Ignoring the urge to urinate might seem harmless, but making this a habit can quietly put your kidneys and overall health at risk. Why Holding Pee Is Bad for Your Kidneys When you delay bathroom breaks, urine stays longer in your bladder, giving bacteria more time to grow. These bacteria can travel up to the kidneys, causing infections that may lead to lasting kidney damage. Over time, a constantly overfilled bladder can also create pres