YOU might not usually pay much attention to the colour of your pee.
It can change depending on what we are consuming, but experts have said that we should take note if it's more on the orange side.
Dr Shree Datta, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at MyHealthcare Clinic in London said most adults pass between 800 to 2,000 millilitres a day if they have a recommended minimum fluid intake of about two litres.
In order to spot the colour of your urine, Dr Shree advised having a clear white toilet bowel – so you can spot any abnormalities.
In general, urine carries a yellow pigment, so when you're hydrated you should have urine that is a light yellow to clear-ish colour.
If it's edging towards orange, there are five reasons that might be causing this.
read more on toilet issues
You’ve been peeing all wrong – the 5 mistakes putting your health at risk
You’ve been wiping your bum wrong & it could be putting your health at risk
1. Food
What we eat can impact the colour of our urine and you might notice your pee has turned orange if your diet is high in beta-carotene.
This includes foods with an orange pigment and is found in foods like carrots, sweet potatoes and apricots.
These pigments are released when you eat large quantities of a certain food.
However Dr Dena Rifkin, a professor of clinical medicine at UC San Diego, said this shouldn't happen if you haven't changed your diet.
Most read in Health
Daily 11-minute walk slashes your risk of dying young, scientists say
I'm a heart doc – here's 10 signs you must not ignore & 1 that strikes first thing
How to slash 1,000 calories from your favourite McDonald's, KFC & Burger King orders
New outbreak fears as cases of drug-resistant bug spark 'public health alert'
Speaking to Insider, Dr Rifkin said if you have orange pee that isn't down to dietary changes then you should make an appointment with your doctor.
2. Dehydration
In general, urine carries a yellow pigment, so when you're hydrated you should have urine that is a light yellow to clear-ish colour.
If you're dehydrated – for example if you have consumed too much alcohol, then it's likely your urine will be a dark amber colour, Dr Shree explained.
However if you're constantly thirsty – which may feel like dehydration, this could be a sign of type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and you should see your doctor, the NHS states.
3. Medication
In most cases, medication is a force for good and if you're on a regular set of pills then you might notice a change in your urine colour.
Experts at the Mayo Clinic state that there are some medications which could mean your pee is more on the sunshine side.
A tuberculosis medicine called rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane) can turn your pee a red/orangish shade, as can a medication for urinary tract pain called phenazopyridine (Pyridium), the experts said.
More common medications that might see your pee turn orange are laxatives.
That's because most constipation medication contains senna, which can bring on the change in colour.
Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), a medicine that lessens swelling and irritation, as well as some chemotherapy medicines for cancer also can make urine look orange, the experts said.
4. Supplements
Supplements that we take every day can also turn our pee orange and these include those such as vitamin A, B-12 and C.
This is because your body can't always absorb the vitamin content in the supplements, which then instead is released in your urine.
If you've noticed your pee is orange, medics state you should check the dosage of the pills and make sure you aren't consuming more than the recommended amount.
5. Liver issues
Dr Rena Malik, a urologist and pelvic surgeon in the US said orange urine could be down to problems with your liver.
Specifically it could be down to a condition called cholestasis.
The NHS states that this is a potentially serious liver disorder that can develop in pregnancy.
It happens when you have a blockage in the flow of a digestive fluid called bile between your liver and your small intestine.
The substance found in bile, bilirubin can then build up in your body.
"This can be released in your urine, causing the urine to look very dark yellow or orange in colour," Dr Malik added.
If you're orange pee is caused by liver disease then it's likely you'll also have other symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea, itchy skin and fatigue.
Read More on The Sun
My gran died in a mouldy dump and I was given just £520 compensation
I’m a heart doc – here’s 10 signs you must not ignore & 1 that strikes first thing
If you're concerned about any of your symptoms then you should make an appointment with your GP.
In the event of an emergency, call 999 or visit your closest A&E department.
Source: Read Full Article
