Resisting the Bladder’s Cues

Ever since I was younger, I remember holding it in when I had to go to the bathroom. Maybe I was watching a good movie, playing sports, or doing something interesting. It was a chore and I was in the middle of something. As I got older, sometimes I didn’t plan things well. Like when I knew I had to drive a long distance in rush hour traffic but I drank three large cups of coffee beforehand. Then when I went to the exit for a gas station, the restroom was out of order. I thought I would die holding it in. I do remember having pains in my bladder when I held it in for a long time.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a healthy adult bladder can hold one and a half to two cups of urine before it reaches capacity. When your bladder is about half full, nerves in your bladder activate, sending signals to your brain to tell you when it’s time to empty. The more your bladder gets full, the stronger the sensation to urinate. When you hold it in you’re fighting the body’s signals.

Research suggests people on average urinate six or seven times a day. Urinary frequency generally depends on age, bladder size, fluid intake, the presence of medical conditions, types of fluids consumed as well as the use of medications.
So, what kind of issues are you subjecting yourself to when you wait to go to the bathroom? Here they are:

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Doctors recommend avoiding holding in large amounts of urine for an extended period of time. If you aren’t regularly emptying your bladder, the bacteria in your urine is more likely to sit and multiply, which can potentially result in an infection.

Bladder Stretching

Holding in your urine can cause the bladder to stretch, which can make it difficult to contract, leading to urinary retention. Your bladder is a muscle that contracts when you urinate. When it stretches out, over the course of time, the contractions become less strong, and your body misses the cues that your bladder needs to be emptied, leading to unwanted accidents.

Pelvic Floor Muscle Damage

Retaining urine frequently can damage the pelvic floor muscles, specifically the urethral sphincter, which keeps the urethra closed and prevents urine from leaking out. Weak pelvic floor muscles can make it difficult for your bladder to keep in urine, leading to incontinence.

Kidney Stones

Holding in urine may cause kidney stones to form. Kidney stones are hard masses of minerals that develop when the minerals in concentrated urine crystallize. This happens when your bladder doesn’t empty completely.

Kidney stones vary in size, from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball. Kidney stones typically pass through your urethra with your urine and can be excruciatingly painful. It is important to drink plenty of fluid so your urine is less concentrated and empty your bladder regularly.
As a healthy adult, occasionally resisting the urge to urinate should not cause problems, but if it becomes a habit, there could be serious damage to your bladder and overall health. Don’t ignore your body’s warning signals to empty your bladder.