You may give your urine little thought until something seems off. Whether it smells funky or you suddenly have to pee every 10 minutes, out-of-the-ordinary bathroom habits can be alarming. But what happens when you have an abnormal urine color?
“Colored urine isn’t always a cause for concern,” says David Shusterman, MD, a board-certified urologist at NY Urology. “Urine is a liquid waste product excreted by the kidneys, and it’s primarily composed of water, urea, and other waste products that are filtered out of the blood by the kidneys,” he explains.
The composition and color of urine can also vary depending on your hydration level, diet, medications, and overall health, says Stephanie Hack, MD, an ob-gyn and the founder of Lady Parts Doctor. In fact, urine is essentially your body’s liquid waste, and any color changes caused by food or medication are not typically concerning, she says.
That said, the color of your pee can be a sign that something is up with your health, Dr. Shusterman says. If you notice persistent changes in your urine (that cannot be attributed to diet or medications), blood in your urine, or cloudy urine accompanied by pain, fever, and frequent urination, it’s time to see a doctor, because it may signal an underlying health condition, he explains.
Until you can get to a provider, we had our experts answer all of our questions about abnormal urine color. For example, is dark-yellow urine cause for concern? And is green urine dangerous? Also, what does pale-yellow urine mean for your health? Keep reading to learn all about what your abnormal urine color means and when you should see a doctor.
Abnormal Urine Colors
Regular urine color typically ranges from clear to pale yellow, per the Mayo Clinic. But abnormal urine color can be caused by a number of things, from medication to urinary-tract infections to dehydration. Read on to understand what the color of your pee really means.
Cloudy Urine
It’s difficult to evaluate cloudy urine based on appearance alone, but it could be caused by a urinary-tract infection, kidney stones, dehydration, or certain medications, Dr. Shusterman says. The accompanying symptoms can tell you or a doctor more about the root cause, he adds.
Additionally, if you have cloudy urine while pregnant, it could be a sign of preeclampsia, a dangerous condition characterized by high blood pressure, per the Cleveland Clinic. Preeclampsia usually develops in the third trimester, but if you notice cloudy urine while expecting, see your doctor right away.
Bright-Yellow Urine
Bright-yellow urine could be caused by food such as carrots or sweet potatoes or medications like antibiotics or laxatives, Dr. Shusterman says. “In most cases, it’s harmless and temporary, however, if the color persists after stopping medications or eating certain foods, you should consult with a urologist,” he explains.
Neon-yellow pee is also common and most likely from excess supplements, specifically excess B vitamins (vitamin B12), Dr. Hack adds.
Red Urine
Red or bloody urine is a cause for concern since it often indicates a urinary-tract infection or kidney stones, Dr. Hack says. It could also signal bladder cancer, kidney stones, or other kidney disease, so if you notice blood in your pee, visit your doctor immediately, Dr. Shusterman says.
If your urine is not bloody but rather a deep red or pink, it could also be from your diet if you recently ate beets or rhubarb, Dr. Hack says.
Pink Urine
Your urine may look pink if you ate magenta or hot-pink foods like beets, rhubarb, or even blueberries, per the Mayo Clinic. If your pee is consistently pink for more than a few days or turns bloody, talk with your doctor ASAP.
Brown or Dark Urine
Brown or dark urine is likely a sign of dehydration, in which case you need to drink more water, Dr. Hack says. Certain antibiotics or foods like fava beans, rhubarb, or aloe could also cause brownish urine, per the Mayo Clinic.
The Mayo Clinic also states that brown urine could be a symptom of porphyria, a group of eight rare genetic disorders that affect the skin and nervous system as a result of a buildup of natural chemicals called porphyrins. If you experience brown or dark urine for more than a few days or have accompanying symptoms of pain, fever, or yellow skin and eyes, schedule a visit with your doctor immediately, per the Mayo Clinic.
Orange Urine
Orange urine can be caused by certain medications like laxatives, antibiotics, or chemotherapeutic drugs, Dr. Hack says. Additionally, if you’ve recently taken AZO bladder-pain formula, you may experience orange pee, Dr. Shusterman says.
Dehydration and certain vitamins, such as A and B12, can also turn urine orange, per the Mayo Clinic. Talk with your doctor if your pee is consistently orange, because it may be a sign of an underlying health condition or a problem with your liver.
Blue or Green Urine
Blue or green urine may be a little alarming, but it’s often caused by medications or food dyes, Dr. Hack says. If you notice your urine is consistently blue or green, talk with your doctor.
