Diagnose disease through urine color

Have you ever wondered about the color of your urine? Normally, urine is pale yellow or clear white. If your urine suddenly changes to dark yellow or any other color, or even becomes cloudy and has a strange odor, it could be a sign of an abnormal health condition.

Urine is made up of excess water and waste products that are filtered from the body by the kidneys and excreted. The natural pale yellow color of urine is due to the excretion of a colored substance in the blood called urochrome. So, depending on how much water you drink, your urine can range from a very pale yellow (almost white, when you are well hydrated) to orange or dark yellow (when you are dehydrated).

What does urine color say?

1. Clear, almost colorless urine

It could be that you've been drinking too much water. Drinking a lot of water is good, but drinking too much is not recommended because it will force the kidneys to work harder to filter and eliminate water. Basically, the total amount of water taken into the body during the day should not exceed 2 liters. However, depending on the body, the weather, as well as the work and activities of each person, the amount of water needed to drink is also different. You should stop drinking water when you feel the need to urinate frequently and have to urinate many times.

2. Urine is light yellow

It is possible that you have taken too much vitamin or your body is not absorbing it. The best way for your body to absorb vitamins is to eat foods rich in vitamins instead of taking supplements.

3. Dark yellow urine

Usually this is due to one reason only, the body is lacking water. You need to drink more water, ideally about 8 glasses a day.

4. Pink or red urine

It could be due to the following reasons:

- There is blood in the urine, due to kidney problems or a bladder infection (this condition is often accompanied by back pain or lower abdominal pain, frequent urination and fever). In this case, you need to see a doctor immediately.

- Eat foods that are red, pink, or have artificial or chemical colors.

5. Urine turns orange

It may be due to the effects of the medication you are taking. In this case, you should consult your doctor. Bring the medication you are taking to the doctor and ask for details.

Eating too many foods that are orange or have chemical dyes can also turn urine orange.

6. Urine is blue or green

This signals that you are being affected by taking medication or by eating too many green foods, especially asparagus or foods containing blue or green chemical dyes.

7. Urine is dark brown or tea-colored

The cause may be liver disease, especially when accompanied by signs such as pale stools and yellow skin. It may also be due to the effects of medications you are taking.

8. Cloudy urine with sediment

This symptom can be caused by the following problems:

- Urinary tract infection. If you are experiencing symptoms such as back pain, lower abdominal pain, frequent urination and fever, you should see a doctor for examination and proper diagnosis.

- Kidney stones: are a common cause of pain. Need to be checked by a doctor immediately.

- You may have eaten too much asparagus.

In addition, when you see unusual symptoms of the urinary tract such as urine leaking when you laugh loudly or you have to wake up frequently in the middle of the night to urinate... (even if you do not drink too much water before going to bed or are pregnant), you should also see a doctor immediately to promptly detect diseases related to the urinary tract.

There are times when your urine temporarily changes color due to artificial colors in the foods you eat or a medication you are taking. Other abnormal changes in urine color, including blood in the urine, are dangerous signs of health problems that you need to see a doctor for immediate examination.

According to SK&DS