When it comes to answering nature’s call, speed and discretion are key, especially in public restrooms. But did you know that squatting over the toilet might not be as good for you as you think? Let’s delve deeper into why this seemingly harmless practice could pose problems over time.
Increased Risk of Urinary Tract Infections
Did you know that squatting over the toilet can cause your pelvic floor muscles to be around 40% tenser? This means your bladder doesn’t fully relax, leaving residual urine behind. This can foster bacterial growth, heightening the risk of urinary tract infections.
Persistent Urge to Urinate
Ever felt the constant urge to pee, even when you’ve just gone? Squatting over the toilet can exacerbate this sensation. Residual urine in your bladder can leak out when you sneeze, jump, laugh, or cough, leading to both embarrassment and a perpetual need to empty your bladder.
Bladder Weakness Over Time
Repeated squatting over the toilet can condition your pelvic muscles to not relax fully, resulting in bladder weakness over time. This impedes proper bladder contraction and emptying.
Embracing the Full Squat
Instead of a partial squat, consider adopting a full squat. Lowering yourself more on the toilet allows for deeper relaxation of pelvic and bladder muscles. Opting for a full squat may actually foster better bladder health.
Your bladder can become weaker over time.
When you hover or squat over the toilet to pee, you’re not engaging your pelvic muscles naturally. Regularly using the toilet this way can train your muscles to stay tense, potentially leading to a weaker bladder over time.
If you must relieve yourself, then fully squatting is preferred over the semi-squat.
A full squat, like the one you do when you urgently need to go and there’s no toilet around, allows your body to go lower than a seated position. This position may be healthier because it lets your pelvic and bladder muscles relax more fully compared to the semi-squat used when hovering over a toilet.
What technique do you use when faced with a public toilet?
