Everyone has had peeing at some point, either because they needed to watch a movie until the end, because they were at an important meeting, or simply because they were too lazy to go to the bathroom right now.
Contrary to popular belief, holding pee does not have to be a dangerous activity, and if you do not go to the bathroom whenever small cravings arise, you may even avoid the development of a lazy bladder, which forces you to go to the bathroom every 20 minutes.
Although in most cases no problem arises for holding the pee, there are some complications such as urinary tract infection that can arise in those who hold the pee many times and for a long time.
Main complications
The complications of insuring pee are more common in truckers, drivers, salesmen and teachers, as they are professions that make regular trips to the bathroom difficult. Complications include:
- Urinary tract infection: Urine normally cleans the urethra, eliminating bacteria and microorganisms that can lead to infections. Thus, when you stay a long time without peeing these bacteria develop in greater numbers and can even reach the bladder and cause cystitis. Learn more about what a cystitis is.
- Urinary retention: it happens when the muscles of the bladder lose some force because they are always dilated. In these cases, it becomes more difficult to contract the entire bladder at the time of peeing, so there is always some urine that stays inside the bladder, causing a feeling of heaviness even after urination;
- Kidney stones: Although it is more rare, people with a tendency to develop kidney stones that hold the pee frequently may present more seizures or worse symptoms of existing stones.
Contrary to popular belief it is rare for the bladder to burst because the brain forces the bladder sphincter to relax, preventing it from filling enough for this to happen. But this can happen if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, for example, because the brain signal can be interrupted by the substances, allowing the bladder to continue to fill.
Why does the urge to urinate
The bladder is a pocket-shaped muscle that dilates as it fills with urine. Thus, in order not to dilate excessively, the bladder has on its walls small sensors that indicate to the brain when there is already a large amount of urine, which usually happens around 200 ml.
How long can pee be held?
Although the urge to urinate appears around 200 ml, the bladder is capable of holding up to approximately 500 ml of urine, so it is possible to hold the urine for a while after the first urge to urinate arises. This time varies from person to person, according to the size of the bladder and the amount of urine formed per hour, but it is usually possible to last between 3 to 6 hours.
To have a healthy urine stream, it is important to drink the amount of water needed. Here are some techniques to make sure you drink the amount of water you need during the day.
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