You’re sleeping soundly when all of a sudden, you have to get up and go to the bathroom. It can be annoying, but having to get up several times a night could be hazardous to your health.

“If you’re getting up at 4, 5, 6 times to urinate, that’s a real problem. I would say the average person, as they get older, certainly in their 60s, 70s, or older, gets up once a night to urinate,” says Dr. Salvatore Lacagnina, Medical Director for Lee Physician Group.

There could be many reasons behind those multiple trips. “Diabetes is a very common disorder these days and people that have uncontrolled diabetes urinate more frequently or it may be specifically a bladder problem, a urinary tract infection, you’ll want to get a diagnosis and get to the root of the problem,” he explains.

The doctor believes it’s not with the urination as much as it is the trip itself. “We’ve had a number of people that we’ve seen over the years that end up rushing to the bathroom, their blood pressure goes down, they rush in there, their circulation is not normal yet. Then they fall down in the bathroom. They bang their head on the toilet or sink. And end up with a bleed in the brain. So, you say, how does a simple urinary issue end up with someone dying? That’s really the scenario,” explains Dr. Lacagnina.

If you do find yourself having to get up several times at night, you may want to speak with your physician.