Everyone has already held the pee 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 felt lazy to go to the bathroom at that moment.
Contrary to popular belief, holding pee does not have to be a dangerous activity, and not going to the bathroom whenever small urges arise can even prevent the development of a lazy bladder, which forces you to go to the bathroom every 20 minutes.
Although in most cases there is no problem with 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 holding the pee are more frequent in truck drivers, drivers, salespeople and teachers, as these are professions that hinder regular trips to the bathroom. Complications include:
- Urinary tract infection: usually the urine cleans the urethra, eliminating bacteria and microorganisms that can cause infections. Thus, when you do not pee for a long time, these bacteria develop in greater numbers and may even reach the bladder and cause cystitis. Learn more about what a cystitis is. Urinary retention: it happens when the bladder muscles lose some strength because they are always dilated. In these cases, it becomes more difficult to contract the entire bladder when peeing and, therefore, there is always a little urine that remains inside the bladder, causing a feeling of heaviness even after urinating; Kidney stones: although it is more rare, people with a tendency to develop kidney stones that hold pee frequently, may have a greater number of seizures or worsening of existing stone symptoms.
Contrary to popular belief, it is rare for the bladder to burst, as the brain forces the sphincter of the bladder to relax, preventing it from filling up enough for that to happen. But, this can happen if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, for example, as the signal from the brain can be interrupted by substances, allowing the bladder to continue to fill.
Because the urge to urinate
The bladder is a pocket-shaped muscle that expands as it fills with urine. So, in order not to over-dilate, the bladder has small sensors on its walls that indicate to the brain when there is already a large amount of urine, which usually happens around 200 ml.
How long can the pee be held
Although the urge to urinate arises at around 200 ml, the bladder is able to hold up to approximately 500 ml of urine and, therefore, it is possible to hold the pee for some time after the first urge to urinate. 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 flow, it is important to drink as much water as necessary. Here are some techniques to make sure you drink the amount of water you need during the day.
