5 Health Warnings From Your Urine Colour

Urine isn't something most people talk about. We barely give it more than a passing glance as it swirls out of sight down the toilet bowl. Yet changes in the urine – its colour, odour, and consistency – can provide important clues about the state of your health.

Here's what the different colours could mean:

Clear
This is mostly nothing to worry about – but in rare cases, sports fans drink so much water their bodies can't get rid of it. Mike Laniado, a urology expert at Windsor Urology, Berkshire, says:“Rarely, this causes the urine and blood to become very diluted, the sodium levels in the blood drop and the brain swells, sometimes leading to seizures and death.” This is rare – but if you're worried you're swilling down too much water, restrict yourself to drinking when you actually feel thirsty, rather than downing extra to improve performance.

Bright yellow
Many people become alarmed when they see their urine turn bright yellow – but this is usually caused by vitamin supplements, and the body rapidly getting rid of nutrients it can't absorb. Don't worry, in other words.

Red tinges
It takes a very small amount of blood to make urine look pinkish – and this can be caused by high-impact sports having an effect on the bladder. But it could be a sign of a more serious illness such as kidney stones, or even cancer. Laniado says: “It is probably harmless, but red urine should still be investigated by a urologist.”

Cloudy
Cloudy urine could be something as innocuous as recently having had sex (if you're a man) or crystals caused by eating foods such as cheese. It's most likely to be the sign of a bacterial infection in the urinary tract. These usually aren't serious – but it's worth seeing your doctor.

Bright orange
This is often caused by dehydration – and people's urine tends to be most orange in the morning, when the kidneys have been working overnight without urinating. It could also be a sign you eat too many salty foods – which cause the body to 'hang on' to water. Try drinking more water, and eating less salt. If it persists, consult you doctor – it could be a sign of something more serious, such as jaundice.

SOURCE: http://www.naij.com