Is it bad to hold your pee? - Heba Shaheed | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Learn how the bladder works and why holding in urine is both uncomfortable and potentially harmful.

Key Insights

• ❓ The urinary system consists of the bladder, kidneys, ureters, and urethra.
• ⌛ Stretch receptors in the bladder signal when it's time to urinate.
• 🤣 Holding in urine can lead to overactive pelvic floor muscles and potential long-term health issues.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Proper urination is essential for overall bladder health.
• ☺️ The detrusor muscle in the bladder relaxes and contracts to allow urine flow.
• 🤣 The external urethral sphincter controls the flow of urine and is part of the pelvic floor muscles.
• 🥺 Over time, holding in urine or not providing proper support during urination can lead to urinary incontinence.

Transcript

It begins with a bit of discomfort and soon becomes a pressing sensation that's impossible to ignore. Finally, it's all you can think about, and out of sheer desperation, you go on a hunt for a bathroom until "ahh." Humans should urinate at least four to six times a day, but occasionally, the pressures of modern life forces us to clench and hold it... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the bladder function in the urinary system?

The bladder stores urine made by the kidneys until the body is ready to release it through the urethra.

Q: What happens when the bladder gets too full?

When the bladder reaches its capacity, it can cause discomfort, and holding in urine for too long can lead to potential health issues.

Q: Why is it important to listen to your body's urge to urinate?

Ignoring the urge to urinate can lead to overactive pelvic floor, urinary incontinence, and weaken the pelvic floor muscles over time.

Q: What are the potential consequences of holding your pee for too long?

Holding in urine can lead to bladder pain, urgency, and even bladder leakage due to the strain on the urinary system.

Summary

This video explores the workings of the bladder and the effects of holding in urine. It discusses the different organs in the urinary system and how urine is produced. It also explains how the bladder senses fullness and the process of urination. Holding in urine for too long or not properly supporting the pelvic floor muscles can have long-term negative effects, but in the short term, our body and brain have mechanisms in place to allow us to choose when to urinate.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the bladder fill and empty?

The bladder fills as the detrusor muscle relaxes, allowing it to inflate like a balloon. When the bladder gets full, the detrusor muscle contracts, and the internal urethral sphincter automatically opens, releasing urine. The external urethral sphincter, controlled voluntarily, keeps the urine in until we choose to release it.

Q: How do we sense our bladder's fullness?

Inside the detrusor muscles are stretch receptors that trigger when the bladder fills. These receptors send signals to the sacral region in the spinal cord, which then sends a reflex signal back to the bladder. This signal causes the detrusor muscle to contract slightly, increasing the bladder's pressure, so we're aware that it's filling up.

Q: What happens if the bladder gets too full?

With about 150 to 200 milliliters of urine inside, we start to sense that there's urine in the bladder. At around 400 to 500 milliliters, the pressure becomes uncomfortable. While the bladder can stretch further, there is a limit. Above 1,000 milliliters, the bladder may burst, although this is rare. Most people would lose bladder control before this happens.

Q: Is it dangerous to hold in urine for too long?

Holding in urine for extended periods can have long-term negative effects on the pelvic floor muscles and the urinary system. It can weaken or overwork the pelvic floor, causing bladder pain, urgency, or urinary incontinence. However, in rare cases where a person cannot sense the need to urinate, holding in urine can result in a painful rupture of the bladder, requiring surgery to fix.

Q: How does the brain control the process of urination?

The brain can counter the micturition reflex (the reflex signal to release urine) by sending another signal to contract the external urethral sphincter, keeping it closed. Once we decide to urinate, the brain stops this signal, causing the sphincter to relax and allowing the bladder to empty.

Q: What role do the pelvic floor muscles play in urination?

The pelvic floor muscles, including the external urethral sphincter, provide support to the urethra and bladder neck, keeping the region sealed until we are ready to urinate. These muscles prevent bladder leakage when we cough, sneeze, laugh, or jump. However, over time, holding in urine for too long or not properly supporting the pelvic floor muscles can lead to an overactive and weakened pelvic floor, bladder pain, urgency, or urinary incontinence.

Q: How often should humans urinate?

Humans should urinate at least four to six times a day. This regular elimination helps maintain the health of the urinary system and prevents issues related to holding in urine for too long.

Q: What is urine made of?

Urine is made from a mix of water and the body's waste products. The kidneys filter out waste from the blood and produce urine, which is then funneled into the bladder through muscular tubes called ureters.

Q: What are the different organs in the urinary system?

The urinary system consists of two kidneys, two ureters, two urethral sphincters, and a urethra. The kidneys produce urine, the ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, the urethral sphincters control the flow of urine, and the urethra allows urine to exit the body.

Q: Can holding in urine cause bladder leakage?

Holding in urine for too long, forcing out urine too fast, or not properly supporting the pelvic floor muscles can lead to urinary incontinence. When the pelvic floor muscles weaken or overwork, it can cause bladder leaks when pressure is placed on the system, such as during coughing, sneezing, laughing, or jumping.

Takeaways

Holding in urine for too long is not a great habit for long-term health. It can weaken or overwork the pelvic floor muscles, leading to various urinary issues such as bladder pain, urgency, or urinary incontinence. While our body and brain have mechanisms to allow us to hold urine when needed, it is important to practice regular elimination to maintain the health of the urinary system. Proper support of the pelvic floor muscles is crucial to prevent bladder leakage and maintain the integrity of the urinary system.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The bladder is part of the human urinary system, which includes kidneys, ureters, and urethra.

• Holding in urine can lead to discomfort and overactive pelvic floor, potentially causing urinary incontinence.

• Proper urination is crucial for long-term health, as the body sends signals to release urine when necessary.