Question: I’m a senior citizen and have an enlarged prostate. I get up at least three to four times a night to use the bathroom. Is that normal, and is there anything I can do?

Dr. Hibberd’s answer:

Enlarged prostate is common in men as they age. But it is not normal to have to go to the bathroom three or four times a night.

You should be able to sleep at least six to eight hours without having to urinate. See your doctor for an evaluation of your condition. Expect him or her to ask for a urine sample to check for infection and diabetes. And your doctor will likely check your prostate by a rectal exam and order a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test.

Several medicines are available that help reduce prostate size, but you first need to be screened for other possible causes of frequent nighttime bathroom runs — including electrolyte disorders, fluid overload, heart failure, edema, infection, malignancy, and metabolic disorders such as diabetes.