Concerns Over Hygiene Habits and Long-Term Effects
For approximately a decade, I (20 male) have developed a practice of hovering above the toilet seat rather than actually sitting down, mainly driven by worries about cleanliness. I’m curious if maintaining this behavior could lead to any lasting damage. Specifically, is there a risk that my bladder muscles might weaken over time? I'm apprehensive about the possibility of losing muscle strength as I continue to age.
Answers (1)
3/20/2025, 11:40:39 AM
OpenHealth AI
It's completely understandable to be concerned about your hygiene habits and their potential long-term effects on your health. Hovering over the toilet seat for extended periods can certainly be a unique choice driven by cleanliness concerns. However, let’s address your main worries about whether this habit could weaken your bladder muscles.
Main Points:
- Hovering may not directly weaken bladder muscles but might lead to other concerns, such as pelvic floor discomfort.
- Focus on good hygiene practices while finding a comfortable and safe way to use the toilet.
Explanation: Hovering isn't likely to weaken your bladder muscles directly. The bladder and the surrounding muscles (pelvic floor muscles) are designed to hold and expel urine regardless of your position on the toilet. However, consistently hovering can lead to possible muscle fatigue, discomfort, or strain in the pelvic area, especially if you're in that position for a long time.
Long-term exposure to unusual positioning can sometimes affect muscle balance, potentially contributing to discomfort or complications over time. Thus, while your initial concern about muscle weakening isn't likely, the risk lies in strain or discomfort.
Next Steps:
- Try Sitting: Consider gradually allowing yourself to sit while using the toilet, ensuring it's clean. This will help prevent unnecessary strain on your muscles and reduce the risk of pelvic tension.
- Maintain Hygiene: Use toilet seat covers or disinfectant wipes before sitting if cleanliness is a priority for you. This way, you can maintain hygiene while in a seated position.
- Listen to Your Body: If you notice any discomfort or pelvic pain, take breaks or change positions more frequently.
- Pelvic Floor Exercises: Incorporate exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor (like Kegels) into your routine to ensure you maintain muscle strength and prevent strain.
If you have any additional concerns about your pelvic health or ongoing discomfort, you may want to look into further resources for pelvic floor health or consult with a specialist. Remember that finding a balance that prioritizes both hygiene and comfort is key. Let me know if you need more information!
Related Questions
Seeking Assistance for Unexplained Symptoms
Hello, I’m a 15-year-old female, weighing 48.5 kg and standing at 162 cm tall, residing in Germany. At present, I’m looking for medical advice. My current medication status is none, and I have been diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). For the past seven months, I have been grappling with significant physical symptoms that have been largely dismissed as psychosomatic. In early 2023, I began experiencing an increased heart rate accompanied by dizziness, headaches, and episodes of near-fainting when I transition from sitting or lying down to standing. By July 2025, I noticed a gradual loss of appetite. Initially, it was mild, but it quickly escalated to a point where I no longer had any desire to eat. Once I did eat, I frequently felt nauseous, particularly with solid food, which caused painful stomach cramps and bloating. I lost around 4 kg over the initial months of these symptoms. Regrettably, my condition did not improve; it worsened, as I also experienced similar discomfort after consuming liquids. The only things I managed to take without significant pain were thicker fluids, such as drinkable yogurt and smoothies, but now even those are difficult for me. In September, I had a moderate depressive episode, for which I received psychotherapy and a prescription for Fluoxetine (20 mg). However, the medication induced severe side effects, including heightened nausea, drowsiness, muscle cramps, and weakness. My psychiatrist decided to discontinue the treatment abruptly, tapering off very quickly—after just two days at 10 mg daily, followed by 10 mg every other day for three days. One day, I became unresponsive and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance, but no thorough examinations were conducted. While I was at school on October 11, I felt extremely fatigued, struggling to keep my eyes open. My condition deteriorated over the next couple of days, and by the 14th of October, I was unable to attend classes anymore. I began to experience severe fatigue along with muscle and joint pain, and general body aches. Despite sleeping extensively, my symptoms remained unchanged. I developed a significant intolerance to exertion, as even minimal activities like a brief 10-minute walk or sitting still for over an hour would lead to these overwhelming “crashes,” accompanied sometimes by a migraine or feelings of illness lasting 12 to 48 hours. Since mid-January 2026, I have been suffering from severe dizziness that sometimes prevents me from standing or walking normally. I have also experienced visual disturbances, like seeing dots in my left peripheral vision, and frequent facial numbness without relief. I was admitted to a psychosomatic unit, which only exacerbated my condition, putting me into a constant state of distress. I endured a prolonged migraine status for five days, which thankfully resolved gradually without any medical intervention. Many of my other days feel akin to being ill with the flu or suffering from poisoning. Whenever I discuss my symptoms with doctors or nurses, they attribute everything to either depression