become irritable. A person with a urinary tract infection may experience the increased need to urinate, urinary urgency and the inability to hold urine effectively. Spasms in the urinary tract from infection may force urine out of the bladder during the night, when a person is less likely to make it to the restroom in time.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that affects the way blood sugar is produced and used inside the body. Diabetes is a multi-system disease, meaning it impacts multiple organs such as the eyes, skin and kidneys. Adults produce a hormone called ADH, or antidiuretic hormone, which signals the kidneys to produce less urine. ADH production is generally higher in the night to allow a sleeping adult to sleep without having to urinate in the night. A person with diabetes may make less ADH than a healthy person, or her kidneys may be less responsive to the hormone. The kidneys continue to produce urine overnight which may result in bed wetting, or a condition known as diabetic nocturnal polyuria.
Bladder Function
Functional bladder capacity, or FBC, is the amount of urine the bladder holds before sending a signal to the brain to urinate. Some adults have lower FBC than others which may cause the bladder to signal urination when only a small amount of urine is present in the bladder.
Additionally, some individuals suffer from overreaction of the bladder muscles, a condition called detrusor instability. According to the National Association for Continence, the detrusor muscle in the bladder contracts spontaneously in an irritable fashion which forces urine from the bladder. Caffeine and alcohol use act as bladder stimulants and may make detrusor instability more prominent in susceptible individuals.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person holds his breath during sleep. A person with sleep apnea may be extremely restless during sleep, snore frequently, or wake in a state of confusion or extreme fatigue. The National Institutes of Health states that while many incidents of bed wetting in adults with sleep apnea have been reported, more research needs to be done to determine a link between the two. Sleep apnea causes increased pressure in the abdomen, as well as increased urine production; two factors which may contribute to bed wetting in adults with this condition, according to the NIH.
