One of the most interesting physiological links discovered in recent years is between Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and nocturnal enuresis. In this article, I discuss how sleep apnea triggers bedwetting.
The Mechanical and Hormonal Link
During an apnea episode, airway obstruction causes the patient to strain to breathe, raising intrathoracic pressure. This forces the heart to release Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP), a hormone that signals the kidneys to excrete water, leading to overnight bladder overload.
Effective treatment of sleep apnea (e.g., using CPAP) often resolves nocturnal enuresis simultaneously.