A doctor has claimed that one common toilet habit many of us have could actually be damaging our bladders and making us need the toilet more frequently than normal
Going to the toilet is one of the most natural things that every single one of us needs to do. Most of us learned how to use a toilet properly when we were very young children, but according to a doctor, there’s actually something we’re all doing incorrectly – and it could be damaging our bladders.
As children, most of our parents would have encouraged us to go to the toilet before we leave the house, “just in case” we need it. This mindset has lived on into adulthood, with millions of us now conditioned to go to the toilet before we travel anywhere in order to avoid unfortunate mishaps on the road.
But Doctor Daria Sadovskaya, an immunologist and nephrologist, has claimed in a TikTok video that you should absolutely never force yourself to go to the toilet, as it could have a damaging effect on your bladder.
Dr Sadovskaya said: “Going to the bathroom ‘just in case’ before leaving may seem like a harmless habit. But for the bladder, it can actually be harmful.”
The doctor explained that your bladder is a muscle-nerve organ, meaning that when it fills up, it alerts the nervous system so that you get the urge to go to the toilet. But if you force yourself to go to the bathroom without that urge, you’ll train your nervous system to react earlier than it should – meaning you’ll need to go to the toilet more often.
She added: “The bladder is a muscle–nerve organ. Normally, it fills up, the nervous system registers the volume, and only then does a real urge appear. At that moment, the bladder and the pelvic floor muscles work in coordination.
“When we regularly go to the toilet without a real urge, the bladder empties at too small a volume. Over time, the nervous system gets used to reacting earlier than it should. As a result, frequent urges may appear, a constant feeling of ‘I always need to go’, anxiety before travelling, and increased pelvic floor tension.”
Commenters on the post were blown away by Dr Sadovskaya’s advice, as many of them said they always go to the toilet before they leave the house and had no idea it could be bad for their bladder.
One person said: “I saw a similar TikTok a while ago and have started doing this (when I know there is a toilet where I’m going or on the way) and it has helped me go less often.”
Another added: “This is me. And that is why I always have anxiety when I travel on a bus without a toilet.”
Some misunderstood the doctor’s advice and insisted they would continue going to the toilet when they felt they needed to. Dr Sadovskaya was not telling people to hold their wee or stop themselves from using the toilet when they need it, as this can also be dangerous, but was instead suggesting that people only go to the toilet when they actually need to.
How to maintain a healthy bladder
According to Bladder and Bowel UK, you should pass urine whenever you need to. If you are drinking well, then this should be around every two to three hours. They state that holding urine too long can make it more difficult for your bladder to fully empty, and can increase the likelihood of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI).
They also echo Dr Sadovskaya’s recommendation of not going to the toilet “just in case”. They state: “If you go too often when you do not need to pass urine, then the bladder can eventually become smaller and therefore hold less, increasing the need to go to the toilet more often.”
Fluids you should consume to maintain a healthy bladder include:
- Water
- Diluted cordial or squash drinks
- Diluted fruit juice
- Fruit and herbal teas
- Red bush tea
However, you should avoid or limit your intake of these liquids:
- Alcohol
- Caffeinated drinks such as tea, coffee, and energy drinks
- Fizzy drinks
You can find more information on how to keep your bladder healthy on the Bladder and Bowel UK website.
