What Your Urine Color Can Tell You About Your Health?
Urine color can vary and while these changes are usually nothing to worry about, sometimes a shift in the hue of your urine can signal that something’s wrong. Keith and Bidani, Vice Chair of Urology at Mount Sinai, explain the rainbow of possible urine colors and what they may indicate about your health.
What is normal urine color?
There isn’t one exact hue that’s considered the gold standard of normal urine, but your pee should fall somewhere on the yellow spectrum. Urine gets its yellow color from urobilin, also known as urochrome, a compound excreted by your kidneys. In general, the more water you drink, the clearer your pee will look because you’re diluting the other substances coming out of your kidneys. If your pee is the color of pale straw or looks like a transparent shade of yellow, that’s also a good indication that you’re probably well hydrated.
If your pee is dark yellow, amber, or honey-colored, or dark orange, you might not be consuming enough water. Dehydration can cause your body to retain water, leading to concentrated urine with less water content. Additional signs of dehydration can include fatigue, chills, bad breath, sugar cravings, or muscle cramps. If increasing your water intake doesn’t help, schedule an appointment with your doctor to rule out any other issues.
Certain medications can also turn your pee dark yellow or orange. Examples include finazzo pyridine (a treatment for pain and urinary tract infections) and sulfasalazine (a treatment for ulcerative colitis).
If your pee looks dark brown, like black tea, brown ale, or cola, ask yourself if you recently ate rhubarb, fava beans, or aloe. These foods can lend your pee a brownish hue. However, dark brown urine can also be a sign of severe dehydration past the stages of dark yellow or orange, or it can be a sign of liver damage.
If your pee is pink, red, or smoky-colored, this could be a sign of blood in the urine. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including kidney stones, bladder infections, or even certain medications. If you notice blood in your urine, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible to determine the cause.
Other unusual urine colors to be aware of include:
- Blue or green: This could be a sign of food dyes or certain medications, such as phenazopyridine (used to treat urinary tract infections).
- Purple: This could be a sign of a rare genetic disorder called porphyria.
- Cloudy or murky: This could be a sign of a urinary tract infection or kidney stones.
In conclusion, while urine color can vary and is usually nothing to worry about, it can sometimes be an indicator of an underlying health issue. If you notice a significant change in the color of your urine, it’s important to see a doctor to determine the cause.
FAQs:
How much water should I drink daily to maintain normal urine color?
Doctors recommend drinking 1.5 to 2 liters of water daily, in addition to other fluids.
What medications can change the color of my urine?
Certain medications can turn your urine dark yellow or orange, such as finazzo pyridine (a treatment for pain and urinary tract infections) and sulfasalazine (a treatment for ulcerative colitis).
What foods can change the color of my urine?
Certain foods can lend your urine a brownish hue, such as rhubarb, fava beans, and aloe.
What does it mean if my urine is pink, red, or smoky-colored?
This could be a sign of blood in the urine, which can be caused by a variety of factors, including kidney stones, bladder infections, or certain medications. If you notice blood in your urine, it's important to see a doctor as soon as possible to determine the cause.
What does it mean if my urine is blue or green?
This could be a sign of food dyes or certain medications, such as phenazopyridine (used to treat urinary tract infections).
What does it mean if my urine is purple?
This could be a sign of a rare genetic disorder called porphyria.
What does it mean if my urine is cloudy or murky?
This could be a sign of a urinary tract infection or kidney stones.
