Observe "urine color" as an early warning sign from the body to help assess kidney, liver, and urinary tract health. Recognize abnormalities before your annual health checkup.
Monitoring bodily changes daily is important, especially "urine," a liquid waste filtered by the kidneys from the blood to expel excess substances and toxins. Regularly checking urine color and odor is a simple self-assessment method for basic health evaluation.
According to Prof. Dr. Jumphon Wilasrasamee from the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, the characteristics of urine color can indicate various health conditions as follows.
What should normal urine color be like?
- Straw-colored and clear: This is the normal appearance of urine.
- Lighter color: Caused by drinking a large amount of water.
- Darker straw color: Results from insufficient daily water intake.
- Effect of vitamins and medications: Consuming large amounts of certain vitamins, such as vitamin B or beta-carotene, or some medications, can darken or lighten urine color. However, normal urine should remain clear, not cloudy.
Warning signs from "urine color" and abnormalities not to be ignored.
1. Cloudy urine and/or foamy urine
- Cloudy urine: Indicates urinary tract infection or abnormalities in kidney filtration. Cloudiness may be caused by bacteria, urinary tract mucus, white blood cells, red blood cells, mucus, epithelial tissue, fats, or phosphorus.
- Foamy urine: Suggests impaired kidney function. Foam appears because the surface tension of urine changes due to albumin protein leaking into urine, reflecting reduced kidney filtration efficiency.
2. Very dark urine tending toward brown or resembling cola beverage color
May result from excessive breakdown of red blood cells in the body, liver dysfunction, or bile duct obstruction. Often accompanied by yellowing of the skin and eyes or pale stools, due to the body's inability to excrete bilirubin normally via stool, causing elevated blood bilirubin excreted through urine instead.
3. Urine that is red, pink, or reddish-brown
- Causes related to diseases or abnormal conditions: May stem from bleeding in the urinary tract such as cystitis, enlarged prostate, kidney cancer, bladder tumors, urinary tract injuries, kidney or bladder stones, as well as red blood cell breakdown and abnormal bleeding disorders.
- Causes from medications and foods: May be side effects of tuberculosis medications, certain antibiotics, or consuming vegetables like beets, blackberries, or food coloring. When intake stops, urine color returns to normal.
4. Green or clear blue urine
Mostly caused by certain medications such as some chemotherapy drugs, anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin, or food coloring like methylene blue.
Recommendations when abnormalities are found
If you notice abnormalities in urine color, cloudiness, or foam as described, promptly consult a doctor for diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Especially for those preparing for an annual health checkup, observing these signs can provide doctors with more accurate information.
