- The Cleveland Clinic, in Ohio, has drawn up a diagram showing all of the different possible shades of urine colour and what each one means
- Colourless urine indicates a person is drinking too much water
- Healthy urine is considered pale straw coloured or transparent yellow
- Amber or honey coloured urine indicates an urgent need for water
- Brown ale coloured urine is a sign of liver disease or severe dehydration
- Red urine could have blood in it and this is a symptom of bladder cancer, kidney disease, prostate problems and infections, the doctors say
By
Emma Innes
12:56 EST, 4 December 2013
|
13:00 EST, 4 December 2013
From healthy ‘pale straw’ to potentially dangerous ‘brown ale’, urine comes in a wide range of colours.
Now doctors at a U.S. medical centre have drawn up a diagram to illustrate what is normal and what is not.
The chart, developed at the Cleveland Clinic, in Ohio, says urine usually ranges from a deep amber or honey colour to a light straw colour, with many shades in between.
The Cleveland Clinic, in Ohio, has created a diagram which shows all of the different possible shades of urine colour and what they say about your health
It says the colour of a person’s urine says a lot about what is going on inside their body, and that people should take heed of its warnings.
The diagram shows that if a person’s urine has no colour, it suggests they are drinking too much water and should consider cutting back.
If it is a pale straw colour, the person’s water consumption is at a healthy level and they are well-hydrated.The same applies if their urine is transparent yellow.
However, if it is dark yellow, this suggests they should drink some water soon.
As a person becomes more dehydrated, their urine will turn an amber or honey colour.
This suggests they are not getting enough water and that they should drink some immediately.
The diagram shows that urine should be straw coloured or pale yellow. If it is darker, it suggests the person is dehydrated. If it is red, it could contain blood
The colour of a person’s urine can also be influenced by factors other than hydration.
The diagram shows that if it is the colour of brown ale, this could be a sign of severe dehydration, but it could also be a sign of liver disease.
Experts recommend that if a person notices their urine is this colour, they should drink some water and visit their doctor if it persists.
Most people would, rightly, be concerned if their urine turned red.
The diagram shows that if a person has not just eaten beetroot, blueberries or rhubarb their urine should not be pink or red. If it is, they should visit a doctor as it could be a sign of blood.
This can be caused by kidney disease, tumours, prostate problems or a urinary tract infection.
It could even be a sign of mercury poisoning.
Having orange urine can also be suggestive of a problem.
If a person’s urine is fizzy it could be a sign that they are eating too much protein. It could also be a symptom of kidney problems
The diagram shows it can be a sign of dehydrations but it could also be a symptom of a liver or bile duct condition.
In very rare cases, urine can turn blue or green.
This can be caused by food dye or medication, but it could also be indicative of a rare genetic disease or of bacteria in the urinary tract.
As a result, if a person’s urine turns green, and stays that way, they are advised to visit a doctor.
Finally, some people notice their urine has turned ‘fizzy’.
This can be caused by a harmless hydraulic effect, however, it can also be a sign of excessive protein in the diet, or of a kidney problem.
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petey,
bay area, United States,
moments ago
Best looking urine I’ve seen as when a patient had methylene blue.
Yup,the urine was blue-green.
English Bob,
The once Great Britain,
moments ago
Very informative, thank you DM!
Prudence,
San Francisco, United States,
moments ago
These diagrams should be posted on the inside of all restroom stall doors.
Janey,
London,
8 minutes ago
Diabetes Insipidus? You missed that one.
McOnyon,
London, United Kingdom,
10 minutes ago
If my number twos were ANY of these colours I would be worried – I can’t even be bothered to read this in full, NEXT!
Poppy Clarke,
Croydon, United Kingdom,
10 minutes ago
Very many people drink too much after years ago a report came out saying people needed at least 2 litres a day. It was taken up by the press and drinks manufacturers but they forgot to add the crucial wording in the research which said “most of which is obtained from our food†Of course in hot weather we drink more but our bodies are quite capable of telling us when we are thirsty. For many drinking is a habit rather than a need and can mean that vital minerals and vitamins are washed out too quickly before being absorbed
F_Rabelais,
LaRochelle,
13 minutes ago
If we’re really going to get down to brass tacks, the smell can tell a lot also, probably even more than the colour. But whereas most blokes don’t like to be seen bending down to sniff the trough (except Rab C Nesbitt) , they don’t mind taking a look.
Lara,
UK,
13 minutes ago
Sufferers of Acute Intermittent Porphyria (AIP) pee purple during an attack….so actually it is possible!
Gator,
Florida, United States,
14 minutes ago
I’m just happy that I pee.
Tallulah,
Hove, United Kingdom,
14 minutes ago
There is a mistake in the chart. No purple maybe, but eat beetroot and watch urine colour go pinky red!
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