What Does Urine Colour Say About Your Health?

Urine serves as a means for the body to excrete metabolic waste, making its colour a potential indicator of your health status. Especially for urbanites who lead busy lives, have irregular meals, and have unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking, health issues may arise without one's awareness. In this case, they can try to observe their urine colour. If there are any abnormalities that last for several days, see a doctor as soon as possible!

9 urine colours: Which one are you?

Yellow

Yellow is the typical urine colour, which can be divided into light yellow and dark yellow. Having light yellow urine means that you are healthy and sufficiently hydrated, while a dark yellow colour suggests that you need to replenish more water in your body.

Red

If you have consumed a large amount of red-coloured foods, such as beets and red dragon fruits, you may have red or pink urine. However, if it persists for several days, it could be a sign of problems such as urinary tract infection, enlarged prostate, or tumour.

Dark brown

It may be due to severe dehydration or liver disease. If there is a problem with the bile duct causing it to be blocked, bilirubin can accumulate in the blood. When an excessive amount of bilirubin enters the urine, the urine will turn dark brown.

Orange

Orange urine is mainly caused by medication, including isoniazid and rifampicin used to treat tuberculosis, and phenazopyridine (Pyridium) used to treat urinary tract infections.

Cloudy

It may be due to consuming too many calcium-rich foods, such as milk. However, cloudy urine can also indicate a urinary tract infection, which triggers an immune response that releases a large number of white blood cells.

Blue

If the urine turns blue, it may be caused by medication containing "methylene blue”, which is a dye used in various diagnostic tests.

Green

Green urine may be a sign of a urinary tract infection or bacterial infection in the blood. Many common drugs have been reported to cause green or bluish-green urine, including the anaesthetic propofol, the stomach acid reducer cimetidine (Tagamet), and the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline (Elavil).

8. Purple

It may be a sign of porphyria, which can affect the skin and nervous system. This disease is caused by genetics, but many cases are also caused by acquired factors, including drugs, chemicals, diet, bacterial or viral infections, and hormonal changes. In addition, bedridden patients who use urinary catheters and urine bags for a long time may also have purple urine.

9. Transparent

Transparent urine does not necessarily mean good health. It can be caused by drinking too much water, and in this case, it is best to reduce water intake.

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