The delay in going to the bathroom, or urinary retention can lead to an increase in the capacity of the bladder and cause an increased risk of infection, along with urinary incontinence.This means that we have to go to the bathroom regularly: about six times a day or more.
Experts warn that the retention of urine in the bladder more than it should, is not good for health, since it causes pain and weakening of the pelvic muscles and incontinence or urine leakage.
Although on average you should use the bathroom four to six times a day, many people tend to urinate only twice a day. You should not delay urination as it can lead to health problems.
Health problems from holding back urine
The following are the main health problems that are caused in the body by retaining urine for too long.
Symptoms of urine retention
The main symptoms of urine retention usually appear as general discomforts in the body, but some of them are very specific:
- Warming and fever, this is usually caused by bacteria that were not eliminated properly through the urine.
- Stomach aches
- Shaking chills
- Pain when urinating
- Anxiety
1. Urinary incontinence
Regularly emptying urine during the day is important as it helps to maintain the anatomical and functional parameters of the lower urinary tract. Urinary retention can increase the size of the bladder, leading to an increased risk of developing urinary tract infections, as well as increased pressure on the pelvic floor muscles. A direct relationship between urinary retention and incontinence has not been found, however, it is known that muscle weakness can be one of its causes.
The main reasons for the occurrence of incontinence is the weakening of the pelvic muscles, which are usually affected due to pregnancy and childbirth, changes in hormone levels in postmenopausal women, or due to excess weight, the long-term use of certain medications, or untreated chronic inflammation of certain neurological conditions.
2. Urine leaks
Over time the pelvic floor muscles can weaken or suffer injuries, and when situations such as coughing, sneezing, laughing or jumping occur, it can cause urine leakage, a very annoying problem that may have few treatments.
3. Kidney stones
Those people prone to developing kidney stones but who do not urinate very often and retain urine, may suffer from this consequence of the development of kidney stones to a greater extent. These small stones (calcium and sodium) that form in the kidneys are very painful, especially when they are small and are filtered through the urinary tract. The most advisable thing is to have the habit of urinating frequently, and if you suffer from urinary retention, treat the problem quickly.
You should urinate every 2 hours, this means six times during the day
It is important to urinate regularly every two to three hours, keeping the bladder with a small volume of urine and preventing infections of the urogenital system. In the same way, it is important to maintain adequate hydration, drinking about six to eight glasses of water a day. Women should have regular gynecological exams to check for other problems that can cause involuntary urine retention.