Urinalysis is usually part of a medical check-up. But do you know that you can assess your health by just looking at the color of your urine? Here's what an expert says about the color of your pee.
Urine Color Can Determine Your Health
Daily Mail shared a chart reflecting various colors, including shades of yellow. The scale shows clear to dark brown colors.
According to the outlet, the dark brown suggests one is badly hydrated. On the other hand, a clear to pale yellow pee indicates that one is well hydrated.
Doctors have used the chart for decades. However, it reportedly fails to acknowledge some important factors. For instance, it doesn't include green pee and considers other health conditions.
Dr. Leyla Hannbeck, a pharmacist and CEO of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, told the outlet that darker urine indicates one doesn't drink enough and may be dehydrated. She noted that dehydration might cause fatigue, headaches, and nausea. It can also lead to an even more serious health condition for those who are very young or elderly.
Darker urine hues could also indicate other health issues, like liver failure or side effects of some medications.
She added that orange or brown urine might be due to anti-inflammatory medication or some chemotherapy drugs. She also warned that it could be a sign of jaundice.
According to Mount Sinai, jaundice is when an excess amount of bilirubin circulating in the bloodstream dissolves in the subcutaneous fat, just the layer beneath the skin. It results in a yellowish appearance on the skin and eyes.
Jaundice is typically caused when the bile duct carrying the bile from the liver to the gallbladder is blocked by a cyst, gallstone, or possibly a tumor.
Is a Clear Urine a Good or Bad Sign?
Urine that looks clear occasionally is normal. However, when your urine is always clear, you have to cut back on your water consumption.
According to Dr. Hannbeck, drinking too much can dilute the electrolytes, and having clear urine all the time is not a good indication. She added that clear urine could indicate liver problems like cirrhosis.
According to GoodRx Health, a clear pee suggests one drinks enough water. Overhydration is not good because it can disrupt the level of salts in the body, and the condition can be more serious than you can imagine. It can also lead to severe fatigue, confusion, and seizures. In rare cases, it may lead to a coma.
But if one doesn't drink water and constantly has clear urine, it could be due to an underlying health condition like kidney issues, diabetes, insipidus, medications, and pregnancy.
A healthy pee should be light in color and not completely clear. A pale yellow or straw color means the kidneys are functioning well and you're hydrated.
Dr. Hannbeck suggests visiting a doctor if you do not consume large amounts of water but have ongoing clear urine.
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