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If you live in Bengaluru, you’re probably huddled up in a cosy blanket right about now, armed with a cup of hot cocoa in one hand and the TV remote on the other. And then, a maddeningly familiar shiver runs through you — the same shiver that has frustrated you several times in the past few hours: you need to pee, and quick!<br /><br />While it's a topic many prefer to avoid, cold-weather-induced <keyword id="20218958" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="urination" source="keywords">urination</keyword> is a phenomenon that most people will experience at some point in their lives. The underlying reason? A curious process known as <keyword id="22216770" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cold-diuresis" source="keywords">cold diuresis</keyword>.<br /><h2>Nature's heat preservation mechanism</h2>There are many reasons that can contribute to <keyword id="22216771" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="excessive-urination" source="keywords">excessive urination</keyword> in <keyword id="19924600" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cold-weather" source="keywords">cold weather</keyword>. For instance, when temperatures drop, your body goes into survival mode to prevent <keyword id="20283762" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hypothermia" source="keywords">hypothermia</keyword>. One of the primary methods it uses to keep you warm is constricting your blood vessels, which reduces blood flow to your skin and conserves heat around your vital organs.<br /><br />This vascular constriction leads to an increase in <keyword id="20000501" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="blood-pressure" source="keywords">blood pressure</keyword> since the same amount of blood is now circulating through a smaller space. In response, your kidneys kick into high gear to filter out excess fluid from your blood to reduce this pressure. The end result is more trips to the bathroom.<br /><br />Further, cold weather can cause muscles to tense up, including those in the pelvic floor. This extra pressure on the bladder can increase the need to urinate. In winter, we sweat less and often drink less water. The reduced sweat means more fluid needs to be processed through the kidneys, leading to a fuller bladder. <br /><br />Furthermore, dry winter air can lead to dehydration, increasing the risk of <keyword id="20763172" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="urinary-tract-infections" source="keywords">urinary tract infections</keyword> (UTIs), which can also cause frequent urination. Many studies have shown a UTI spike during the <keyword id="19953533" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="winter-season" source="keywords">winter season</keyword>.<br /><h2>Relax, it’s not that serious (mostly)</h2>Interestingly, there's no definitive research pinpointing the exact temperatures or conditions that trigger cold diuresis. However, scientists agree that it is not typically a sign of a serious condition. If you're among those who feel the need to pee more when it's chilly, you can usually chalk it up to your body's natural response to the cold.<br /><br />For some, the increased urge to urinate in cold weather can indicate a condition called <keyword id="21387042" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="overactive-bladder" source="keywords">overactive bladder</keyword> (OAB). OAB is characterised by a frequent need to urinate and can be exacerbated by cold weather. Symptoms include increased trips to the bathroom, feeling like your bladder fills up more quickly, a sudden, uncontrollable urge to pee, frequent nighttime urination, and occasional leaks due to strong urges.<br /><h2>Here’s what you can do about it</h2>Since cold diuresis is a signal that your body is trying to ward off hypothermia, bundling up is essential. Wear layers and protect your extremities. Hydration is also important. Even though you might not feel as thirsty in the cold, it’s essential to drink water to compensate for the increased urination. <br /><br />A few extra bathroom trips are normal, but if you find it excessive or accompanied by discomfort, consult a healthcare provider to rule out conditions like OAB. For those with OAB, using incontinence products like bladder pads can prevent leaks and accidents, making it easier to enjoy winter activities.<br />

Why do you need to pee more when it gets cold?

<ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Holding your pee can be uncomfortable but distracting yourself with games and singing can help temporarily.</strong></li><li>Changing position, like crossing and uncrossing your legs, or doing the "pee dance" can also help.</li><li>When you do get the chance to urinate, relax and give your bladder time to empty completely.</li></ul><ul class="summary-list"></ul><p>Most people pee about <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3206217/pdf/ijcp0065-1026.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eight times a day</a> and once at night. That often there's bound to be a time, or two, when the urge strikes at an inconvenient time like when you're planning an epic <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-long-can-you-go-without-peeing-2013-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">filibuster</a> or you're in traffic for hours. </p><p>"Sometimes we have no choice but to hold urine past our urge to urinate," says Brian Norouzi, MD, a urologist with <a href="https://www.providence.org/doctors/profile/851215-brian-behrooz-norouzi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Providence St. Joseph Hospital</a>.</p><p>The brain and bladder <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5714479/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">both control urination</a>, so — within limits — healthy adults can choose when and where they go. To buy yourself time, try these tips for how to hold your pee when there's no other choice. </p><h2><strong>1. Distract yourself</strong></h2><p>The best tried and true way to hold your pee is by distracting yourself, says Karyn Eilber, MD, a urologist with <a href="https://bio.cedars-sinai.org/eilberk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cedars Sinai</a>. A good conversation, a heated debate, or a favorite song can all take your mind off the physical sensation of needing to pee, in the same way that <a href="https://journals.lww.com/pain/fulltext/2017/06000/mechanisms_of_distraction_in_acute_pain_perception.4.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">distraction can help with pain</a>, especially for kids. </p><h2><strong>2. Play a game</strong></h2><p>If chatting or singing is no longer doing the trick, try to heighten your distraction by getting competitive.<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3052404/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Research</a> has found that electronic gaming can reduce painful sensations more than passive distraction like watching a show. This could be anything from a guessing game, trivia, a word puzzle, a video game, a card game, or anything in between. </p><h2><strong>3. Change positions</strong></h2><p>There's a reason many of us do the "pee dance" when we've got to go. Moving into a different position can alleviate pressure on the bladder, making the urge less severe, says Norouzi. </p><p>He recommends elongating your torso, but not stretching the abs too much, which can increase pressure. Some people find crossed legs helps, while others say this makes the sensation worse. Experiment to find what works for you. </p><h2><strong>4. Fart. Yes, fart. </strong></h2><p>Speaking of pressure on the bladder — passing gas can <a href="https://theconversation.com/health-check-what-happens-when-you-hold-in-a-fart-98310" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reduce internal pressure</a> and give you more time to reach a toilet, says Norouzi. Just keep in mind this requires some careful muscle control. </p><p>You need to relax your anal spinchter muscles to release a fart while keeping the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482438/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">urethral sphincter</a> — the muscle that controls the flow of urine out of the bladder — closed tight.</p><h2><strong>5. Turn down the A.C. </strong></h2><p>Being too cold can cause your body to produce more urine. This is a condition known as <a href="https://arkansasurology.com/what-is-cold-diuresis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cold diuresis</a>, which happens in response to blood pressure changes in very cold temperatures where you're at risk for hypothermia. </p><p>Still, adjusting the temperature even when it's not that cold certainly won't hurt, and may give you a much-needed distraction. </p><h2><strong>6. Lay off the water</strong></h2><p>Ultimately the best way to avoid needing to hold your pee is to plan ahead when you know your bathroom access will be limited, says Eilber. </p><p>Excess water — more than your body needs to function — is passed very quickly, within <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21997675/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5 to 20 minutes</a>. If you're preparing for a long car ride or speech, avoiding fluids in the hour or so before you depart can be helpful. </p><p>A regularly hydrated person should be able to go at least 3 hours without peeing, she says. </p><h2><strong>7. When you have the chance, go even if you don't think you have to</strong></h2><p>When you have access to a toilet — like at a rest stop on a road trip — it's a good idea to go, even if you don't think you need to. This is known as preemptive voiding. </p><p>By allowing your bladder to empty completely, you'll be able to wait a longer time until your next bathroom stop. </p><h2><strong>8. Train your bladder</strong></h2><p>If you often find yourself in situations where you need to hold your pee, you might benefit from <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/training-your-bladder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bladder training</a>, says Eilber. This involves urinating at set intervals, like every hour. </p><p>Each week, you increase the time by five minutes, until you're peeing at an interval that is convenient and healthy for you. </p><p>"You're physically stretching out the muscle," Eilber says, allowing the bladder to hold more urine comfortably. Allow about six weeks to see a difference. </p><h2><strong>9. Pee completely</strong></h2><p>When you finally reach a toilet, you might have trouble letting urine flow. That's because your pelvic floor muscles have been tightly clenched to hold pee in, says Norouzi. </p><p>Allow yourself 5-10 minutes on the toilet to fully let your muscles relax and ensure that your bladder is fully emptied, he says.</p><h2><strong>Is it bad to hold your pee for a long time?</strong></h2><p>It's ok to hold your urine in emergency situations, but you shouldn't make it a habit, says Norouzi. </p><p>Delaying urination can <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/what-happens-when-you-hold-in-pee-science-2017" target="_blank" rel="noopener">weaken your bladder muscles</a> and leave you prone to infections like urinary tract infections. Plus, sooner or later your bladder won't be able to hold any more urine. </p><p>"At some point it's not mind over matter. You might just wet yourself," say Eilber. </p><h2><strong>How much pee can a bladder hold?</strong></h2><p>The average adult bladder can hold <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3206217/pdf/ijcp0065-1026.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">300-400 milliliters (ml) </a>of urine. That's about 10-13 fluid ounces or more than a cup of liquid. </p><p>But you can expect to produce <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003425.htm#:~:text=The%20normal%20range%20for%2024,vary%20slightly%20among%20different%20laboratories." target="_blank" rel="noopener">800-2,000 ml</a> of urine each day. Hence the need to pee multiple times throughout the day.</p><h2><strong>Insider's takeaway</strong></h2><p>Needing to pee when there's no toilet available can leave you feeling desperate. Distracting yourself, playing a game, changing positions, changing temperature, and even farting might temporarily help, but sooner or later you risk having an accident if you delay urinating. </p><p>There's no danger from occasionally holding your pee, but doing so regularly can affect your muscle control and lead to infection. Plus, it's just uncomfortable, says Eilber.</p><p>"There's nothing wrong with postponing if you have to," she says. But why wait?</p>

9 surprising tricks to hold your pee just a tad longer when there's no bathroom in sight

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Why do you need to pee more when it gets cold?

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