Urine Colors May Be Warning Signs of Diseases, Here’s How to Tell

That morning pee could tell you what the most high-tech labs aim for: early detection of possibly serious conditions, from infections to organ trouble.

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The next time you flush, think twice. A quick glimpse into the toilet bowl can unveil important health clues—if you know the warning signs.

Changes in urine color, consistency, or smell serve as potential red flags, signaling everything from dehydration to diabetes. Monitoring these diagnostic signals provides an easy, noninvasive assessment of well-being from head to toe.

Breaking Down Urine Hue Health Clues

While normal urine color typically ranges from pale yellow to amber, shifts in colors can expose potential health concerns, Dr. Gauthami Churukanti, a urologist at Stony Brook Medicine, told The Epoch Times.

“When I see people in the office, the color and consistency of their urine is of utmost concern,” she said.

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There are five common variants.

1. Clear or Pale Yellow

This typically signals proper hydration, suggesting a healthy functioning urinary system. Excess water intake can lead to clear urine, while pale yellow generally points to an adequately hydrated body.

“I would say that’s something that varies on a day-to-day basis,” Dr. Churukanti said, “depending on how much water you’re drinking and other factors like that.”

2. Dark Yellow to Amber

Insufficient hydration often leads to concentrated urine, indicating a need for more fluids. However, dark amber urine may also indicate liver issues or high bilirubin levels, requiring medical evaluation. Dark-colored urine may also suggest a serious and potentially life-threatening muscular condition.

“Very dark, almost brown-colored urine, like a Coca-Cola-colored urine—that can suggest a condition called rhabdomyolysis,” Dr. Churukanti said.

Also called rhabdo, it occurs when damaged muscle tissue releases its proteins and electrolytes into the blood and is often caused by really intense exercise or severe dehydration. The condition can lead to “really significant” kidney failure, which could require dialysis, she said.

3. Red or Pink

Blood in urine (hematuria) can be linked to urinary tract infections, kidney stones, bladder or kidney infections, or something more severe.

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“Blood in the urine can sometimes be a sign of a more serious problem like cancer,” Dr. Churukanti said. “The majority of cases are not associated with it, but when you do see blood in your urine, that should definitely prompt some medical attention and a urologic evaluation.”

However, foods such as beets can temporarily make urine appear bright red, which could be mistaken for blood in the urine, she noted.

4. Orange or Brown

Certain medications, liver disorders, or hemolytic anemia can cause orange or brown discolored urine.

For example, the anti-inflammatory medication sulfasalazine, the urinary pain reliever phenazopyridine, some chemotherapy drugs, or laxatives with senna can lead to orange urine. Iron supplements or kidney stones may also contribute to a rusty urine tinge.

5. Blue or Green

While rare, blue or green urine could be caused by specific medications, such as the antidepressant amitriptyline. Other culpable medications include the antacid cimetidine (Tagamet HB) and the diuretic triamterene (Dyrenium).

However, artificial food dyes, excessive consumption of certain foods, or bacterial infections may also cause temporary color changes.

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Certain supplements can make urine appear more brightly colored like Gatorade—even fluorescent, Dr. Churukanti said.

Urine Texture Matters, Too

In addition to color, the texture and consistency of urine can also provide important health clues.

Although typically harmless, consistently cloudy or murky urine could signal issues such as urinary tract infections, kidney stones, or excess minerals and crystals in the urine.

Occasional foaming or frothiness in urine is normal. However, persistently foamy urine indicates excess protein, which may result from kidney disease, infections, or conditions such as diabetes.

Odor Changes That Could Mean Trouble

While urine can be temporarily affected by asparagus or medications, unusual urine scents may signal health issues. The following three scents may indicate an underlying health condition:

• Sweet or fruity: This smell is linked to extremely high blood sugar, indicating potentially uncontrolled diabetes.
• Strong ammonia: A sharp, pungent odor can mean concentrated waste from dehydration. Certain antibiotics commonly used to treat urinary tract infections also cause ammonia odors.
• Musty or otherwise “bad” odor: Foul odors may arise from urinary tract or other infections, liver disease, or metabolic disorders, such as phenylketonuria, a rare genetic condition.

While changes in the appearance of urine are usually harmless and related to how much water you drink, what you eat, or what medications you take, it’s crucial to be aware of changes that indicate an underlying health condition such as kidney disease or an infection.

Although most odor shifts are harmless and relate to foods, meds, or hydration, some indicate disease. If the smell persists beyond a few days or concerns you, contact your doctor, especially with other symptoms like abdominal pain or frequent urination, which require assessment.