Urine can also turn light blue or green due to pain and arthritis medications, per the Mayo Clinic. Urinary-tract infections caused by a specific bacteria can also trigger green urine, in which case you should see a doctor.
Clear Urine
Good news! If your urine is clear, it means you’re well-hydrated and drinking an adequate amount of water, Dr. Shusterman says.
The Bottom Line
If your urine changes colors without any accompanying symptoms, it’s likely temporary and harmless due to certain medications, food, or dehydration. However, if symptoms persist or you experience pain, discomfort, fever, or blood in your urine, Dr. Hack recommends checking in with your healthcare provider for an exam and additional testing.
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d certainly donate to this brilliant blog! I suppose for now I’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group. Chat soon!
Needed to compose you a very little word to thank you yet again regarding the nice suggestions you’ve contributed here.
Hello. This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate. He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this page to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing.
Your very own commitment to getting the message throughout came to be rather powerful and have consistently enabled employees just like me to arrive at their desired goals.
Greetings. I know this is somewhat off-topic, but I was wondering if you knew where I could get a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform like yours, and I’m having difficulty finding one? Thanks a lot.
Some us know all relating to the compelling medium you present powerful steps on this blog and therefore strongly encourage contribution from other ones on this subject while our own child is truly discovering a great deal. Have fun with the remaining portion of the year.
I really love the theme/design of your website. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems? A small number of my blog audience have complained about my site not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Safari. Do you have any ideas to help fix this problem?
I wish to show thanks to you just for bailing me out of this particular trouble.As a result of checking through the net and meeting techniques that were not productive, I thought my life was done.
Hello, I read your blog occasionally, and I own a similar one, and I was just wondering if you get a lot of spam remarks? If so how do you stop it, any plugin or anything you can advise? I get so much lately it’s driving me insane, so any assistance is very much appreciated.
Hey there! I know this is kind of off-topic, but I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest authoring a blog post or vice-versa? My blog goes over a lot of the same topics as yours, and I believe we could greatly benefit from each other. If you happen to be interested, feel free to shoot me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Great blog by the way!
I enjoy what you guys are usually up too. This sort of clever work and coverage! Keep up the wonderful works guys I’ve added you guys to my blogroll.
I am curious to find out what blog system you’re using?
I simply wanted to thank you so much again. I am not sure the things that I might have gone through without the type of hints revealed by you regarding that situation.
Howdy, would you mind letting me know which web host you’re utilizing? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different web browsers, and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most. Can you suggest a good internet hosting provider at a reasonable price?
I believe there are many more pleasurable opportunities ahead for individuals that looked at your site.
I simply wanted to thank you so much again. I am not sure the things that I might have gone through without the type of hints revealed by you regarding that situation.
It’s always so sweet and also full of a lot of fun for me personally and my office colleagues to search your blog a minimum of thrice in a week to see the new guidance you have got.
Howdy, would you mind letting me know which web host you’re utilizing? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different web browsers, and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most. Can you suggest a good internet hosting provider at a reasonable price?
Write more; that’s all I have to say. It seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You know what you’re talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your blog when you could be giving us something enlightening to read?
I am commenting to let you know what a terrific experience my daughter enjoyed reading through your web page. She noticed a wide variety of pieces, with the inclusion of what it is like to have an awesome helping style to have the rest without hassle grasp some grueling matters.
I enjoy what you guys are usually up too. This sort of clever work and coverage! Keep up the wonderful works guys I’ve added you guys to my blogroll.
Do you have a spam issue on this website; I also am a blogger, and I wanted to know your situation; many of us have developed some nice methods, and we are looking to trade methods with others, why not shoot me an e-mail if interested.
I really love the theme/design of your website. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems? A small number of my blog audience have complained about my site not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Safari. Do you have any ideas to help fix this problem?
Hello there! This is my first comment here, so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I genuinely enjoy reading your articles. Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same subjects? Thanks.
I am curious to find out what blog system you’re using?
It’s always so sweet and also full of a lot of fun for me personally and my office colleagues to search your blog a minimum of thrice in a week to see the new guidance you have got.
It’s always so sweet and also full of a lot of fun for me personally and my office colleagues to search your blog a minimum of thrice in a week to see the new guidance you have got.
Do you have a spam issue on this website; I also am a blogger, and I wanted to know your situation; many of us have developed some nice methods, and we are looking to trade methods with others, why not shoot me an e-mail if interested.
I and my friends were going through the nice, helpful tips from the blog then the sudden came up with an awful suspicion I never expressed respect to the website owner for those secrets.
When I initially commented, I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Thanks.