or a somatoform disorder, despite my persistent assertions that I do not feel depressed. I find the hospital I am at quite unfavorable. Previously, when I sought treatment for mesenteric lymphadenitis, they provided a placebo, insisting everything was psychological despite my existing diagnosis. I have undergone numerous tests, including a head MRI, endoscopy, ECG, echocardiogram, and various blood analyses. The MRI results were unremarkable, and the endoscopy showed no abnormalities. Both the ECG and echocardiogram returned normal results, and my blood work did not reveal much either, aside from a few slightly abnormal levels, which are listed below: - Vitamin B2: 333 - Vitamin B6: 76.3 - Vitamin A: 0.93 - Vitamin E: 32.0 - DAO: 5 - Histamine Degradation Ability: 34% - Ferritin: 19 - IgG: 192 - SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies: positive - Albumin: 0.75 - Neutrophils: 66% - Lymphocytes: 9.9% - Leukocytes: 4,000 - Monocytes: 3.3 - Eosinophils: 12 - Basophils: 4.4 - Absolute Neutrophils: 0.3 None of these results appear alarming. I have also performed an Active Standing test myself, leading to the following averages: - Lay down Average Heart Rate: 75 bpm - Lay down Average Blood Pressure: 90/60 mmHg - Standing Average Heart Rate: 127 bpm - Standing Average Blood Pressure: 120/80 mmHg I am desperately seeking insight regarding my symptoms and would greatly appreciate any help or guidance on what might be happening.
Significant Increase in Blood Pressure Over Two Months
Two months ago, on December 10th, 2025, I visited a CVS minute clinic due to a sinus infection, where my blood pressure was recorded at 120/74. However, during a recent visit to my general practitioner for my yearly health examination, my blood pressure soared to an alarming 200/114. The staff measured it multiple times, suspecting an error, even using a different device. The lowest reading captured was still quite high at 191/118. After discussing my situation, the doctor inquired whether I had a blood pressure monitor at home, which I do, and advised me to monitor my readings closely. Currently, after taking multiple readings, the most favorable result was 202/114, which is causing me some concern. - Female, age 39 - Weight: 175 lbs, Height: 5'2" - Non-smoker - Social drinker - No specific dietary restrictions - Sedentary lifestyle - No known family history of heart disease - Currently taking 20mg/day of Escitalopram and 450mg/day of Bupropion for anxiety and depression Online resources suggest that my readings indicate a "hypertensive crisis," a term that sounds rather serious. Despite my weight issues, these figures appear excessively high. I plan to message my GP for a follow-up, but I am wondering how alarmed I should be in the meantime?
Should I Request a Heart Evaluation from My Doctor?
**Personal Details**: 24 years old, no medications or substances, no existing health diagnoses, non-smoker, non-drinker, maintaining a healthy weight and height, engaging in regular physical activity. **Context**: During my time at university, I resolved to overcome my previous disinterest in academics and poor performance in school by adopting a comprehensive approach. This included selecting a challenging major, crafting a plan to finish my degree two years ahead of schedule, aiming for nothing less than As on exams, and ensuring my relationships with family and friends remained intact. However, my dedication to this plan resulted in significant stress. As I invested more time and energy into my studies, my anxiety about potential failure, looming deadlines, chaotic group projects, and unrelated personal issues escalated. Ultimately, this manifested as complications with my heart and blood pressure. What is most alarming is how I became accustomed to these health changes and dismissed the warning signs. I neglected to seek help from doctors or consider treatment options, essentially ignoring the symptoms entirely. **Health Issues Faced**: 1. **Heightened Sensitivity to Adrenaline**: Simply walking outside among people and traffic triggered noticeable spikes in my blood pressure. Roughly every thirty seconds, I experienced tingling in my abdomen, followed by a surge of pressure in my neck and a momentary slowing of my heart to manage the influx of blood pressure. Over the course of an hour, these occurrences added up, leading to possibly hundreds of episodes over days and months—quite concerning. 2. **Palpitations**: While this was not a constant occurrence, when it did manifest, it lasted for one to two weeks at a time. I would feel my heart racing, even during moments of rest at home. This would happen several times a day, persistently from morning until night. 3. **Elevated Heart Rate**: This was a continuous issue; my resting heart rate frequently soared into the 90s, even while sitting quietly. It often felt as though I was exerting effort, akin to physical activity, though I remained still. 4. **Chronic Tension and Sleep Disruption**: I dealt with ongoing feelings of tightness and inadequate sleep, at times leading to strange waking perceptions, such as seeing geometric shapes on surfaces upon waking. While not directly related to the previous issues, this level of sleep deprivation is undoubtedly harmful to one's health. These issues persisted for approximately two and a half years, but I have since regained my health. Nonetheless, I can't shake the feeling that I may have compromised my cardiovascular health due to these symptoms, which is why I am contemplating a heart evaluation with my doctor. I sought the opinion of an AI, which seemed dismissive, suggesting that given my situation and assuming no hidden health conditions, long-term damage was unlikely—perhaps even impossible. However, I would rather hear insights from healthcare professionals, so I'm reaching out for advice. Please share your thoughts!
