An ITV doctor has cautioned that a habit many people in the UK share before leaving the house could actually be a mistake with long-term consequences. Appearing on Lorraine, Dr Amir Khan, an NHS GP, was asked by host Ranvir Singh: "Is it wrong to make yourself go for a quick wee before you go out or go to bed?"
What the doctor said about 'just in case' wees
Dr Khan explained that doing this occasionally is not a problem, but doing it regularly can train the bladder to need emptying when it is only partially full. He said: "It's not wrong if you do it every now and again. You know, when you're going somewhere where you may not have easy access to a loo, it's okay to go for a just in case wee."
He added: "But if you're doing that a lot, that can actually train your bladder to need to go to the toilet when you don't need to because it's getting used to emptying when it's only a little bit full, not fully full. And that will send you messages up to your brain to say, 'Right, you need to go when it's not full.' And that in the long run can lead to urge incontinence, that running to the toilet because you feel like you need to go when you don't actually need to."
Bladder training and hydration advice
Dr Khan recommended bladder training exercises for those trying to build up to going out or before bed. He advised: "The best thing to do for this is these bladder training exercises. So, your bladder isn't full, but it just thinks it's full. So, when you get that urge to go, just give it a few minutes, perhaps two or three minutes to begin with, and every day just increase that time you before you go to the loo by a couple of minutes."
He also noted that staying hydrated is beneficial for the bladder, saying: "Now, this might sound counterproductive, but staying hydrated is really good for your bladder as well and helps with incontinence because concentrated urine irritates the bladder more. makes you want to go to the toilet more. So, the more you dilute your urine, the less likely you will want to go. And of course, those all important pelvic floor exercises."
Mental preparation and pelvic floor exercises
For mental preparation, Dr Khan offered a simple method: "Remember to think about it as if you're on the toilet having a wee and then the Amazon driver comes with your all important parcel. You have to stop midway through and run downstairs."
He continued: "That's your front pelvic floor muscles. And then your back ones, you're in a lift and Taylor Swift and Beyonce's in there. You need to pass wind, but you're holding it in because you don't want them to think you smell. That's your back pelvic floor muscles. So, practice that throughout the day."
