Doctor warns people against going to toilet before they go out 'just in case'

We all know the drill when we're about to leave the house - check you've got your wallet and keys, put your phone in your jacket, and pop to the loo - even if you don't need it.

Going to the toilet 'just in case' is a habit that's been instilled in us since we were kids, with our mums often making sure we go before getting in the car so we don't start moaning minutes into our journey.

And it doesn't just apply to before we leave the house. Many of us may take a preemptive trip to the toilet before hopping on a plane, heading into a cinema, or going to bed.

You might even go because you’ve walked past a toilet whilst out and about and don’t know when you’ll next see one, you know, just in case.

But it turns out this could be a really bad idea, as peeing when you don’t really need to could affect your bladder health.

You might want to rethink your preemptive toilet routine (Getty Stock Images)

Pelvic Health Physical Therapist Dr Rachel Peck took to TikTok to warn people against doing this and explain what 'happens to your bladder when you do a lot of just in case peeing'.

Peck says that she sees it a lot with some of her patients 'who have increased urgency and frequency and sometimes leakage'.

This happens because 'normally, the bladder fills at a certain rate and once we get to a certain point, we’ll get the first urge to go and we usually ignore that urge'.

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"It’s just letting us know that it’s filling up," she continues.

As your bladder continues to fill, the urge to use the bathroom gets stronger until it becomes full, and it's really time to go.

"When we get into the habit of always peeing just in case, we’re going when it’s not totally full," she says.

Frequent 'just in case' wees can train your brain into thinking your bladder is fuller than it actually is (Getty Stock Images)

So, this means you’re essentially training your bladder to a 'filling spot' to send those stronger urges for.

"That kind of tricks your brain into believing that you’re more full than you actually are," the doctor adds.

As a result, over time, your bladder stops storing as much urine.

But, it's perfectly fine to do a 'just in case' wee every once in a while, with Peck admitting that there are circumstances when it's completely appropriate.

"That would be once right before bed, right before a really long car trip, maybe right before you go into a movie theatre," she says.

So, every now and again, it's completely fine. But going to the loo too often 'can really become a problem'.