Nighttime urination could have various causes in men, women

blood, at which point the kidneys will excrete that extra fluid as urine. Support stockings can reduce this.

The body also uses a hormone (arginine vasopressin) to reduce nighttime urination. In some older people, that system stops working properly and the body increases urine output at night. Younger people can be treated with a nasal preparation of this hormone, but that is not suggested in people over 65 due to the high rate of low blood sodium levels.

Some people wake up due to a sleep problem and then urinate, rather than waking up because of the need to urinate. That diagnosis should be considered.

Dear Dr. Roach: My husband has severe allergies as well as gastric reflux. His allergist recommended taking Prilosec because reflux can amplify allergy symptoms. My father, who is an oncologist, has theorized that one of the reasons for the rise in the rates of pancreatic cancer is the long-term use of drugs like Prilosec for reflux. My husband does find that his allergy, as well as his reflux symptoms, have improved since he started taking Prilosec. I was curious as to what the data suggest before he starts taking Prilosec long term.

A: Your father-inlaw may have read a 2017 study that suggested a small increase in pancreatic cancer rates among people who took proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole (Prilosec). A larger 2018 study concluded that there was no increased risk in pancreatic cancer among users of PPIs.

PPIs have been shown to improve allergy symptoms in some people. One proposed mechanism is by decreasing secretion of a protein called TCTP.

I often see PPIs prescribed for years after an episode of reflux, which is probably unnecessary. Chronic PPIs should still be used only after a consideration of benefits and risks.