Going to the toilet before ahead of a long car journey may seem like a natural thing to do, especially if you're reluctant pull over somewhere while you're en-route to your destination.
But a physician assistant has shared an even more surprising reason you should ensure that you wee before a long car journey - and people have been left horrified.
The health guru took to TikTok to reveal the shocking fact that peeing before you drive could give you a "better chance of survival" if you're ever in an accident.
He described the bladder as a "balloon", saying that if you were in an accident, your bladder could rupture and "lead to a quick death."
The expert shared that you should pee before a journey "to give you the best chance of survival if you get into a car accident."
"This is because your bladder is like a balloon, when you pee it deflates the balloon, and when hold it, it inflates it.
"If you get into a car accident with an inflated bladder you're more likely to have a intra-peritoneal abdominal rupture", he shared.
"This is devastating and can lead to a quick death."
He also shared it's more difficult to "pop" the balloon if you've been to the loo beforehand.
He said: "If you get into a car accident with your bladder deflated, it's much harder to pop that balloon.
"You're much more likely to get an extra-peritoneal abdominal rupture which is much less of a big deal."
Social media users were shocked by the revelation, with one saying it was a "new fear unlocked."
Another said: "Never felt so validated in my constant requests to use the bathroom on road trips."
"I learned this years ago as a new nurse in the ICU", someone wrote. "I literally think about this every time I'm about to get into a car."
A TikToker had a personal anecdote to share about this, writing: "This happened to my husband, thank God the doctors saved his life."
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