Changes in urine

Urine is the way through which the body gets rid of the excess waste and fluid. It is this contingent basically on two factors; the fluid intake and amount of waste to be excreted by the body. The color and concentration then vary accordingly. 

The more concentrated the urine is, the darker it will be, and stronger the odor will be. It essentially means that there is more waste to water ratio. It is common to have concentrated urine in the morning, as the body accumulated the waste as we slept. 

However, urine is not merely the necessary process, but also functions as an indicator of many underlying health issues. Changes in urine are influenced by various factors, including health issues. 

At times, the changes may even be indicative of a possible terminal condition like kidney or bladder cancer. Therefore, any changes in the urine should not be made light of, especially when there is blood in urine. Timely visit to the best urologist in Islamabad can significantly improve patient prognosis. 

What are the symptoms of changes in urine?

There are three major ways that changes in urine can occur. One, is the change in the color of the urine. This is generally what most people tend to notice. 

Secondly, and slightly less commonly noticed is the foaming of the urine. Another symptom indicating change in urine is the odor. Generally, persistently strong-smelling urine is a sign of there being something amiss in the body. 

What are the causes of changes in the urine?

Food 

A more innocuous reason for the change in the urine is food. Some fruits like beets, black berries, rhubarb have natural pigment in them that gives them their red tinge. Thus, this pigment may then be present in the pee as well, turning it a shade of red or deep brown. However, this is only for as long as these foods are consumed, and thus when the person stops eating such foods, the color change is fixed as well. 

Carrots and vitamin C can also lead to urine having a tinge of orange in it. Similarly, some foods contain very strong dyes, especially processed foods. They too can lead to change in the color of the urine. 

Likewise, some people experience a change in color and smell of the urine after eating asparagus. Whereas the underlying cause of why the color change occurs is not yet known, but not every person responds so to asparagus. 

Medicine

Certain vitamins, especially the B-group supplements can change the color of the pee. They tend to turn it a shade of green. 

Similarly, certain medications can also cause the color of the urine to change. These include some drugs that help with reduction of acid in the stomach, chemotherapy medicines etc. Warfarin, senna, rifampin, cimetidine etc. are some examples of the drugs that can lead to change in urine.  

Medical conditions 

At times, the change in the color of the urine is a much more alarming sign. Different medical conditions may also be behind it. 

UTIs, urinary tract infections, are common in people, especially women. UTI can cause urine to turn cloudy and develop a rather strong odor. It can also at times cause hematuria –presence of blood in the urine. Other signs of UTIs include frequent and painful urination, fever, burning sensation while peeing and abdominal pain. 

Kidney stones can also lead to presence of blood in the urine, tinging it with a shade of red. It can happen when the stone irritates the ureter. Other signs of kidney stones include pain in the back or the side, fever, vomiting etc. 

Foaming of the urine is generally not considered a very alarming matter; it is generally either due to diet or the way you pee. But if this foaming is followed by swelling in legs, it can mean that there is excess protein in the urine, due to lack of proper functioning of the kidneys. 

Another reason why the urine may be stained red is due to mercury or lead poisoning.  Liver failure can also cause the urine to turn a shade of deep brown. Similarly, kidney failure can also lead to cola-colored urine. 

Liver failure and problems therein can also be behind the change in urine. Dark brown urine can be indicative of liver failure, whereas problems otherwise with the liver or the bile duct can lead to the urine turning orange. 

How to treat changes in urine? 

The treatment of changes depends on the cause of the change. If it is something innocuous like dieting, the change itself is very temporary. If it’s bothering you too much, you can skip these certain foods. However, for the rest of the causes, it is best to have a doctor on board.

As the underlying cause of the change in the color can indicate alarming body ailments, it is highly advised to enlist the help of the Best urologist in Lahore so that the cause behind the change can be established, and treated.