I can hold a lot of things — and not just with my dexterous fingers. I can hold chopsticks properly, a sock with my toes and awkward conversations with former classmates. I’m a man of many talents, except when it comes to my bladder. I’m positive my bladder is the size of a walnut because nature calls every 30 minutes. To make matters worse, I’m stubborn and will hold it for as long as possible, which always culminates in a mad dash for the nearest urinal.
When a person drinks, the liquid flows from the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream. The urinary system consists of four central parts: the kidneys, the ureters, the bladder and the urethra. The kidneys remove excess liquid and wastes from the bloodstream to make urine and maintain a balance of salts and other substances. Urine production depends on the salt content, volume of liquid consumed and the blood’s diluteness. Ureters are narrow tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder — kind of like the Slip-n-Slide of the urinary system. The bladder is a muscular, balloon-like bag that is capable of stretching as it fills. The bladder can hold about a pint to a quart of urine — amazing, but at the same time, gross. As urine fills the bladder, stretch receptor nerves tell the body when the bladder is reaching its limit, and then urine is emptied through the urethra.
Problems can arise, though, when a person decides to hold his or her bladder. This can happen for any number of reasons: being trapped in an elevator, not wanting to miss the crucial “kiss” scene at the theater or an unjustified fear of public restrooms. In some cases, holding it is necessary and the bladder is prepared for this situation. To prevent leakage, two sphincters on the bottom of the bladder keep the urine from emptying on its own; the involuntarily sphincter is controlled by the nervous system, while the other is controlled voluntarily, depending on a person’s willpower. Even a dubious looking porta-potty may look like an IKEA loveseat after a few hours of holding back the flood.
While irritating, holding one’s bladder is not necessarily considered dangerous or harmful for the body. The bladder is flexible and does not pop or explode if stretched; although a full bladder can be ruptured during an accident. The real problem occurs when the bladder gets too full; if urine cannot escape through the urethra, urine flow is reversed. When functioning normally, valves between each kidney’s ureter and the bladder prevent backflow; but if one (or both) of these valves isn’t functioning properly, then urine is able to travel back up the ureter tube to the kidney. Urine that overflows from the bladder can potentially cause serious medical problems. Too much backflow can damage the kidney’s central collection region (the renal pelvis and the calyces), possibly resulting in dilation — a condition called hydronephrosis.
Urine is sterile because it does not have bacteria, viruses or fungi; but it does contain fluids, salts and waste. If urine is held too long and flows in reverse, bacteria from the digestive tract that live around the opening of the urethra can grow and multiply in the urinary tract. Most infections are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) which lives in the colon. This can cause a urinary infection in the urethra called urethritis, or a bladder infection called cystitis. If not treated, the infection can spread up the ureters and infect the kidneys — an infection known as pyelonephritis. Urinary tract infections are the body’s second most common infections and account for about 8.3 million annual doctor visits. Women are more prone to UTIs than men, as about one in five women develop an infection in her lifetime. Symptoms include foul smelling or cloudy urine, fevers, chills, pain while urinating, a sensitive stomach and pain near the kidney area. Like with any other bacterial infection, antibiotics should be taken as instructed to prevent further infection. UTIs can be prevented by staying hydrated, drinking cranberry juice and, of course, urinating plenty.
The average adult empties about a quart and a half of urine daily. I’m positive that holding that much liquid should make everyone a camel.
Even though public restrooms can look like scenes from a horror movie, it is better to empty a full bladder than risk a urinary infection or embarrassing leakage. As I was always told, better out than in.
Alex Truong is a fourth-year College student. He will graduate in May and can be reached at a.truong@cavalierdaily.com.
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