Ask the Expert: Thirsty at night

Q: I'm 39 years old.

For months, I've been experiencing thirst in the middle of the night, which has been affecting my sleep.

I drink 1 litre of water a day. Drinking too much water will make me visit the toilet frequently.

I run only during the weekends.

Many Chinese physicians have told me that I am 'very dry' after examining my tongue.

Are there any supplements or herbs that can improve my condition?

A: A person's requirement of water in millilitres per day can be calculated by using a formula of multiplying 0.5 by 30 by 2.2 and by his body weight in kilograms. For example, if you weigh 60kg, you will require 1,980ml of water a day.

Since you consume 1 litre of water a day, you will need to top this up by another 1 litre a day.

If you are more than 60kg, you will need to top up your water consumption by a larger amount.

Getting up once a night to visit the toilet is normal.

If you are getting up more frequently than that, a visit to the doctor will allow you to check if there are abnormalities in the blood sugar or kidneys, which may explain the frequency of passing urine at night.



ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR GOH LEE GAN
Senior consultant at the division of family medicine
National University Hospital