How long does it take you to go to the bathroom? You may have never counted before, but giving it a shot might teach you something. According to Dr. Sumanta Mishra, the best urologist in Bhubaneswar, counting the seconds it takes you to urinate is an excellent technique to self-monitor your bladder habits.
Dr. Sumanta Mishra, a prominent urologist in Bhubaneswar, has an excellent academic background and considerable expertise in urology. He is currently the Head of Renal Transplant Surgery at Bhubaneswar’s KIMS Hospital
Dr. Sumanta Mishra is a urologist who specializes in prostate surgery, stone removal, laparoscopic kidney surgery, uro-oncology, gynecological urology, pediatric urology, and male sexual health. Kidney transplants are one of his specialties.
He was lucky to have worked at Christian Medical College, Vellore, one of the premier colleges in the country. He received substantial hands-on expertise dealing with a variety of urological operations during his time there. This is why he is regarded as one of the best doctors and is well-known for his outstanding urological therapy and surgery. In terms of treatment quality and success rate, he is a master.
Peeing should take about 20 seconds on average. Dr. Mishra recommends using a timer or simply counting. You’re probably holding your pee for too long or going too frequently if you’re much above or under 20 seconds.
What is the ‘Bladder Rule of 20 Seconds’?
The “20-second bladder rule,” as he refers to it, is based on student research. The kids were working on a project to come up with a better water tower design. They went to the zoo and counted how long it took animals to pee from start to finish to investigate a simpler version of fluid dynamics.
They determined that practically every species, from elephants to rabbits, takes 21 seconds to empty their bladder on average. This is around one cup (eight ounces) of liquid for humans. According to Dr. Mishra, a urologist in Bhubaneswar, if you consume approximately eight cups of water each day, you should pee eight times.
The 20 seconds rule offered a bladder baseline for animals more significant than a hamster since other mammals are motivated by a biological urge to urinate, unlike humans, who influence various events.
Whether it’s strange or not, the zoo study presents an easy-to-follow bladder health recommendation. It should take about 21 seconds to empty your bladder if it is suitably filled. For simplicity’s sake, Dr. Mishra recommends rounding down to 20 seconds and keeping track to determine where you fall on the spectrum. Examine your bladder patterns if you find that you urinate for significantly less or more than 20 seconds practically every time: Are you consuming too much or too little water? Are you taking enough potty breaks throughout the day? Or do you use the bathroom more than you need to since it’s the only area in your house where you can be alone? Your responses can assist you in improving your bladder habits.
Why are bladder habits important?
As your bladder fills, it inflates like a balloon and transmits messages to your brain as the pressure rises, as the physician explains. Your brain also communicates with your bladder, telling it, “Hey, now isn’t a good moment.” “Don’t let the floodgates open.” You can open your urethral sphincter, which works as those floodgates, when the timing is correct (i.e., when you’re on the toilet). When you pee too frequently or seldom, though, this brain-bladder communication can start to go awry.
Let’s pretend you’re the type of person who gets so engrossed in their work that you forget to get up and use the restroom. It’s 6 p.m., and you’re on your way to the bathroom for a 40-second release. Eventually, your brain will ignore the “we’re full” messages, and overstretching your bladder will become a habit.
Because it’s widespread in these professions, Dr. Mishra refers to it as “nurse’s bladder” or “teacher’s bladder.” He explains, “People can’t leave the classroom or are on a shift, so they purposefully delay going to the bathroom.” This issue may also affect long-haul truckers and shift workers. Chronically over-extending your bladder, on the other hand, will lead it to stop operating correctly over time, according to Dr. Mishra. He warns, “It’s a slippery slope.” “Your bladder just gets a little bit bigger, then a little bit bigger, and then a little bit bigger.” Your bladder muscles lose their capacity to stretch over time and eventually stop operating correctly.
It is also possible for the opposite to occur. You might pee more than you need if you take toilet breaks to relax. As a result, you can develop an overactive bladder, which causes you to feel compelled to peel even if you aren’t producing much liquid. For hyperactive bladder, doctors may give medication, but they may also recommend bladder training, which is essentially retraining your brain-bladder communication. According to Dr. Mishra, the best urologist in Bhubaneswar, this educates your bladder to tell your brain it’s full even when it isn’t.
In a nutshell, the 20-second bladder rule aids in understanding your habits so that you can make adjustments that are beneficial to your health. Dr. Mishra replies, “That’s why I enjoy it.” “Because you can teach yourself how to live a healthy lifestyle.”