Can a living person really die from holding back urine? I'm not trying to scare you, but there are people who have died from holding back urine.

Expert of this article: Li Tian, ​​Chief Physician, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University

In our catchphrases, we often hear this old saying: Can a living person be suffocated to death by urine?

What it means is to tell us not to sit and wait for death. There are always more solutions than problems, and there is always a way to solve any problem.

Source: @CCTV.com

But from a medical point of view, it is possible for a living person to be "held to death by urine"! Don't take it as a joke!

So, I suggest you go to the bathroom first and then come back to read this article.

How is urine produced?

Generally speaking, urine production often includes three links: filtration by the glomerulus, reabsorption by the renal tubules and collecting ducts, and secretion and excretion by the renal tubules and collecting ducts.

That is to say, when the water we consume enters the gastrointestinal tract, it is absorbed into the blood through the mesenteric blood vessels of the gastrointestinal tract, filtered through the glomerular basement membrane into the renal capsule in the blood circulation, reabsorbed by the renal tubules and collecting ducts, and returned to the blood, and part of the liquid flows into the renal tubules.

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The kidneys on both sides form about 125 ml of filtrate per minute every day, for a total of 180 L throughout the day, and about 1 ml of urine is finally formed through the kidneys per minute, for a total of about 1.5 L per day. That is, the urine volume is 1% of the filtrate volume, and the urine is then transported to the bladder through the ureters for storage.

When the urine accumulation in the bladder reaches 300-500 ml, the various pressure sensors on the bladder wall will be excited because the bladder is filled with urine and produce the urge to urinate. The bladder will then send us a signal through contraction: it is time to urinate, and then the final product of metabolism - urine will be discharged from the body through the urethra.

Can a living person be killed by holding his urine?

Holding urine is not a good habit, and "being held to death by urine" is not an exaggeration. Possible diseases or causes of death by holding urine include:

Prostatic hyperplasia

The prostate is a male-specific accessory gland, known as the "gland of life". It is located deep in the pelvis and surrounds the beginning of the urethra. In other words, the male urethra passes through the prostate.

When the prostate stroma and glandular components proliferate and increase in size, the gland will squeeze the prostate part of the urethra inward. In severe cases, it may even cause complete blockage of the urethra and cause urine retention.

As the pressure of urine stored in the bladder increases, the bladder expands like a balloon, causing the bladder muscles to passively overstretch. Over time, they will lose elasticity and damage the bladder's contraction function.

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When the bladder is gradually filled with urine that cannot be discharged, the urine will flow back into the kidneys, causing bilateral hydronephrosis, pyelonephritis, etc., resulting in chronic renal failure. In severe cases, it may even lead to uremia. If not controlled in time, it will eventually threaten life. So, from this perspective, "a living person is killed by holding back urine" is not a joke.

In addition, other conditions may also cause urinary retention, such as urinary tract outlet obstruction caused by bladder stones, bladder foreign bodies, urethral stones, urethral foreign bodies, urethral stenosis, urethral tumors, foreskin infection and adhesions, and certain neurological diseases such as spinal cord injury, spina bifida, etc., which cause bladder urination dysfunction and can also cause patients to hold their urine for a long time.

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Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular accidents

Holding urine can cause both physical and psychological tension, leading to emotional excitement, irritability, and high blood pressure. For elderly people who already suffer from chronic diseases such as cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and arteriosclerosis, it becomes a high-risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular accidents, which may cause cerebral hemorrhage, arrhythmia, angina pectoris, and even sudden death in severe cases.

Urinary syncope

Urinary syncope is often a reflex syncope, which usually occurs when people get up at night to urinate or at the end of urination. There are usually no signs before the onset.

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This is because after holding urine for too long, one suddenly urinates forcefully, causing the nerves to become overexcited, resulting in an increase in intrathoracic pressure. After the bladder is emptied too quickly, the pressure suddenly decreases, and the vagus nerve reflex causes bradycardia, resulting in a decrease in return blood pressure and insufficient cerebral blood flow, which causes syncope. Although urinary syncope will not directly lead to death, if there are many underlying diseases in the body, syncope may induce sudden cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. If it is not discovered in time and not treated actively, the probability of sudden death will greatly increase.

Bladder rupture

When the bladder is overfilled due to holding urine, the bladder wall will become thinner due to expansion. At this time, if the lower abdomen is suddenly hit by external force, it is likely to cause the bladder to rupture, and a large amount of urine will flow into the abdominal cavity, causing acute peritonitis and even septic shock. If rescue is not timely, it will indeed be life-threatening.

What are correct urination habits?

Never underestimate the harm caused by long-term urine holding. In daily life, we should pay attention to the following points to ensure healthy urination:

1. Do not hold your urine. Urinate in time when you feel the urge to urinate. When you get up, sit down first, then stand up slowly. Take a deep breath when urinating, and do not hold your breath too much;

2. If you don’t have any special diseases, it is recommended to drink more than 2L of water every day and drink less carbonated drinks, strong tea and strong coffee;

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3. Quit smoking, drinking and spicy food, keep warm and avoid overwork;

4. Actively participate in physical exercise, improve physical fitness, combine sitting and standing, and avoid sitting for long periods of time;

5. If you experience urinary difficulties, increased nocturia, frequent urination, urgency, or pain when urinating, you should seek medical attention immediately and do not delay the treatment.

6. Have regular physical examinations and actively cooperate in the treatment of various chronic diseases.

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