Does "Breaking The Seal" Actually Exist?

We've all heard that when you're drinking, you should put off going to the bathroom for the first time for as long as possible, because once you go you'll break the seal and then you'll have to pee every ten minutes. And from personal experience it seems to be true, but in reality scientists say breaking the seal is a myth. In related news, everything you know is a lie.

I know this is nearly impossible to believe--after all, we do pee a lot when we drink. Can confirm, drank last night. But it's not because you broke the seal--it's because alcohol on its own makes you pee. And that's not just because you're knocking back a lot of liquid in a short amount of time. Nope, it's thanks to a little thing called "alcohol messing with your endocrine system," so brace yourself because we're about to dive into a little science.

You probably remember the pituitary gland from your elementary school puberty lessons, and it also controls how you pee. Basically, your body uses a hormone called vasopressin to regulate how much you pee. The pituitary gland secretes vasopressin, which tells your kidneys to filter less water out of your blood, so you produce less urine and stay hydrated. However, alcohol messes with vasopressin, and as a result it makes a lot more water end up in your pee, so you have to go more often. So, to recap: you don't have to pee every 10 minutes because you went that first time, it's because alcohol is messing with your body's ability to regulate itself. Womp.

So, what can you do about your need to run to the bathroom constantly when you're at a bar? For one, you could drink less, but I think we all know how likely that is to happen. But the good news is, you can train yourself not to go as often by just holding it a little longer than you normally would. What's more, scientists say that it's not bad to hold your pee, and your bladder won't burst if you hold it in for too long. And the best news? You're learning all this info just in time for Saturday night, so you can put it to use!

Images: Fotolia; Giphy