Why Is It Bad To Hold Back The Urge To Urinate?

The urge to urinate is a biological necessity. Therefore, all human beings have it when the body is ready to dispose of debris.

In the case of urine, there is a signal when the bladder is full and needs to be emptied. In fact, it is precisely this organ that is responsible for storing the fluid that is sent by the kidneys ,   for its subsequent expulsion through the urethra.

Not to use a bathroom outside the home. Not to interrupt a meeting. Or simply because there is no bathroom nearby… Many people prefer to hold back the urge to urinate for three or four hours straight, hoping to find the most opportune moment to do so.

However, what most people don’t know is that  the habit of holding urine for so long causes serious side effects. These can manifest immediately or sometime later. Do you know why it’s bad to hold back the urge to urinate?

Bladder Enlargement

The bladder has a storage capacity that varies between 150 and 220 ml of urine. But, it should be emphasized that it depends on each person.

Whereas a glass of water provides about 200 or 250 ml of liquid. In addition to the other liquids that provide us with food, the bladder has to work all day to be able to empty in time.

The problem is that, not responding to the urge to urinate, the fluids overload the bladder and dilate its walls so that they can be stored.

The result? The bladder starts to enlarge and, in the medium or long term, other serious health consequences can occur.

recurrent infections

Through the urine, acidic substances and ammonia are eliminated. These, when retained, can, little by little, damage the walls of the urinary tract and bladder.

This weakening increases the risk of occurrence of various types of infections. The reason is the ease that microorganisms have to enter and proliferate in the system.

In addition, it should also be considered that it  is through urination that the process of elimination of bacteria that reach the bladder and urethra occurs. Thus, retaining the urine gives them more time to develop.

Therefore, cystitis is one of its most common consequences, especially in the female population. This infection is the result of inflammation of the bladder walls and bacterial attack.

Kidney Stones (Kidney Stone)

Kidney stones can develop from multiple causes. One of them is the simple fact of containing the urine, due to substances that crystallize in the kidney because they are not eliminated in time.

Through urination, the balance of minerals in the body is achieved. Thus, it helps to maintain good energy and good kidney performance.

When the fluid is retained for a long time, the kidneys start to form small stones with calcium, phosphate, ammonium and magnesium. These accumulate until they form the famous kidney stones.

To avoid this reaction, it is best to increase your water consumption. In addition, it is important to respond in time to the body’s desire when the bladder reaches its maximum capacity.

vesicoureteral reflux

We must be very careful with this dysfunction, as it can have other, more serious health consequences.

Vesicoureteral reflux is due to an infection or pressure on the ureter. This is caused by another organ, which causes the urine to flow abnormally from the bladder to the kidneys.

The result is more serious infections, scarring of the urinary tract, and even liver damage when not properly treated.

Chills and Pelvic Pain

Urine retention also involves an accumulation of fluid and toxins in the bladder. This causes an uncomfortable chilly sensation. And, later, pelvic pain of different intensities.

The belly may become more swollen and other symptoms such as tiredness or lightheadedness are likely to occur.

Therefore, even though it may seem harmless to hold back the urge to go to the bathroom for a few hours, what is certain is that it can cause serious consequences that must be considered.

It is important to learn to respond in time to the signals that the body sends us , to prevent dangerous changes in our health.