by Neecey Beresford

When you know your normal urine color, you should be able to spot any changes.

We all urinate and as a normal bodily function we don’t usually pay much attention to it, but there are some important things your urine can tell you. Sometimes, the signal it sends is obvious, but other signs may go unnoticed. Here are some of the important things your urine can tell you.

1. HEALTHY URINE

The first of the general things your urine can tell you is that generally, there is nothing wrong. This means you should know what your “normal” urine looks and smells like. If you don’t know, how are you going to be aware of any changes? You should always take a peek at your urine before you flush so you can see any changes in consistency, color, amount and odor. Healthy urine should be light yellow/golden straw in color and be fairly odourless.

2. CHANGE IN FREQUENCY

You will know generally how many times a day you pee, so if there is a change in the number of times you go, this is something to think about. Frequency is one of the things your urine can tell you about changes in your body. There’s no need to be concerned by the odd day where things are off-kilter, but a protracted change could be a sign that you have an infection or inflammation in your bladder or urinary tract. It might also signify incontinence, an overactive bladder, diabetes or even pregnancy.

3. PEEING LESS OFTEN

In the same way that urinating more often is a signal, so is a reduced frequency. The most common cause of less urine is dehydration. This is a clear message that you are not drinking enough. Water is necessary to flush out the body’s toxins, so if you are not producing enough “flush,” you are not doing your body and your immune system any favors. If your urine is less frequent, smaller in quantity and darker in color, it is definitely dehydration, so start drinking more immediately. Decreased urination can also be due to infection, an obstruction in the bladder or urinary tract, or even caused by some medications.

4. CHANGE IN SMELL

As I mentioned, healthy urine doesn’t have much of an odor (unless left to stand in the toilet), so a change in smell is another of the signs your urine is telling you something. If it is particularly strong smelling, this might be due to infection. Then, some foods can also alter the smell of urine, such as asparagus (and also strong coffee for some people). If you notice an ammonia-like smell, this is usually a sign of concentration due to dehydration. A musty smell could be an indication of liver disease or a metabolic disorder. A sweet smell could be a metabolic disorder – often diabetes.

5. CHANGE IN CONSISTENCY

The things your urine tells you are key health indicators. Like frequency and odor, consistency is another signal provider. Sometimes, urine may simply appear thicker and darker in color if you haven’t urinated for a while, but changes in consistency might also indicate illness or an infection. If your urine is cloudy it might mean you have an infection or even kidney stones. If your urine is foamy this could mean that there is a build up of protein, another indication of a potential kidney problem.

6. CHANGES IN COLOR

When you know your normal urine color, you should be able to spot any changes. Generally, there is a valid and uncomplicated reason for a urine color change because urine color can be affected by the chemicals and dyes in foods and medications. Some color changes, however, are an indication of something more serious and there could be an underlying problem. Here are the main color issues:

Orange: Most often cause by orange foods – ones which contain a high proportion of carotene. Antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, laxatives, blood thinners and even medications for urinary tract infections may cause urine to be orange.

Brown: If your urine is dark brown (like strong tea), it might be sign of kidney or liver disease/disorder. Lighter brown urine can be caused by eating a lot of rhubarb or fava beans. Again, some medications may turn urine brown, such as laxatives, muscle relaxants, anti-malarial tablets, and some types of antibiotics.

Blue/Green: A usual culprit in this case is asparagus, but again certain medications can give urine a bluey/greeny tinge, including anti-nausea drugs, heartburn meds, and some multi-vitamins.

Red/pink: This is one of the things that your urine can tell you that sends people into a panic because they automatically assume it is caused by blood. Yes, red urine might well indicate infection, cancer, kidney disease, kidney or bladder stones or liver disease. But, it can also be caused by anesthetics, laxatives and some antipsychotic drugs. Additionally, like with other color changes, it might be due to richly-colored food such as rhubarb, berries and beetroot. It might also be an indication of chronic mercury or lead poisoning.

7. OTHER SYMPTOMS

The other thing to be aware of is the sensation of the act of urinating itself. When you pee you might experience a stinging or burning sensation, itching even after you have wiped yourself or even pain. These are all indications something is not quite right. You might have an infection of the bladder or urinary tract, cystitis, or an STI.

Some of these things your urine can tell you are indicators that you need to seek medical advice, especially if the signs are present with other symptoms like dizziness, nausea, headaches, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, or fever. Who knew that urine could be so important?

————————-

Read this article in All Women Stalk

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.