Q Recently, I’ve been waking up several times a night to go to the bathroom, and it’s affecting my energy and focus. Help!

AIt sounds like you have nocturia, a sleep disorder defined as taking two or more nighttime bathroom trips—and the wake-ups disrupt your sleep cycle, leaving you groggy. Nocturia affects six in 10 women over age 40. Blame declining levels of estrogen and progesterone, which weaken pelvic floor and urinary tract muscles so your bladder can’t hold as much fluid overnight.

My advice: Try eliminating or reducing alcohol, artificial sweeteners and carbonated drinks for two hours before bed. These are all bladder irritants that can trigger the urge to go. You could also try sleeping with a heavy blanket or while wearing fuzzy socks—a Japanese study found staying warm overnight reduced bathroom visits by at least one trip. But if these strategies don’t help, see your doctor to rule out other causes, like sleep apnea.