What Does The Colour Of Your Urine Says About Your Health

Everyone went to wash room at least once a day, and I believe that everyone will have a glance at the colour of your urine before you flush. Everyone does it, so it's actually a normal habit,  but not all of us study it afterwards. Here’s how to look at - and listen to - what your urine colour and scent tells you.

What will the colour of your urine tells you?

From the smell to the colour and to the fizziness of the urine, this might not be the enjoyable task but it’s one that could, in some cases, it just save your life – The condition of urine can signal everything from mild dehydration to kidney disease or even cancer.

So what’s right, and what’s wrong, 

when it comes to urine?

These may be the cause

Normal Urine?

Urine, coloured by a pigment called urochrome, should normally range between clear or light yellow, according to Asif Muneer, consultant urologist for Spire Bushey Hospital.

Certain medicines and foods (the notorious asparagus as well as things like beetroot and rhubarb) can alter the colour or your urine, but otherwise, if everything is in working order, it should be that ‘clear’ to ‘light yellow’. 

Normal Urine Colour

Abnormal Urine?

“The colour of urine can indicate systemic disease such as jaundice (a brownish discolouration) or disease in the urinary tract [like cystitis], particularly if you notice blood in the urine,” Muneer explains.

“This is a serious warning sign of possible cancer in the bladder, kidney or ureter and needs an urgent assessment.”

Abnormal Urine

If it’s too dark in colour, he adds, “it’s normally a sign of poor fluid intake”, and you’re probably dehydrated. “But brownish is also associated with obstructive jaundice.”

Colour test

It’s not all about shades of brown, sometimes urine gets a bit more colourful – and then you really need to worry…

You can get this test at any clinic

• Orange urine may indicate a problem with the liver or bile duct or maybe after you took an antibiotic
• Green urine can mean a urinary tract infection
• Blue and purple urine can be caused by rare genetic disorders or maybe after you took an antibiotic

You can get this self test at Pharmacy

What else should you worry about…

Fizzing (bubbles)

“Fizzy urine may indicate gas producing bacteria in the urinary tract,” says Muneer, “but rarely there can be communications between the bladder and the urinary tract.” Another condition is there might be too much protein inside your urine or you are having a high protein diet, go for a urine micro-albumin testing to confirm. Other risk factor may be a diabetic symptoms if the bubbles do not go away even after a long time.

Bubbles in Urine

Pain/ Burning Sensation

“A burning sensation during urination is certainly not right,” explains Zaki Almallah, consultant urologist at BMI Priory Hospital in Birmingham. “It could indicate an infection or several other problems. Get it checked out by your GP.” Burning sensation or painful urination may also be diagnosed with Stds or kidney stone.

Painful Urination

Blood Stain/ Amber looking Urine

“Blood in urine that you can actually see (frank haematuria) is serious and requires full investigations urgently,” says Almallah. “There can be many reasons for this, including urine infection or prostate cancer in man, but bladder cancer is the most serious consequence. Don’t put off visiting your GP.”

Blood stained Urine Sample

Foul Smell

“Smelly urine is usually related to low fluid intake and what you have eaten the day before – asparagus being a well-known cause,” says Almallah. It can sometimes mean an infection or diabetes, so if it persists, get it checked.

Have you smell your urine?

Frequency

Most people take bathroom breaks about six to eight times a day, but you might go more or less depending on how much fluid you drink. If you're constantly feeling the urge to go and it's not because you're drinking extra fluid, it can also be a sign of certain conditions below:

• Urinary tract infection -- most common cause
• Diabetes
• Over-active bladder -- involuntary contractions of the bladder muscle
• Interstitial cystitis -- a condition that causes the bladder wall to become inflamed and irritated
• Benign prostate enlargement -- growth of the prostate that causes it to squeeze the urethra and block the normal flow of urine out of the body
• Rarely, A Neurological diseases, including stroke and Parkinson's disease

Urinate frequently can be inconvenience

Any clinic or health screening laboratories including Wellness Lab are having this test as routine screening. Find yourself a doctor for advise if you found matching any one of above condition. Do not hesitate as early detection can saving your money and life.

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