DO YOU KNOW YOUR URINE CAN HELP YOU KNOW YOUR HEALTH STATUS?

DO YOU KNOW YOUR URINE CAN HELP YOU KNOW YOUR HEALTH STATUS?

Hi steemians! Greetings from Abia state Nigeria.

Today i want to share with us something i feel we should put into consideration as some of us neglect this little basics about our health. I hope it adds to someone's knowledge.

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It might sound very strange, but everytime you go to the toilet, you have a chance to check up on your health by checking the color.

The color of urine can help you see whether your body is doing well or whether you need to see a doctor. Sounds easy right? Now you just need to know the possible reasons (serious or not) behind each color. If you have ever seen your urine appear to be one of these colors below, you would now be able to know what was behind it.

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TRANSPARENT

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If your urine is completely transparent, it is a sign that you have been taking too much water, this happens mostly when you try to loose weight by so doing, you consume more water than your body needs and some of it stays in your body.

This can cause certain risk, the most important of which is diluting the salts in your body, this can create a problematic chemical imbalance in your body.

Once you experience this try reducing your water intake for some days till your urine color comes back to normal. Remember the saying that too much of everything is not good.

BROWN

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If you see brown shades in your urine, it could be a sign of dehydration. Among the foods that can turn your urine brown are rhubarb and fara beans.

But it's better to get checked out especially if you drink lots of water but the color doesn't go away. Brown urine could also indicate problems with your liver and kidneys. If your brown urine is followed by abdominal pains, rashes and seizures then there is high possibility of a genetic condition. Also, blood appears brownish when it disintegrates, and this can be a sign of a more serious condition like tumor.

FOAMING OR FIZZING

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Having foamy urine from time to time is normal and is usually due to the speed of urination. But if it keeps coming back and is more noticeable over time you should see your doctor.
Foaming or fizzing urine can be a sign of protein in your urine and this needs professional evaluation as increased amount can signal a kidney problem.

PALE STRAW YELLOW, TRANSPARENT YELLOW, DARK YELLOW.

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This colors mean you have nothing to worry about. Ideally, your urine should be a pale gold yellow. A pale yellow shows a good balance between being under and over hydrated. More concentrated urine is a sign that you need more water.

GREEN OR BLUE

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This color is rare and could be caused by:

Foods: Eating artificially dyed foods or asparagus. Nothing to worry about, it would clear up in a day or two.

Medications: Some medications like Amitriptyline, indomethacin and propofol can cause the change of color.

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If you are ever exposed to any of the above, please contact your doctor. A green color can signal a rare tract infection caused by the bacteria pseudomonas. The bug can cause kidney stones.

ORANGE

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Drugs could actually be responsible for this coloration like some anti-inflammatory drugs (Azulfidine),Chemotherapy drugs and laxatives with senna can cause an orange color.

Over consumption of vitamin B2 or beta-carotene (carrots) could also be a reason. If you are exposed to this then:

1. Drink more water- Dehydration can cause urine to be highly concentrated and vary from dark yellow to orange. In just a couple of hours, it should return to its normal clear yellow color.

1. Check your eyes: If you notice any yellowish tint in the white of your eyes, the orange urine can be a sign that your liver is not functioning properly, you should make an appointment with a doctor immediately.

PINK AND REDDISH

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It's probably alarming to see a reddish or pink urine, but it is not necessarily serious as it could be caused by food or medications. Before worrying, see the reasons behind this color.

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Foods: If you ate beetroot,blackberries or rhubarb then you have nothing to worry about. Some of the compound that make these foods red are excreted in your urine after the kidneys do their job. Normally it clears up by the next day, if it doesn't you should make an appointment with the doctor.

Medications: Certain antibiotics like Rifadin and Rimactane used to treat tuberculosis can turn urine reddish. Phenazopyridine which is used to treat urinary tract infections and laxatives containing senna can also be reasons for a pinkish color.

Blood: Blood in your urine can be a sign of a urinary tract infection, kidney disease, cancerous or non cancerous tumors or bladder or kidney stones.

If you see any blood clots or other tissues in your urine, see your doctor immediately, specialist stress that this is rare but underdiagnosed, especially in women as they usually shrug it off as a weird period fluke.

REFERENCES

Bright Side (2015), 7 Things Your Pee is Trying to Tell You About Your Health

Emily (2015),Did you know that the Urine Color Determines Your Health Status?