WHETHER you're rushing to complete a deadline or stuck in traffic, something or the other stops you from taking a bathroom break, despite the fact that you really need to.
Peeing is important. When your bladder fills up it sends a signal to the brain, telling you that you need to pee and the brain sends a signal back, telling the bladder to hold on.
But habitually holding in urine for too long can cause bladder and kidney damage, as well as urinary tract infections in some susceptible people, says Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur consultant urologist Dr Warren Lo Hwa Loon.
A burning sensation while passing urine, urgency and frequency of urination, foul-smelling urine, cloudy urine and difficulty in passing urine are among the signs and symptoms of a urinary tract infection.
Dr Lo says in severe cases, patients may even experience loin pain, fever, weakness and nausea.
Bladder and kidney damage can also happen.
Dr Lo says stretching the bladder by holding in urine frequently can harm it, resulting in bladder diverticulum (outpouching and thinning of the bladder wall due to the high pressure created by urine).
Additionally, once urine in the bladder gets infected, it can cause an ascending infection to the kidneys, resulting in urosepsis (infection in the blood stream) as the kidneys have an extensive network of blood vessels.
Also, holding in urine (which contains salt and minerals) habitually in the bladder may promote bladder stones.
"Many people are not aware that when the bladder becomes too full, it will be harder for them to pass urine due to a reflex contraction of the pelvic floor muscle."
Lastly, holding in pee for a long time can result in an overdistended bladder and the patient ends up having urinary urgency and urinary incontinence.
HOW LONG IS SAFE?
• A two- to three-hour interval in passing urine in a normal person is acceptable. It all depends on how much liquid one consumes as well.
• Consuming bladder stimulant drinks, such as caffeinated or carbonated drinks and alcohol, will result in frequent urination.
• Cold weather or low temperatures also result in bladder overactivity.
• Patients with urinary tract infection and interstitial cystitis (sensitive bladder) may experience frequent urination.