In our mantra, we often hear the old saying: Can a living person suffocate in urine?
It means to tell us, don’t sit still, there are always more solutions than difficulties, and there is always a solution to any problem.
But from a medical point of view, living people may indeed be “choked 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 this article.
How is urine produced?
In general, urine production often involves three steps: Glomerular filtration, renal tubule and collecting duct reabsorption, renal tubule and collecting duct secretion and excretion.
In other words, when the water we ingest enters the gastrointestinal tract, it is absorbed into the blood through the mesenteric vessels of the gastrointestinal tract, and filtered through the glomerular basement membrane in the blood circulation. In the renal capsule, it is reabsorbed through the renal tubules and collecting ducts, and returned to the blood, and part of the fluid flows into the renal tubules.
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The filtrate formed by the kidneys on both sides of each day is about 125ml per minute, and a total of 180L in the whole day , and the kidney finally forms about 1ml of urine per minute, about 1.5L per day, that is, the urine volume is 1% of the filtrate volume, and then the urine is transported to the bladder through the ureter for storage.
When the urine accumulation in the bladder reaches 300～500ml, the various pressure sensors on the bladder wall will be excited because the bladder is filled with urine and produce the urge to urinate. Bladder It signals to us through contractions that it is time to urinate, and then the end product of metabolism, urine, is excreted through the urethra.
Can a living person suffocate?
It is really not a good habit to suffocate urine, and “suffocated to death by urine” is by no means an alarmist. The possible diseases or causes of suffocation by urine are:
< strong>Hyperplasia of the prostate
The prostate is a male-specific accessory gonad, known as the “life gland”, which resides deep in the pelvis and surrounds the beginning of the urethra, that is, the male urethra through the prostate.
When the prostatic stromal and glandular components proliferate and increase in size, the glands press the urethra-prostatic portion inward. In severe cases, it can even cause a complete blockage of the urethra, resulting in urinary retention.
As the pressure of the urine accumulated in the bladder increases, the bladder is expanded like a balloon, causing the bladder muscle to be passively overstretched, which will lose its elasticity over time, damaging The contractile function of the bladder.
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When the bladder is gradually filled with urine that cannot be discharged, Urine will reflux into the kidneys, causing hydronephrosis, pyelonephritis, etc., resulting in chronic renal failure, severe cases, even uremia. If not controlled in time, it will eventually endanger life. So, from this point of view, “a living person suffocates urine” is not a joke.
In addition, other conditions may also cause urinary retention, such as bladder stones, bladder foreign bodies, urethral stones, urethral foreign bodies, urethral strictures, urethral tumors, foreskin infection adhesions, etc. Outlet obstruction, as well as bladder voiding dysfunction caused by certain neurological diseases such as spinal cord injury and spina bifida, can also cause patients to hold urine for a long time.
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Cardiovascular accident
Holding back urine will cause high physical and psychological tension, emotional agitation, irritability, and increased blood pressure. For the elderly who suffer from cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis and other chronic diseases , it has become a high-risk factor for inducing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular accidents, which may lead to cerebral hemorrhage, arrhythmia, angina pectoris, and even sudden death in severe cases.
Urinary syncope
Urinary syncope is often a reflex syncope that occurs when a person wakes up at night to urinate or urinate Occurs at the end of the attack, and there are no symptoms before the attack.
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This is due to the sudden forceful urination after holding the urine for too long, causing the nerves to become excessive Excited, causing the intrathoracic pressure to rise, the pressure drops sharply after the bladder is emptied too quickly, and the vagus nerve reflex causes bradycardia, resulting in a drop in return blood pressure and insufficient supply of cerebral blood flow, thereby causing syncope. Although urination syncope does not directly lead to death, if there are many underlying diseases in the body, it may induce sudden cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases after syncope. will greatly increase.
Bladder rupture
When the bladder overfills due to holding back urine, the bladder wall becomes thinner as it expands. At this time, if the lower abdomen is suddenly impacted by external force, it is likely to cause bladder rupture, and a large amount of urine will flow into the abdominal cavity, causing acute peritonitis and even septic shock. If the rescue is not timely, it will indeed be life-threatening.
What is the correct urination habit?
NeverTo underestimate the harm caused by holding back urine for a long time, in daily life, we should pay attention to the following points to ensure healthy urination:
1. When getting up, take a seat first, then stand slowly, take deep breaths when urinating, and do not hold your breath too much;
2. In the absence of special diseases, drinking more than 2L of water per day is recommended >, drink less carbonated drinks, strong tea and espresso, etc.;
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3, < strong>Quit smoking, alcohol and spicy food, keep warm, and avoid overwork;
4. Actively participate in physical exercise, enhance physical fitness, combine sitting and standing, and avoid prolonged sitting ;
5. When symptoms such as difficulty urinating, increased nocturia, frequent urination, urgency, and dysuria occur, it is necessary to seek medical attention in time without delaying the disease;
< p>6. Regular physical examination, and actively cooperate in the treatment of various chronic diseases.
Expert in this article: Li Tian, Chief Physician of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University