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People have known that looking at someone's urine can reveal important information about their overall health for centuries now. We might have come so far in terms of technology and advancement in medical science but that ancient knowledge still stands true. Urine does tell a lot about your health. It can sometimes be a subtle hint of disease lurking to reveal itself and hence the importance of caution. Identifying danger signs in the urine can potentially save your life, so here are five danger signs you must know:
How Does Water Turn Into Urine?
First, water gets absorbed by your gut into your bloodstream. The blood flows through your kidneys, and these incredible little organs take out excess fluids and waste products too without losing any of the important proteins and blood cells. So, in very simple terms, urine is just filtered blood. And that’s why it can tell us so much about your overall health.
Why Is Normal Pee Yellow?
According to Dr Ali Raza, Senior Urologist, City Hospital, Punjab, "Red blood cells only last about three months before they get broken down. When this happens, a substance called urochrome is produced, and that’s what gives urine its normal color. But if you’ve ever taken vitamin B supplements, you might have noticed your urine turns a highlighter yellow color. That’s because of vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin. It looks scary, but don’t worry—it’s not dangerous. It’s just your body getting rid of any excess vitamin B2."
Five Ways Your Urine Signals Danger
Dr Raza lists five warning signs your urine might be giving you:
Red or Dark-Colored Urine
While yellow urine is normal, red urine is the biggest red light. Several things can cause your pee to turn red, but let’s start with the most obvious: blood. If you see red, albeit just a drop, you need to see your doctor. It’s the most common symptom of bladder cancer, and early detection can mean the difference between life and death.
Also Read: Do You Have A Shy Bladder Syndrome? Expert On How To Overcome
Fortunately, most of the time we find that the blood is coming from something less serious, like a urinary tract infection irritating the bladder. But blood isn’t the only cause of red urine. It can also be caused by hemoglobin, the protein that makes red blood cells red. Hemoglobin can show up in urine if red blood cells get damaged and die off quickly.
If you see pink, red, brown, or black urine, even once, you must see your doctor.
Foamy or Frothy Urine
This can indicate high protein levels, often due to kidney damage, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Healthy kidneys block protein from entering urine. When they’re damaged, protein leaks through.
Also Read: Why Do Some Sweat More And Others Less? Expert clarifies
Peeing Too Much? It Could Be Serious
Most commonly, this is due to:
- Diabetes: Excess sugar spills into urine and pulls water with it.
- Excessive water drinking: Yes, this can be life-threatening.
Not Peeing Enough? Also Dangerous
One of my patients had severe diarrhea and became profoundly dehydrated. She didn’t come to the hospital until her kidneys almost shut down. She hadn’t peed in two days.
Hydration is crucial for your kidneys and brain. Forget the “8 glasses a day” rule. Instead, ask yourself:
- Are you thirsty?
- Is it hot and dry outside?
- Have you been active?
- What does your pee look like?
Aim for very light yellow.
- Too dark = drink more water.
- Crystal clear = you might be overdoing it.
Bottomline
Always look before you flush. Your body might be trying to tell you something important. And keeping an eye out for the various discharges from our body and understanding what is normal and when you need to take action could well be the difference between life and death. So next time you go to the loo, make sure you look.