During the Spring Festival, you may be stuck in traffic and hold your urine. Be careful of bacteria "going upstream"! Doctor: If these three types of people hold their urine, there may be serious consequences

During the Chinese New Year holiday, traffic jams are a big problem when traveling or returning home, and you have no choice but to "hold your urine". In this regard, Yang Zhiwen, a weight loss specialist and family medicine physician, reminded that holding urine for a long time is not only likely to lead to urinary tract infections, but for certain groups, it may also cause more serious health risks. For example, diabetic patients are more likely to develop urinary tract infections due to holding urine, and may even develop "hyperosmolar hyperglycemia (HHS)". If not treated in time, the mortality rate can be as high as 20%.

When you are stuck in traffic and hold your urine, beware of bacteria "swimming upstream"

Dr. Yang Zhiwen pointed out that the medical definition of "holding urine" is not simply calculated by time, but when the urine volume exceeds 400 ml, one resists the physiological urge to urinate and allows urine to continue to remain in the bladder. As the bladder expands like a water balloon, bacteria in the urine can more easily "flow upstream" from the urethra, invade the ureters, and even run to the kidneys, causing serious infections such as acute pyelonephritis.

3 major groups should avoid holding urine

Dr. Yang Zhiwen specifically reminds the following three groups to avoid holding urine to avoid more serious consequences:

1. Obese people

For obese people, abdominal fat may compress the bladder and urethra, which may affect the bladder emptying function and increase the risk of urine retention and bacterial growth. In addition, obesity puts the body in a state of chronic inflammation, lower immunity, and weaker resistance to infection.

2. Diabetic patients

According to a European medical study in 2022, 11.5% of diabetic patients have urinary tract infections.

Diabetic patients have poor bladder emptying function. If an infection occurs, the secretion of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol will push up blood sugar, leading to the "osmotic diuresis" phenomenon. The body will further deteriorate into hyperosmotic hyperglycemia (HHS) due to massive dehydration. The mortality rate of this disease can be as high as 20%, so special vigilance is required.

3. Patients with kidney disease

People with kidney disease already have compromised kidney function and have a lower tolerance to infection. Even a mild urinary tract infection can rapidly worsen kidney function and even cause acute renal failure, with a mortality rate of up to 50%.

Dr. Yang Zhiwen emphasized that these risks are closely related to abnormal metabolic function. In particular, obese and diabetic patients are particularly susceptible to increased health risks due to metabolic imbalance. By adjusting diet, exercising properly and managing weight, not only can the metabolic status be gradually improved, but the risk of infection and related complications can also be reduced. When unstable blood sugar or high BMI occurs, it is recommended to seek professional help as soon as possible.

Weight loss specialist and family medicine physician Yang Zhiwen reminds that obese people, diabetics and kidney disease patients should go to the toilet in time when traveling during the New Year holidays, as holding urine for too long may lead to serious consequences. (Photo provided by Hatsuhi Clinic)

Don’t ignore your body’s “urination signal”

In addition, don’t ignore your body’s “urination signals” not just during the Chinese New Year. In daily life, without drinking a lot of water, alcohol or caffeine, adults should urinate every 2-3 hours. If water intake is insufficient, the increased urine concentration will stimulate the bladder and cause a feeling of urgency. Therefore, instead of holding your urine, it is better to develop a good habit of replenishing water and urinating regularly.