You've been peeing wrong all your life, according to research

It's one of the most natural things in the world that we usually don't pay much attention to. Except when we feel a distinct pressure and realize that we shouldn't be so slow and make the trip to the toilet, where we often empty ourselves within seconds. Exactly how many seconds varies for each person.

The right pee time

Using high-speed video analysis, a team at Georgia Tec found that mammals over three kilograms take an average of 21 seconds to empty their bladders, as reported by Heute. For this they won the 2015 Ig Nobel Prize, a satirical award to honour curious scientific achievements.

We humans should also take an example from their findings. Because if we need to pee longer, bladder overload, which probably occurs over time, leads to malfunctions. If we pee for a shorter time, an overactive bladder can develop, which signals a feeling of fullness to the brain too quickly.

The right position

We can also do a lot wrong when it comes to positioning. And that's where it's said: Sitting down, please! Sorry to all those who like to pee in the shower.

In this viral TikTok video, Dr Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas explains that urinating while standing up:

1. Makes the connection in the brain between urinating and running water. And who wants to urinate while washing dishes or hands?
2. (For people with female anatomy) prevents the bladder from emptying completely because the pelvic floor cannot relax optimally.

This article was translated fromGentside DE.

Sources used:

Heute, 'Wieso du beim Pinkeln bis 20 zählen solltest'

Read more:

⋙ This is why you don't need to pee when you sleep

⋙ Is it normal to pee when laughing or coughing?

⋙ Is it dangerous to hold in your pee?