A doctor has issued an urgent warning about a common daily habit that many people may not think twice about: urinating in the shower. Dr Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas, who goes by ‘@ScrambledJam’ on TikTok, cautioned that this practice could train the brain to associate the sound of running water with the need to urinate, potentially leading to issues when washing hands, doing dishes, or entering bodies of water.
“We want to avoid training our bladder to associate certain signals with the urge to pee,” Dr Jeffrey-Thomas said. “In this case, peeing in the shower associates the sound of running water with urination or with submersion in water.” She warned that this could transition into being triggered by other sounds of running water or when in water, causing problems for the pelvic floor.
The doctor also advised against “peeing just in case,” describing it as a bad habit. She recommended avoiding pushing out urine and hovering over the toilet. Pelvic floor exercises, known as Kegels, should only be performed after consulting a specialist, she added.
For those experiencing leaks, the NHS lists ten things to prevent urinary incontinence, including pelvic floor exercises. The health body advises: “Breathe normally and relax while you’re doing pelvic floor exercises. Aim to gradually increase the hold to 10 seconds with each squeeze.” Other recommendations include stopping smoking, avoiding heavy lifting, losing excess weight, treating constipation, and limiting caffeine and alcohol intake.
The NHS also warns against limiting fluid intake, as this can reduce bladder capacity and worsen incontinence. It advises avoiding spicy and acidic foods, such as curries and citrus fruits, which can irritate the bladder.
