What Your Urine Says About You

Your urine can tell a lot about you. It can even tell on you in the case of drug tests. But, what do the sight, smell, and consistency of urine really mean? We know that a doctor can sample our urine for drugs, pregnancy, and infection. But what can we learn from our urine without the use of a doctor? How do we know when something about our urine warrants medical attention?

The appearance of your pee can change throughout the day or even by the hour. The normal changes in your urine can be caused by what you have eaten, what you have drunk, or not drank, the medications you have been taken, or any infections or illnesses you may have.

Often times our urine changes color, odor, and consistency based on the amount of fluids we have consumed. Consuming many fluids may cause your urine to be very dilute. Consuming several beers or tea can cause a diuretic effect that will cause your urine to be very clear.

On the other hand, not drinking many fluids at all can cause the urine to appear dark and be very concentrated. The fasted remedy for this is to consume several servings of clear fluids.

Soda is not as bad for us as many would like us to believe. This is not to say that soda is in any way good for you. It is not. But, drinking soda in moderation can count towards water consumption. Our bodies are very smart and can filter the water from the soda that it needs. You also should not have to force fluids on yourself; our bodies are able to tell us when we need to drink. This is why we have thirst.

Urine that is overly clear or concentrated may simply be alleviated by simply consuming more fluids or not consuming as many diuretic types of drink. Concentrated urine from dehydration may cause your urine to have a strong odor as well. Strong odors are not always a sign of infection. An ammonia smell to your urine may be a sign of infection and should be reported to your doctor.

The website, UrineColors, report three of the top reasons for abnormal urine colors. The type of food you have consumed, the type of drugs you have taken, and possible health issues are some of the top causes for changes in color.

If your urine has changed colors or has caused you to be concerned, ask yourself a few questions before you decide to notify 911.

A urine change does not always indicate something is wrong. Ask yourself "How do I feel?" Sometimes urine changes color because of something you ate, the drugs you have been prescribed, or due to your body's hydration. If you feel relatively fine, you may not have to be concerned about the change. If you are taking a new drug, check the possible side effects. You may find that changes in urine are a normal side effect. The side effect information may also alert you to possible reasons for concern.

If your urine is red, pink tinged, red-brown, or any type of red color you may have reason to be concerned. Generally, if your urine has blood in it, an infection or other health issue is the cause. Notify your doctor if you notice blood in your urine.

Check out my other article to find out why your urine is blue, why you might have green urine, orange pee, and other weird urine appearances here.