UNDERSTANDING URINE COLOUR

What Does Urine Color Say About Your Health? By Urology Associates

Pay attention before you flush to know how to understand your urine colour – especially if it is red, pink, or brown.

It may be surprising for some to learn that urine can come in a spectrum of colours – and they can all mean different things. The changes in colour could be caused by foods, medications, or food dyes. But in other cases, these changes could be caused by a health problem you don’t want to ignore like a liver condition, urinary infection, or kidney stones.

Urine is your body’s liquid waste. It is mostly made up of water but also includes salt and chemicals (urea and uric acid). In most situations, the colour depends on how diluted the urochrome pigment is. This pigment is made when it breaks down haemoglobin.

The colour is not the only telling feature. It is also important to pay attention to changes in consistency and frequency. It tells a lot about your body functioning and could be very beneficial for your health.

The meaning behind urine colour

Each colour of urine can mean multiple things so we want to make sure you do not panic. But if you are experiencing an unhealthy-looking colour, make an appointment with your doctor.

Our colour categories are approximate. Each person’s liquid waste will look slightly different from someone else’s, but this guide will provide you with a good frame of reference.

Translucent urine: No colour or transparent urine

Clear or transparent means you are drinking a lot of water. While it is rare to drink too much water, I recommend that if you see this shade, you cut back a bit. Cutting back your fluid intake will also reduce the number of trips to the bathroom.

Cloudy or foamy urine:

Changes in the consistency of the liquid, including if it is cloudy or foamy, can be a sign of a urinary tract infection, an overabundance of certain minerals, a symptom of chronic disease, or a sign of a kidney condition. If the discharge is cloudy with foam or bubbles, it could be a symptom of Chron’s disease or diverticulitis. In some cases, it is also a sign of dehydration. Another cause could be that you love steak and eat a lot of red meat or are on a ketogenic diet (high-fat and low-carb).

Pale yellow urine or gold urine:

When everything is healthy and normal, your urine should be pale yellow to gold. It is helpful to regularly pay attention to your urination to see what your normal colour is so that you can tell when it is different.

Amber urine:

Amber urine or bright yellow or neon liquid. Bright yellow urine is harmless and is just a sign that you are taking more vitamins than your body needs. You may want to check with your doctor on what vitamins your body does not need as much of so you can cut back.

Bright Yellow urine:

If your morning routine includes popping a handful of vitamins and supplements, this could be the culprit behind your bright yellow or neon liquid. Bright yellow urine is harmless and is just a sign that you are taking more vitamins than your body needs. You may want to check with your doctor on what vitamins your body does not need as much of so you can cut back.

Brown colour urine:

Brown colour in urination could mean you have severe dehydration or a liver condition. If you have melanoma skin cancer, your body may be adding skin pigment in circulation that’s winding up in the liquid waste. Brown urine could be misinterpreted as a very dark red, which could be caused by blood. Brown colouration could also be caused by the large consumption of fava beans, aloe, or rhubarb. Medications that cause your discharge to appear brown include metronidazole (treats infections) or chloroquine (prevent malaria).

Red and pink colour urine:

Red or pink urine can range in a variety of colours. This may mean you have blood in your urine (hematuria) or it could be a sign of kidney disease, urinary tracts infection, tumours, or a prostate problem. This could also be caused by recently eating blueberries, beets, or rhubarb, or if you recently did strenuous activities.

Orange colour urine:

Orange urine may mean you are dehydrated and need water. It could also mean you could have a liver or bile duct condition. Another meaning could be you ate large amounts of carrots or carrot juice, or you ate something with food dye. Many medications can also turn the urine orange, including phenazopyridine (for urinary relief), sulfasalazine (anti-inflammatory drug), isoniazid (tuberculosis treatment), high doses of riboflavin, some laxatives, and certain chemotherapy drugs.

Green and blue colour urine:

A green or blue colour in the urine is not very common. It could be caused by a rare genetic disease or a bacteria causing a urinary tract infection. But most likely it is caused by medication or food dye in something you ate (watch out for those green eggs and ham). The medications most known to turn your liquid discharge blue are the pain reliever indomethacin, the antidepressant amitriptyline, the stomach acid drug cimetidine, and the anaesthetic propofol. Asparagus could also add a greenish tinge but it is more known for adding an odour.

Purple colour urine:

Purple is the only colour that has a syndrome named after it, purple urine bag syndrome. This occurs in rare cases when using a urinary catheter where the patient also has a co-existing urinary tract infection.

When to visit the doctor for urine colour:

Sometimes changes to a person’s urine are temporary and harmless, such as the result of eating certain foods, taking medications or vitamins. But changes can also be a sign of a more serious underlying medical condition.

Anytime you see blood in your urine or notice it is brown or orange, it is time to seek medical attention and make an appointment with your primary care provider. This is especially true if the change lasts more than a day, or if it comes with back or side pain, fever, burning with urinating, vomiting, discharge or thirst.

Blood in the urine is a common sign of a urinary tract infection, kidney stones, or urinary tract cancer. Brown or orange urine may be caused by a malfunctioning liver especially if it is partnered with pale stools and yellow eyes and skin.

Smelly urine:

On top of your urine colour, I also recommend paying attention to the smell while going to the bathroom. Changes in smell could be caused by a range of underlying conditions but also could be because of your latest meal. If the diet is suspected (as is common with asparagus), try eliminating the culprit. Contact your primary care physician if the odour persists.

A urologist need not be contacted for most urinary colour problems. See your physician, who will refer you to a Urologist if it is needed.