Concerns About Ear Irrigation at the Pediatrician's Office for My Son
Summary: Can using a spray-type irrigation for ear wax removal harm a five-year-old? My child had a extreme reaction and experienced significant pain during and shortly after the procedure. I have a five-year-old son who suffers from severe allergies to both foods and environmental factors, alongside eczema which is mostly controlled. He takes Famotidine to manage reflux and a daily children's multivitamin, but does not regularly take any other medications. He has no history of surgeries. Although he has consulted with an ENT in the past, I don’t believe this is particularly relevant to the current situation, yet I will provide details later. During a recent well-visit at the pediatrician's office for five-year-olds, my son struggled with the hearing test, which marked the first time he did not perform well. In this examination, he wore headphones that emitted various beeps and was supposed to indicate which ear he heard the sounds from. The staff expressed concerns regarding his performance on the left side. As our assigned provider, the Physician's Assistant (PA) examined his ear and noted the presence of wax, suspecting it might be impeding his hearing. When she attempted to use a plastic curette, my son resisted and stated that it hurt. The PA remarked that the wax was harder than she anticipated, leading her to opt for an irrigation method to remove it. The nurses proceeded to administer some red-tinted drops, which he tolerated other than their cold temperature. A few minutes later, he laid down, and they used a spray bottle to irrigate his ear. At this point, he screamed as though we had never experienced before—he fought against the staff and cried intensely, even holding his breath to the extent that they needed to remind him to breathe. His reaction was reminiscent of when he has sustained a severe injury, such as from a significant fall. His cries of pain made it clear that he was genuinely suffering. After only a few moments, they decided to halt the procedure, presumably realizing that his discomfort was not an act of dramatization, and I was on the verge of stopping them myself due to my rising concern. When he eventually settled down, I inquired about the nature of his pain: whether it was a hot or burning sensation, a sting from the cold water, or a feeling of pressure in his ear. He communicated that it felt like it was going to burst inside, which suggests pressure-related pain. The irrigation attempt did not fully clear the wax they noticed. Now they are recommending that we use Debrox drops daily combined with a warm washcloth pressed against his ear after a steamy bath each night. We are to return in two weeks to check if the wax has been successfully removed and to retest his hearing. Though he appears to be okay now, he is visibly upset due to the discomfort from the procedure, especially since he had begged them to stop. He has also mentioned a sensation of water still being trapped in his ear and has been tilting his head intermittently as if it bothers him. This all transpired today right after the irrigation session. Could the forceful spraying of water have caused any damage to his eardrum, especially considering the intensity of his screams? I have previously experienced a perforated eardrum and am anxious about the potential harm this procedure may have inflicted on him. We avoid using Q-tips and inserting anything into his ears. What preventive measures should we adopt routinely to avoid wax buildup? This marks the second instance of noticeable wax at his pediatric visits, despite him bathing daily. I am puzzled as to why only one side is accumulating wax. Last year, the first attempt at wax removal was successful using a curette. ENT Background: At age three, my son was having trouble sleeping. An ENT suggested a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, although there were no other alarming symptoms to justify the surgery besides his restlessness at night. We sought a second opinion, where the new ENT indicated that while his tonsils appeared fine, his adenoids were mildly enlarged and might be beneficial to remove. However, due to COVID-19 and RSV, the surgery was postponed twice, leading us to reconsider the necessity of the operation. Given that he is now sleeping better, we have yet to pursue surgery thus far. I appreciate you taking the time to read through this lengthy account!
Experiencing Heart Pounding After Stopping Sudafed: Is It Cause for Concern?
At 24 years old, I've been experiencing a sensation that my heart is racing as if it's about to burst. This all started after I was dealing with a severe sinus infection and decided to take Sudafed extended-release tablets for six consecutive days. Ever since I discontinued the medication, my heart feels as though it's beating excessively hard, reminiscent of a fight-or-flight response. Should I be alarmed by this change, or could it possibly be a side effect from the Sudafed I had been using?