Holding in urine poses health risks to the bladder

A uro-oncologist from Apollo Hospitals in Bangalore, Dr. Manish C.A., has warned that the habit of holding in urine can negatively impact bladder health. While people often delay going to the toilet to finish tasks, doing so continuously over the long term forces the bladder to retain urine far longer than it should.

“The average adult urinates every three to four hours during the day,” Dr. Manish said, as reported by the Hindustan Times on Thursday local time. Problems arise when someone routinely ignores the signals the bladder sends to the brain. Although the bladder is designed to store urine, Dr. Manish cautioned that frequently holding it in can weaken bladder function.

He urged certain groups at higher risk of complications from retaining urine to be more careful, including those with diabetes, an enlarged prostate, neurological disorders, or a history of urinary tract infections. According to Dr. Manish, taking a toilet break should not be considered something that can be postponed at will, and maintaining bladder health does not require complicated measures.

“What I always tell patients is to make sure they drink enough water and take a few minutes from their busy schedules to go to the toilet. My advice is simple: listen to your bladder,” he said.