- [Narrator] You're about an hour and a half into the movie
- [Narrator] You're about an hour and a half into the movie

and boy are you regretting that large soda.
and boy are you regretting that large soda.

You can hold it, sure, but should you?
You can hold it, sure, but should you?

Peeing is pretty important.
Peeing is pretty important.

Your kidneys filter excess water and waste out of your blood
Your kidneys filter excess water and waste out of your blood

and that urine needs somewhere to go, your bladder.
and that urine needs somewhere to go, your bladder.

Normally, it will hold one to two cups comfortably
Normally, it will hold one to two cups comfortably

but if you make a habit out of holding your pee
but if you make a habit out of holding your pee

for long periods of time,
for long periods of time,

you can actually stretch your bladder
you can actually stretch your bladder

to easily hold even more.
to easily hold even more.

One study found that nurses who often held it in all day
One study found that nurses who often held it in all day

due to job constraints had nearly double
due to job constraints had nearly double

the normal bladder capacity
the normal bladder capacity

and turns out they were totally fine
and turns out they were totally fine

but that doesn't mean that you should hold it in
but that doesn't mean that you should hold it in

if you can help it
if you can help it

'cause your bladder might not be the only thing to stretch.
'cause your bladder might not be the only thing to stretch.

You may also stretch your external sphincter muscles.
You may also stretch your external sphincter muscles.

Those are important muscles
Those are important muscles

connected to the outside of your bladder
connected to the outside of your bladder

that are the gatekeepers of your golden liquid.
that are the gatekeepers of your golden liquid.

Clench them and you hold in the gold.
Clench them and you hold in the gold.

Relax them and you release the flow
Relax them and you release the flow

but if you overstretch them, you can actually lose control.
but if you overstretch them, you can actually lose control.

This is rare and it usually takes decades
This is rare and it usually takes decades

of holding it in too long to reach that point
of holding it in too long to reach that point

but once you do, it can lead to some awkward
but once you do, it can lead to some awkward

and even dangerous situations.
and even dangerous situations.

For example, with less overall control,
For example, with less overall control,

you risk leaking urine when your bladder is full
you risk leaking urine when your bladder is full

and not emptying it all the way when you finally do go.
and not emptying it all the way when you finally do go.

Not only can this increase your need to urinate more often
Not only can this increase your need to urinate more often

since your bladder fills up quicker,
since your bladder fills up quicker,

it can also lead to a serious disorder
it can also lead to a serious disorder

called urinary retention
called urinary retention

where you end up with too much urine
where you end up with too much urine

in your bladder for too long
in your bladder for too long

and since your bladder is basically a warm,
and since your bladder is basically a warm,

wet bag of body waste,
wet bag of body waste,

it's the perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria
it's the perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria

that will cause all sorts of damage.
that will cause all sorts of damage.

Even worse, if you're really unlucky
Even worse, if you're really unlucky

and retain too much urine, it may back up into your kidneys.
and retain too much urine, it may back up into your kidneys.

This can cause kidney failure and ultimately death.
This can cause kidney failure and ultimately death.

The good news is you're more likely
The good news is you're more likely

to just lose control of your muscles and pee
to just lose control of your muscles and pee

way before your bladder hits this point.
way before your bladder hits this point.

Why not reduce the risk altogether
Why not reduce the risk altogether

and just go to the bathroom?
and just go to the bathroom?

Okay, I get it, the movie is absolutely gripping.
Okay, I get it, the movie is absolutely gripping.

Luckily, you'll be fine if you only hold it in
Luckily, you'll be fine if you only hold it in

for a short time every once in a while.
for a short time every once in a while.

So go ahead, hang in there.
So go ahead, hang in there.

Just don't make a habit of it.
Just don't make a habit of it.

Any other weird science questions you have?
Any other weird science questions you have?

Ask us in the comments.
Ask us in the comments.

(screaming)
(screaming)