You may have noticed that the amount of times you pee is closely linked to your habits. For example, on a weekend while you drink a few glasses of beer, it is normal that you often have to go to the bathroom. The same is not true on any given day of the week, when you are taking the same amount of fluids you are used to.
But it's true that urine can say a lot more about your health than you might think!
Thais Nemoto Matsui, a nephrologist at the Israeli Albert Einstein Hospital, explains that it is necessary to differentiate changes in odor, color and frequency of urine that are considered normal from those that may be signs of disease.
• Changes in urine concentration, more or less strong odor and number of urination (urination) may be only a reflection of water intake, without representing an abnormality. Thus, when we drink a lot of fluid, urine tends to be lighter and less odorous because it is less concentrated and urination will be more frequent. And in the case of low intake, the opposite happens ?, says the doctor.
"However, some changes in these characteristics may be signs of disease," adds the nephrologist.
Below is a list of urine characteristics that may be indicating a possible health problem. Worth paying attention to!
1. Change in urine color
"Changes in color, such as darkening of urine, may be a sign of liver disease, where bile pigments dye urine," says Thais Matsui.
But, says the doctor, it is worth remembering that some medicines can also tint the urine, making it darker, orange and even green, without this being a problem. "In this case, when the drug is suspended, urine color returns to normal," he adds.
2. Unstained urine
"In case of advanced / terminal renal failure, the urine may be virtually unstained (almost like water), which represents the absence of toxins that should be eliminated in the urine," explains the nephrologist.
3. Bloody Urine
"It's important to point out that blood in the urine is never normal and always deserves attention and research," says Thais Matsui.
Visible (macroscopic) blood in the urine is usually related to the presence of lesion in some portion of the urinary tract, ie the urethra, bladder, ureters or kidneys. A very common example of this is the presence of kidney stones which, in its movement through the urinary tract, can hurt any of these portions, leading to bleeding, says the doctor.
"Other less common conditions, such as kidney or bladder tumors, may also manifest with blood in the urine," adds nephrologist Thais.
Other diseases that may manifest with blood in the urine (in this case, most often not visible to the naked eye) are glomerulonephritis or nephritis, as they are better known, which are kidney diseases that usually have symptoms other than changes. urine ?, explains the doctor.
4. Increased frequency of urination
If unrelated to increased fluid intake, increased urine may be associated with some type of disease, such as diabetes. "If the problem persists it is essential to consult a doctor to determine if something is wrong," explains Thais Matsui.
"When the increased frequency of urination is accompanied by urination urgency and / or pain while urinating, this may still be a sign of urinary infection," adds the doctor.
5. Reduction of urinary volume
If unrelated to reduced fluid intake and / or dehydration, "reduced urine may be a sign of kidney failure or obstruction of the urinary tract," Thais explains.
6. Smelly urine
? The fetid odor is often associated with the presence of urinary tract infection. But it is necessary to remember that the urine has its own characteristic odor, which is normal? Says the nephrologist.
7. Pain to urinate
According to Thais Matsui, the dysuria? what's the pain to urinate called? It occurs in urinary tract infections and is usually accompanied by symptoms such as: urinary urgency and feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder, and increased frequency of urination (the woman urinates several times, little by little). These infections most commonly affect the lower urinary tract, ie the urethra and bladder, and are called cystitis.They are quite common in women, and may occur with some frequency, but in general do not represent a more serious disease ?, he says.
However, if left untreated, it can complicate the involvement of the kidneys by infection, pyelonephritis, which is a potentially serious infection that usually requires hospitalization. Therefore, it is important that women with symptoms of cystitis seek medical attention to treat the infection ?, concludes nephrologist Thais.
But remember: As nephrologist Thais Matsui has pointed out, it is not any change in the frequency, color or odor of urine that poses a danger to your health. Some change may be occurring simply because we have taken more or less fluid on the day. But when in doubt, seek the advice of your doctor as soon as possible!
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