31 Comments
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Steven Seiden, MD, FACC's avatar

Pity the poor journalist who has to write for a deadline, and whose output is judged by clicks. You’re gonna get some churnalism.

As useful as your annual Medicare physical exam.

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Heather's avatar

Standard advice to any woman with urinary incontinence is... don't do just in case wees. Thanks for the refreshing take on that - I did wonder about the evidence.

Now what about the advice that every patient with diabetes should avoid baths... and foot soaks... But they can swim with impunity? I fail to see the logic. (I think the logic is that everyone with diabetes has fragile skin, that soaking in water will breakdown the skin, and hence foot infection chaos will ensue... But magically, this process doesn't happen if they're swimming while in the water, in the local river...)

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Steve Cheung's avatar

Nearly peed myself when I read this.

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Jim Ryser's avatar

LOL this made my day! One of the bright spots of being a urostomate is that I have no clue as to what that urge feels like! I’m still laughing and I didn’t bother reading the article!

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DocH's avatar

I don't even know what to think here. No interest in NYT junk medical information. But as an internist, having discussions with patients about urinary issues is a not infrequent circumstance. As with everything regarding the human body, it can be complex and is always interesting.

Mind-body focus definitely does play a role in urinary symptoms, particularly urge incontinence and interstitial cystitis. The more your mind focuses on a symptom, the more that symptom will occur and the more bothersome it will become. If you occasionally (as an aside) decide to pee before heading out the door, very reasonable. If you let that become a major focus - I don't think you're helping yourself. For certain urgency situations, re-training your brain to ignore habitual cues to urinate is part of the treatment protocol.

The general admonition to "drink 8 glasses of water a day" or that we should all be "hydrating" is the more adversely impactful pop culture health advice. Combine "hydrating" with any urinary issues and you've got problems. There are a couple of medical conditions where "hydrating" is the recommended intervention, but the vast majority of healthy people can drink when they are thirsty. The number of people I see carrying large bottles/cups/mugs around all day to continuously hydrate is astonishing.

In any case, Happy 4th! Thanks for taking the time to give us something to think about!

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William Wilson's avatar

This whole topic really pisses me off! (Ha, ha).

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Melissa Fountain's avatar

HAHA! This was excellent, especially when just chillin' on the 4th. I have Interstitial Cystitis so "going" every hour is what I do else... PAIN! Still pain, but less. I am in constant "maintenance" for it. Had it all my life, I am certain because symptoms were there, I recall since I was 4. So, article irrelevant for me but I am 69 and know hundreds of people, including those my age who likely wonder the same. "Going every hour" is what has put IC under more control.

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shoehornhands's avatar

1. This person has never been in the military. You get the chance, you better go!

2. This article sounds a lot like those “one weird health trick” YouTube ads that I can never seem to banish. “My friends all laughed at me when I started drinking vinegar every day. Now 30 pounds lighter I’m having the last laugh!” (Also, who has friends like that?!)

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Gary Edwards's avatar

Slow news day prompted articles prove one thing, that orange man bad is dissipating.

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Christine's avatar

In the early years of being a retail pharmacist I routinely failed to void for 10 hours. IMO that is far worse than all the "just in case" voiding one could every dream of. :-D

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Kimberly Ketcham's avatar

NYT, thank you for continuing to confirm my gratitude that my son chose not to major in journalism.

Thanks for the laugh, Dr. Cifu! Great start to the weekend!:) Happy 4th!

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KaiKai's avatar

Why read such dribble from the NYTIMES?

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AM Schimberg's avatar

Dribble...I see what you did there 😄

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Michael Orlin's avatar

I have had a partial prostatectomy, due to urinary leakage. It was a wonderful intervention, and am very happy that I had it. As a hospice nurse (now retired), I was familiar with the problems with catheters and swore I would never use one except as a partial intervention. I am back to normal urination and am very happy to be so. Also - thanks for the laugh!

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Eric F. ONeill's avatar

Much like the rest of the media, this sort of garbage from the “medical media “ is why trust has plummeted to all time lows.

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MF's avatar

With the title and the time stamp of 05:00, I just knew this would be a great article… and now I have a gift idea for my wife’s next birthday!

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Doreen Campbell's avatar

Good One! As the owner of a small ALF home, I deal with incontinence All... The... Time.... Over 15 years, I've learned to Keep them Going, Before and After Each Meal. People with a full bladder, or who are concerned about not having an accident, Will Not Drink Enough. Chronic dehydration leads to Low BP, and orthostatic hypotension. Which leads to falls - why risk it? Furthermore, as the bladder fills (especially as it over-fills) we have a greater risk of UTI and High BP.

Our PT came in the other day, was busy with a repairman (To be clear, I wasn't "on the clock") but (staff) 40-70 age range worry less about bathroom breaks... He took Shirley's BP At the Table After Lunch and Liquid... Deciding Not to continue with PT because of... (yep!) BP on the high side. This used to happen frequently, and still does on our most stubborn staff days. Just Take Them Don't ASK if they "Need to" or "Want to" Go!

Happy Independence Day All!

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