Yous've heard nigh bedtime procrastination, but what about bathroom procrastination? You lot know, when you put off peeing until your legs are crossed and you tin can barely hobble to finally park yourself on the porcelain throne. Whether it'southward because yous're powering through work due east-mails at your desk or you lot'd rather avoid the horrors of a public restroom, sometimes peeing just lands at the bottom of your to-practise listing. Merely tin that really be dangerous? Nosotros consulted Benjamin Brucker, M.D., assistant professor of urology at NYU Langone Medical Eye, to find out.

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How Long Is Information technology Okay to Hold It?
Your body's physical capacity to keep in urine is based on a few things: "Well-nigh of the time women tin can hold urine for iii to six hours, just this volition vary," says Brucker. "It really depends on the amount of urine that someone makes, which is determined past hydration status and fluid intake, and also functional float chapters, which is a combination of the actual size of the bladder and float sensitivity." But ultimately, at that place's non a ton of enquiry on the subject. "The truth of the matter is normal urination in women beyond the lifespan is non every bit well understood as information technology should be," says Brucker.

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Should You Pee at Every Pang?
As you know, that "I gotta go" sensation ranges from small pangs to a feeling that almost hurts. "You lot don't want to give in to every slight sensation to urinate, just you as well don't want to agree it in to the point where it is painful," says Brucker. "Ultimately, y'all want to have healthy voiding habits." That translates into finding a middle basis that doesn't have yous running to the bathroom every fourth dimension y'all take a sip of water merely also doesn't event in you aptitude over with cramp-like sensations.

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What's the Worst-Case Scenario?
"In that location aren't whatsoever specific complications yous can go from holding in your urine, although it may put you at a bit more of a likelihood of developing urinary tract infections, which can be treated with antibiotics," says Brucker. Having a UTI can also brand you feel like yous take to go more than often than normal, as can weather condition similar overactive bladder and painful bladder syndrome. If all suddenly you feel the need to pee way more than usual, head to a doctor to get checked out. Kegels and medication can improve an overactive bladder, while physical therapy and medication can help treat painful float syndrome.

Can You Train Your Body to Pee Less?
You know it's important to stay hydrated, but guzzling water tin can have the abrasive side consequence of needing to pee every few minutes. And so it is possible to get your body used to holding out? "Some people'southward bladders are quite sensitive, and they will have the sensation to void fifty-fifty with the smallest amount of urine in the bladder. It'due south okay to try to distract yourself and not give in to every slight urge," says Brucker. This could potentially stretch your bladder a flake in a healthy fashion, though yous shouldn't expect any major changes. "There is a small study out at that place that shows nurses, who may not take the opportunity to frequent the facilities, have slightly larger bladder capacities than age-matched controls," says Brucker. The bottom line is that yous probably aren't going to do any real damage to yourself by holding it in, but just for comfort's sake, you should hit the bath when it starts to feel abrasive. After all, not very many other things can bring on quite the same sense of relief!

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