Hello, I read your blog occasionally, and I own a similar one, and I was just wondering if you get a lot of spam remarks? If so how do you stop it, any plugin or anything you can advise? I get so much lately it’s driving me insane, so any assistance is very much appreciated.
Thanks a lot very much for the high quality and results-oriented help. I won’t think twice to endorse your blog post to anybody who wants and needs support about this area.
I wish to show thanks to you just for bailing me out of this particular trouble.As a result of checking through the net and meeting techniques that were not productive, I thought my life was done.
Some us know all relating to the compelling medium you present powerful steps on this blog and therefore strongly encourage contribution from other ones on this subject while our own child is truly discovering a great deal. Have fun with the remaining portion of the year.
Your good knowledge and kindness in playing with all the pieces were very useful. I don’t know what I would have done if I had not encountered such a step like this.
I’d love to be a part of group where I can get advice from other experienced people that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Thank you.
Thank you a lot for providing individuals with a very spectacular possibility to read critical reviews from this site.
When I initially commented, I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Thanks.
It’s always so sweet and also full of a lot of fun for me personally and my office colleagues to search your blog a minimum of thrice in a week to see the new guidance you have got.
Does your blog have a contact page? I’m having problems locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an email. I’ve got some recommendations for your blog you might be interested in hearing.
It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed material. Fantastic read.
What’s up, all is going well here and ofcourse every one is sharing data, that’s really good, keep up writing.
Visit my webpage: https://Casinoselection.Populiser.com/
Hello, I desire to subscribe for this webpage to get hottest updates, so where can i do it amuse assist.
Here is my site … http://Www.Glaschat.ru/glas-f/member.php?319029-Svetlanaetz
I have been surfing online greater than 3 hours lately, yet I never found any attention-grabbing article like yours. It is beautiful worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all site owners and bloggers made excellent content material as you probably did, the internet can be much more helpful than ever before.
Feel free to surf to my blog post … http://www.mobilesforums.com/general-meego-discussion/342198-a.html
Thank you for sharing your views. Regards!
My blog post: http://Adtgamer.COM.Br/showthread.php?p=451407
Greetings, all is happening adequately here and clearly everyone is exchanging facts, that’s truly fantastic, uphold scribbling.
My homepage … http://www.Adtgamer.com.br/showthread.php?p=455612
It�s hard to come by experienced people on this topic, but you seem like you know what you�re talking about! Thanks
My website … http://Tsxvresearch.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13&p=973847
fantastic issues taken into consideration, you simply received a new reader. What might you suggest in regards to your that you made some days in the past? certain?
Here is my webpage; http://WWW.Fvrc.ru/forums/index.php/topic,251386.new.html
fantastic putting taken into consideration, you just received a new reader. What could you suggest microblogging page that you simply made some days ago? Any sure
Feel free to surf to my website :: http://Spearboard.com/member.php?u=990671
This is truly interesting, You’re an extremely skilled blogger. I have coupled your rss channel and foresee searching for additional of your brilliant post. Also, I’ve shared your web site in my social networks!
Look at my web blog … http://www.bovinedecarne.ro/forum/viewtopic.php?p=243700
I have not checked in here for a while because I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
Stop by my homepage :: http://oople.com/forums/member.php?u=238165
Thanks, I have recently been searching for info about this topic for an extended time and yours is that the best I have got discovered so far. However, what about the final point? Are you sure in regards to the source?
Also visit my homepage – http://keiler.orangelantern.de/viewtopic.php?p=5697
I am truly delighted to peruse this site posts which comprises tons of practical data, thank you for providing such knowledge.
my web site :: http://Cheapbooks.cc/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=29473
Greetings very impressive website!! Fellow .. Remarkable .. Extraordinary .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds additionally�I am contented to discover such a lot of valuable knowledge present in the article, we’d similar to increase more procedures on this regard, thank you for distribution.
Here is my homepage: http://Adtgamer.Com.br/showthread.php?p=437130
Remarkable! This blog gazes exactly similar my old one! It’s on a entirely at variance issue but it has beautiful much the same page layout and blueprint. Fantastic preference of colours!
My web blog … http://adtgamer.com.br/showthread.php?p=437526
Terrific site you have here.. It�s difficult to find quality writing similar yours nowadays. I truly appreciate individuals similar you! Bear care!!
My web site: http://Forum.ll2.ru/
Superb post! We will exist linking to this big post on our web site. Uphold the good scribbling.
Also visit my site: http://Www.6crew.com/forum/showthread.php?206776-2024&p=913262
This was an excellent read. Very thorough and well-researched.