A doctor said that a regular toilet habit can actually damage our bladder and cause us to urinate more often than normal.
Going to the bathroom is one of the most natural things that each of us should do. Most of us learned to use the bathroom properly from a young age. Yet, according to one doctor, we all make a mistake that can damage our bladder.
As children, most of our parents encouraged us to go to the bathroom before leaving the house, “just in case.” This habit continues into adulthood: millions of us are now conditioned to go to the bathroom before any journey to avoid minor traffic accidents.
However, Dr. Daria Sadovskaya, immunologist and nephrologist, said in a TikTok video that you should definitely never force yourself to go to the toilet, as it can have a harmful effect on the bladder.
“Going to the bathroom ‘just in case’ before you leave may seem like a harmless habit. But for the bladder, it can actually be harmful,” said Dr. Sadovskaya.
According to the doctor, the bladder is a muscular-nervous organ; when it is full, it alerts the nervous system, causing the urge to urinate. However, if you force yourself to go to the toilet without feeling the need to, you train your nervous system to respond earlier than necessary, which means you will have to go more often.
She added: “The bladder is a muscular-nervous organ. Normally, it fills up, the nervous system registers the volume, and only then does the urge to urinate begin. It is at this very moment that the bladder and pelvic floor muscles work together.”
“When you go to the toilet regularly without feeling a real need to, your bladder empties too little. Over time, your nervous system gets used to responding earlier than necessary. This can result in frequent urges to urinate, a constant feeling of “always having to go,” anxiety before travel, and increased tension in the pelvic floor. »
The comments under the post were shocked by Dr. Sadovskaya’s advice, as many of them said they always go to the bathroom before leaving the house and have no idea that it can be bad for the bladder.
One person said: “I saw a similar TikTok video a while ago and started doing it (when I know there’s a toilet where I’m going, or on the way) and it’s helped me go there less often.”
Another added: “That’s definitely me. And that’s why I’m always nervous when I travel on a bus without a toilet.”
Some misunderstood the doctor’s advice and insisted that they would continue to go to the bathroom when they felt the need. Dr. Sadovskaya did not advise holding back on urinating or preventing yourself from going to the bathroom, as that can also be dangerous, but simply suggested that you should only go when you really need to.
How to maintain a healthy bladder
According to Bladder and Bowel UK, it is recommended to urinate as soon as the need arises. If you are drinking enough fluids, this should be done approximately every two to three hours. They say that holding in your urine for too long can make it harder to empty your bladder completely and increase the risk of a urinary tract infection.
They also echo Dr. Sadovskaya’s recommendation not to go to the bathroom “as a precaution.” They explain, “If you go to the bathroom too often when you don’t need to, your bladder can end up shrinking and therefore holding less urine, increasing the frequency of urination.”
Fluids you should consume to maintain a healthy bladder include:
Water
diluted fruit syrups or drinks,
Diluted fruit juices
, herbal teas and infusions,
Bush Red Tea
However, you should avoid or limit your intake of these fluids:
Alcoholic drinks,
caffeinated beverages such as tea, coffee and energy drinks,
Soda
