So you have gone out for an outing, and you have a horror of using the public toilets. You try to hold in the pee until the point of crossing your legs where you can bare wait to sit on the porcelain throne. But holding may not be very healthy. We spoke to urologist Dr Piyali Chatterjee to tell you about the side effect of holding in pee.
Can holding in pee be harmful?
Holding in your pee can make you more likely for developing urinary tract infections. Having a UTI can also make you want to go to the toilet more often and also lead to conditions such as the painful bladder syndrome and overactive bladder. Medications and kegel exercises can help deal with painful bladder syndrome.
For how long is it okay to hold in pee?
Your body’s capacity to hold urine depends on the amount of urine you make, your fluid intake, your hydration levels and also your functional bladder capacity. Many can hold urine for three to six hours, but it varies. Some people's bladders are quite sensitive, and they have the sensation to rush to the toilet even with the smallest amount of urine in the bladder. Here are things your urine indicates about your health.
Should one pee with the slightest urge?
You do not have to urinate in every slight sensation of urine, but you do not want to hold it until the point it is painful. You need to find a middle ground that does not have you running to the restroom every time you take a sip of water and or does not have you reach a point where you get painful cramps. You can try to distract yourself if you get the slight urge. Find out the causes of blood in urine.
Bottom line—You are not going to do so much harm to yourself by holding your urine in, but as you know, it can make you feel very uncomfortable.
Image source: Getty Images
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