What are the harms of holding urine for a long time?
Long-term urine retention can lead to various health issues such as bladder wall thickening, chronic cystitis, and urinary tract stones. The specific analysis is as follows:
1. Bladder Wall Thickening
After prolonged urine retention, the bladder wall may undergo excessive contraction during urination. If this occurs frequently, it may cause compensatory hypertrophy of the detrusor muscle, resulting in thickening of the bladder wall. If normal urine excretion is already affected, it is important to seek prompt medical treatment at a qualified healthcare facility, possibly requiring surgery to relieve urethral stricture.
2. Chronic Cystitis
Urine temperature is typically ideal for bacterial growth. Long-term urine retention may allow bacteria to proliferate within the bladder, leading to bacterial infection and chronic cystitis. Patients should follow medical advice and use medications such as levofloxacin hydrochloride capsules or cefuroxime sodium for injection as part of treatment.
3. Urinary Tract Stones
If long-term urine retention causes urine to reflux into the urinary tract, it may promote the deposition of stone-forming crystals in the urine, leading to urinary tract stones. Treatment at a qualified medical institution is required, possibly involving procedures such as ureterolithotomy (surgical removal of stones via incision in the ureter).
In addition, long-term urine retention may also increase the risk of pyelonephritis. It is recommended to avoid holding urine for extended periods in daily life.