Why You Shouldn’t Hold Your Pee
It’s a common issue for many people: you need to pee, but the circumstances are such that it’s not immediately possible. Maybe you’re in a meeting and don’t want to be rude by asking to take a quick break, or maybe you’re out on a hike, and the nearest bathroom is miles away. Whatever the reason, it can be tempting to just “hold it in” until you have the chance to find relief. Well, occasionally, it’s ok to do so. But if you make a habit of holding your pee, you could be putting yourself at risk for some very serious health issues. I will tell you why you shouldn’t hold your pee.
1. Holding your pee may weaken your bladder muscles
Holding your urine for extremely long periods of time can weaken your bladder muscles over time, leading to incontinence. Also, if you make a habit of holding your pee, the bladder can become accustomed to not emptying itself as regularly, and this could cause it to stretch.
2. It could lead to urinary tract infections
The whole truth is that holding your pee doesn’t directly cause a urinary tract infection, but it does increase the risk of one. Why? When you don’t empty your bladder regularly, bacteria can multiply and travel back through your urethra – the tube urine passes through on its way out of your body. This can lead to a UTI, which is an infection in your urinary system that causes pain, burning sensations when you pee, and cloudy or strong-smelling urine.
3. It may cause kidney infections
In extreme cases, holding your pee can lead to a kidney infection. When urine is held in the bladder for too long, it can back up into your kidneys and cause an infection there. Kidney infections are very serious and require antibiotics to treat correctly. Also, people who have diabetes or who have weakened immune systems are at a higher risk for kidney infections.
Clearly, it’s not worth the risk to hold your pee in. If you need to go, make sure you do so as soon as possible – even if it means taking a quick break from whatever task is at hand. It may be inconvenient, but it’s far better than suffering from a preventable health issue that could have been avoided with just a few minutes of bathroom time. So, don’t hold your pee – and stay healthy!
Also read: 6 Reasons Why It Hurts to Pee
