In ancient times, doctors examined urine
visually—sometimes even tasted it—to diagnose disease. Although this medical
practice, called uroscopy, fell out of favor in recent centuries, urine can
still provide some insight into a person’s state of health. Here is everything
you’ve always wanted to know about urine—but were afraid to ask.
What is urine?
It is liquid waste filtered from the blood and excreted
by the kidneys. About 95 percent is water; the rest consists of byproducts of
metabolism, such as urea, along with small amounts of excess salts, hormones,
vitamins and other substances.
2
What makes it yellow?
The color comes from a pigment called urochrome (from the
breakdown of red blood cells) and ranges from pale yellow to amber. More
concentrated urine is darker, an indication of dehydration. A good rule is to
drink enough fluids to keep your urine almost colorless.
3
What causes color changes?
Supplements, drugs and illness can turn urine surprising
colors. For instance, excess riboflavin, a B vitamin, makes urine bright yellow.
Phenazopyridine (such as Pyridium), for symptoms of bladder infections, turns
it bright orange. Eating beets or blackberries may cause red urine, while
rhubarb and some laxatives can turn it brown. If your urine is pink, red or
brown for unknown reasons, see your doctor to rule out blood in the urine from,
for example, an infection, kidney stone or, more rarely, bladder cancer. Brown
urine may also be due to liver problems.
4
Why is urine sometimes cloudy?
Cloudy urine is usually of no concern. It could be caused
by normal secretions or by phosphate crystals that form if you’ve had a lot of
milk or other high-phosphate foods. But if your urine is persistently cloudy or
accompanied by other symptoms—such as burning upon urination, frequent
urination or fever—it could be a sign of bacterial infection or other
condition.
5
What gives urine its odor?
Urea, ammonia and other chemicals excreted by the kidneys
give urine an odor. If you are well hydrated and healthy, there should be
little or no odor. Darker-yellow urine, because it is more concentrated, smells
stronger. Penicillin gives urine a distinctive smell. So, too, does asparagus
in many people (though some cannot smell it). Some medical conditions may also
change urine’s odor. For example, diabetes can make it smell sweet.
6
What does a urine test reveal?
A dipstick urinalysis checks for sugar (a possible sign
of diabetes), protein (which can indicate kidney disease), white blood cells
(possibly due to a urinary tract infection) and blood. It also tests specific
gravity (that is, concentration) and pH (acidity/alkalinity) of the urine. In
addition, urine tests can reveal many other things, including pregnancy and
liver disease.
7
Does urine have healing properties?
Urine has been ingested to treat heartburn, gout, flu,
measles and diphtheria; rubbed into the chest for bronchial infections; gargled
for throat infections; and applied to wounds. According to an article in the
American Journal of Nephrology, substances in urine may inhibit microorganisms
and have other effects. But there's no evidence that "urine therapy"
has benefits. It’s a myth that applying urine to jellyfish stings can help, and
it may cause remaining stingers to fire more. Drinking urine may cause nausea,
vomiting, headache, palpitations, diarrhea and fever.
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