What color is "normal" urine?
Everyone has a different "normal" color for their urine, but it should fall into the yellow spectrum.
The amount of water you drink can affect whether the color is light yellow or dark amber. People who drink more water and stay hydrated often produce more dilute, light-colored urine than people who are dehydrated or drink less water.
What causes urine color to change?
As mentioned above, the color of your urine mainly depends on how much water you drink. When you drink a lot of water, your urine becomes so light that it looks almost clear. The less water you drink, the darker your urine will become.
Diet, vitamins and minerals
Diet may also be a factor. The colors of all-natural foods can interact with pigments to create different colors. Highly processed foods may contain large amounts of food coloring. The dye also interacts with pigments.
B vitamins, such as riboflavin (B-2) and cobalamin (B-12), are also known to cause fluorescent yellow-green urine. If you take supplements or multivitamins, they may be the source of your brightly colored urine.
Meal replacement shakes are also rich in B vitamins and can have the same effect.
Excess beta-carotene or vitamin C may cause urine to appear dark yellow or orange. Beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A in the body and is found in yellow and orange foods such as carrots and sweet potatoes.
In addition to citrus fruits, vitamin C is also found in foods such as tomatoes, strawberries, and broccoli.
exercise
Not properly hydrating after exercise can also lead to dehydration and darker urine. Strenuous exercise without proper hydration can lead to serious conditions that lead to muscle failure.
This may cause severe muscle pain and cola- or tea-colored urine. If this happens, you should seek medical attention immediately.
drug
Over-the-counter and prescription medications can also make your urine brighter or more vivid. This includes antibiotics, laxatives, and certain chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer.
For example, the drug phenazopyridine (Pyridium) is often used to treat discomfort associated with urinary tract infections (UTIs). A common side effect of its use is orange-colored urine.
Other drugs such as rifampicin may also harmlessly stain urine bright orange.
medical symptoms
Changes in urine color may be a sign of kidney, liver, or bladder function problems. If your urine becomes cloudy or has a strong smell, you may have a bladder or kidney infection.
This is especially true if you have any symptoms of these infections, such as pain when urinating, fever, vomiting, or back pain.
Pregnant
Anecdotal evidence suggests that bright yellow urine may be an early symptom of pregnancy. However, there is no research to support these claims.
What are the risk factors for abnormal urine color?
Your age and gender may increase your risk of conditions that affect the color of your urine. For example, kidney or bladder tumors are common in older people. Urinary tract bleeding is often related to kidney or bladder problems.
More serious illnesses, such as cancer, can also cause bleeding and pink or red urine. If you notice blood in your urine, tell your doctor right away so they can determine the cause.
Up to 60% of women will experience a urinary tract infection at least once in their lifetime. This infection may be accompanied by bleeding from the urinary tract, which changes the color of the urine. Men may also experience blood in their urine due to prostate enlargement
Urinary tract bleeding is rare in children, but certain rare diseases may cause blood in the urine. These diseases include allergic purpura, hemolytic uremic syndrome, and nephroblastoma
As in adults, any urinary tract bleeding in children is considered abnormal and should result in immediate medical attention.
How is abnormal urine color diagnosed?
If you notice any abnormalities in the color of your urine, you should see your doctor.
Consider the following:
- When did you start noticing this change?
- What does your diet consist of these days?
- What medications or supplements have you taken?
- Have you ever engaged in strenuous physical activity?
- Have your sleep patterns changed?
- Are your bowel movements normal?
- Do you have a rash anywhere on your body?
- Have you had a headache lately?
- Do you have any problems with your vision?
- Have you ever experienced unexplained weight loss?
- Do you have a history of smoking?
- Have your urinary habits changed?
A urinalysis can examine red blood cells, assess urine protein levels, and determine what excreted substances are present. Your urine may also be checked for infection-causing bacteria. If there are signs of infection, a urine culture may be needed.
Blood tests can measure kidney function and liver enzyme levels. These results may provide clues as to why urine color changes.
How to treat abnormal urine color?
Treatment options may vary depending on what your doctor finds from your tests. If your doctor finds that your dark yellow urine is due to dehydration, they will recommend adding more fluids to your diet.
Your urine color should return to its normal yellow color within a few days. If an underlying medical condition is discovered, your doctor will treat the condition.
What about abnormal urine color?
If your urine is dark yellow, it may be your body's way of telling you to drink more water. This color change may be caused by dehydration, so drink up.
Whether you're sitting at the office, working out at the gym, or lounging on the beach, it's important to stay hydrated.
If you are taking any medications that cause this discoloration, it is probably harmless. Unless otherwise advised, you should continue taking your medications under your doctor's supervision.
