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How long should it take to empty the bladder? Probably not many of us have ever counted it. Experts, however, warn that it is worth paying attention to time. If we pee for more or less than 20 seconds, it may be a sign that our health is not doing well. Why so many and who calculated it? The answers may surprise you.
- Urologists keep repeating to monitor their urine
- Its color can tell us a lot about our health
- As it turns out, the duration of the emptying of the bladder can also be significant
- Overall, peeing should take around 20 seconds, says Janis Miller, an experienced nurse and researcher at the University of Michigan
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage
The 20-second rule when urinating
The “20-second bladder principle” is based on research by mechanical engineering students at the Georgia Institute of Technology. They worked on a project to develop a better water tower model. To study the principles of fluid dynamics, they visited the zoo and watched how long it took the animals to pee from start to finish.
They found that almost every mammal, from elephants to rabbits, takes an average of 21 seconds to empty their bladder. For humans, this is equivalent to one cup of liquid, or a quarter of a liter, by volume. “This means that if you drink about eight glasses of water a day, you should pee eight times,” says urologist Dr. Nicole Eisenbrown.
Because animals are driven by a biological urge to pee – unlike humans, who can be influenced by many other factors – the 21-second rule has become a staple measure for mammals larger than a hamster.
Students were awarded the Ig Nobel Prize in Physics for their discovery. Ig Noble are humorous or mocking counterparts of the Nobel Prize for scientific works that seem to be funny or unnecessary, but sometimes “thought-provoking”.
The discovery about the bladder may be strange, but it can lead us to follow the rules about our bladder health. “If your bladder is full enough it should take about 21 seconds to empty, rounding it to 20 seconds,” says Janice Miller. By observing the duration of bladder emptying, she said, it was possible to study bladder habits.
- Frequent urination – causes, treatment. What does frequent urination show?
When we pee much less or much longer than these 20 seconds, it’s worth answering a few questions. Or maybe we drink too little water during the day? Or maybe too much? Do we make the right number of pee breaks a day? Do we use the bathroom more than we need because, for example, it is the only place that provides privacy at home or at work?
What are our bladder habits talking about?
“Usually, when your bladder inflates, it starts to inflate like a balloon, and as the pressure rises, it sends signals to the brain,” says physical therapist Heba Shaheed.
As she points out, the brain also talks to the bladder, sending messages such as “Now is not a good time” or “Don’t close your mucus.” When this time is right, there comes a time when we are on the toilet, then we can open the “flood gate” or the urethral sphincter. But this communication between the brain and bladder can start to malfunction when we start to pee too often or too rarely.
- Read also: Urinary incontinence
This is the case, for example, of busy people who do not have time to go to the toilet. And when their work is over, they rush to the toilet and pee for 40 seconds. When that is the case, stretching your bladder regularly will cause the brain to ignore signals from the bladder that it is full.
«Nurse’s bladder»
This is a condition Dr. Eisenbrown calls the “nurse’s bladder” or “teacher’s bladder” as it is common in these professions.
“Some people can’t miss school or are on duty, so they deliberately delay going to the bathroom,” he says. Long distance truck drivers and shift workers also have this problem.
- What does brown urine show?
Over time, chronic stretching of the bladder will stop it from working properly. – The bladder becomes only slightly bigger at first, then bigger and bigger. Over the years, the bladder muscles lose their ability to stretch and eventually stop working properly, says Dr. Eisenbrown.
Nefrolfix – a herbal tea that you can buy at Medonet Market at a favorable price, supports the proper functioning of the kidneys. See what other preparations have a positive effect on the kidneys.
Overactive bladder
The opposite can also happen. If you use your toilet breaks more to relax than just need, you may start peeing more than you need to. This can cause the brain to receive messages that the bladder is full when it is not. As a result, the blisters may become overactive – they will feel the need to empty even if there is not much urine.
- You can test your urine without leaving your home – you can check up to 10 parameters
Medications can be prescribed for Overactive Bladder Syndrome, but sometimes it is enough to “train” the bladder or change your lifestyle, and the communication between the brain and the bladder will change as a result.
As Dr. Miller points out, the 20-second bladder rule will help us understand our habits, so that we can make changes that will improve health.
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