What happens to your body if you stop urinating for a long time?

We all know how uncomfortable it is to hold urine all the time. Not only is this uncomfortable, but it can also cause damage to the bladder and other parts of the body. Our kidneys are constantly filtering fluid, and the bladder fills with urine after a certain period of time. Since the bladder is an expandable organ, the organ grows as fluid continues to fill. Meanwhile, the fibers that sense tension in the bladder send a signal to the brain that we need to go to the bathroom. Have you ever thought about what will happen if you continue to hold back urine even if it comes out? Let’s look at it together.

The bladders of people increase with age. This means that the body’s ability to retain urine increases with age.

According to scientists;

• Children up to 12 months 50 ml,
• Children 5-7 years old 75-105 ml,
• Children 8-10 years old 120-150 ml,
• Children 11-15 years old 165-225 ml,
• Adults have a bladder volume of 300-400 ml.

According to scientists, a person urinates about 8 times a day. However, this frequency may vary depending on the amount of fluid a person consumes during the day.

If your urinary system is healthy, holding on to urine is not dangerous in most cases. But if you have an overactive bladder, it could be because you are holding too much urine. Urinary retention can increase your risk of infection and kidney disease if you have any of the following conditions:

• prostate enlargement
• neurogenic bladder
• kidney disease
• urinary retention

What happens to your body when you hold urine?

When you feel the urge to empty your bladder, it’s not just because the organ is filled with fluid. At this moment, many muscles, organs and nerves work together and send us signals. For example, when the bladder is about half full, the nerves here are activated. These nerves send signals to the brain to trigger the urge to urinate. If you are holding back urine, you are consciously fighting these signals.

On the other hand, urinary retention can aggravate a urinary tract infection. If you don’t urinate regularly, you’re more likely to have bacteria in your bladder. At the same time, the risk of urinary tract infections increases when you don’t drink enough water. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may want to see your doctor.

Symptoms of a urinary tract infection:

• Constant need to urinate
• burning sensation when urinating
• Smelly and cloudy urine
• pelvic pain
• blood in urine

To sum up, if the brain is sending you a signal to go to the bathroom, you should go. Although occasional urination is not unhealthy, urinating too often can increase your risk of urinary tract infections and other complications.

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