The Amount Of Time You Spend Peeing Could Be A Warning Sign For Bigger Health Issues

While the idea of timing your bathroom breaks might seem a bit odd or even silly at first, it could actually tell you something important about your health.

Experts suggest that paying closer attention to how long you take to pee might help reveal early warning signs of potential bladder issues later in life.

So, it’s worth paying attention because something called the ‘Law of Urination’ might come in handy one day more than you’d expect.

This unusual theory came from a group of scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology who conducted some surprisingly fascinating research a few years back, all based around animal urination.

They watched a wide collection of high-speed videos of different animals doing their business. And by studying these clips, they aimed to understand the similarities and differences in how mammals pee.

Among the animals they observed were rats, goats, cows, and even elephants. It didn’t take long for them to spot a strange but consistent pattern.

Ever wondered about how long you should be using the toilet for? Getty Stock Image

The researchers, who even earned a spoof Ig Nobel Prize in 2015 for their efforts, discovered something really interesting. They found that almost all mammals weighing over 3 kilograms take roughly the same amount of time about 21 seconds to fully empty their bladders.

They published this quirky yet insightful study in the journal PNAS in 2014, and explained that gravity plays a big role in how long animals take to pee.

"How can bladders of both 0.5 kg and 100 kg be emptied in nearly the same duration? Larger animals have longer urethras, and so greater gravitational force driving flow," the research team noted in their report.

"These long urethras increase the flow rate of larger animals, enabling them to perform the feat of emptying their substantial bladders over approximately the same duration."

"Despite this wide range in mass of the animals, urination time remains constant for all animals heavier than 3 kg."

Researchers watched loads of different animals peeing for the study Getty Stock Image

"This invariance is noteworthy, considering that an elephant's bladder, at 18 L, is nearly 3,600 times larger in volume than a cat's bladder at 5 mL."

That’s definitely something worth noting - especially since the scientists believe their findings might be useful for identifying urinary problems in animals.

And yes, if you’re wondering how this applies to us humans, you're not alone. It turns out we can actually take a lot from this unusual animal study.

As mammals ourselves, this rule of thumb can serve as a helpful guide when it comes to understanding our own bladder health.

Nurse Janis Miller, PhD, told Well and Good that the 21-second rule can be used to “educate yourself into a good wellness pattern.”

Of course, not every trip to the bathroom will clock in at exactly 21 seconds. But it’s a solid benchmark to keep in mind and pay attention to over time.

Boffins came up with the 'Law of Urination' which can apply to humans as well as animals Getty Stock Image

If your bathroom breaks regularly take much longer or much shorter than this, it might point to underlying issues with your bladder or urinary system. According to IFL Science, issues like swelling, infections, or prostate problems can affect urination time in animals and in people too.

If you're noticing that it takes a while to empty your bladder or that you're heading to the bathroom way more often than usual, it could be a sign to check in with your doctor.

Consistently peeing for a lot longer than 21 seconds could mean your bladder is overstretching. And if that keeps happening, it could eventually lose its elasticity and stop functioning as it should.

On the flip side, holding it in too often and for too long can increase your chances of developing urinary tract infections or even kidney problems.

Going too frequently might also point to something called an overactive bladder. That’s when you constantly feel the need to pee, even if your bladder isn’t really full.

So what’s a healthy number of bathroom breaks each day? Urologist Nicole Eisenbrown suggests aiming to pee about eight times per day if you’re staying properly hydrated.

So, next time you spot a stopwatch on the bathroom sink, maybe don’t laugh too hard.

Someone might just be checking in on their health and honestly, it might not be a bad idea to try it yourself.