When a child transitions from wearing diapers to using the toilet, accidents are bound to happen, including at night. In fact, even some children who are completely daytime potty trained may occasionally ‘wet the bed.’ But what happens when these accidents happen during adulthood? Here’s why bedwetting could be the sign of a more serious condition, obstructive sleep apnea, and what you can do about it.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that affects approximately 936 million people around the world. It causes the patient to stop and restart breathing repeatedly throughout the night, decreasing their blood oxygen levels and increasing their risk of many dangerous medical conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and cancer.
How is Sleep Apnea Related to Bedwetting?
If you have sleep apnea, the frequent waking caused by this condition can cause a decrease in the production of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which under ideal circumstances regulates your urine output. Without a proper amount of this hormone, your body will produce more urine than usual, causing the bladder to overflow.
Sleep apnea can also cause what is known as nocturia, or frequent nighttime urination because the frequent waking triggers your urge to urinate.
Stopping Bedwetting by Treating Sleep Apnea
Treating sleep apnea won’t just help keep your nights drier; it can also help protect you from the harmful medical problems mentioned above. While each patient’s treatment will look different, many find success with a sleep device from their dentist. These unique mouthguards can help position your airway open manually, so there’s no need for the complicated machinery, awkward masks, and the noisy forced air of CPAP machines. These devices are custom made to fit your individual mouth, so they are far more comfortable than CPAP and therefore much more likely to be used.
To stop bedwetting and get the good night’s sleep you deserve, schedule a consultation with your dentist to determine if a sleep device is right for you.
About Our Team
At Downtown Denver Sleep Solutions, Dr. Radz and Dr. Thompson are dedicated to helping you get a better night’s sleep. Both sleep disorder patients themselves, they understand the debilitating toll these issues can take on your daily life. That’s why they’re proud to offer a more comfortable, customizable solution to traditional CPAP. If you struggle to get proper rest, have nighttime bedwetting accidents, or any other signs of sleep apnea, schedule a consultation with us today by visiting our website or calling us at 303-377-5337.