A health expert touts the importance of paying attention to our urine — an important indicator of health.
From its color to its odor, urine provides a considerable amount of information about how well the body is functioning, according to Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, writing for CNN. Any changes from the norm, for instance, in terms of opacity, could indicate a health problem, making it an important early alarm system.
The study of urine for health purposes dates back to Ancient Greece, where Hippocrates — widely considered to be the father of medicine in the Western world — established a holistic conceptualization of health. Illness was understood as being linked to an imbalance of bodily humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile.
Urine, as well as other bodily fluids, were scrutinized by physicians, who would then treat patients through special diets, bloodletting, and more to get their humors back in line. These practices of uroscopy, as it was known, formed the basis of medieval medical practice in Europe. Physicians even employed urine charts or wheels, which provided various descriptions of the fluid in terms of color and more.
While doctors today no longer need to consult urine wheels, Brahmbhatt noted a few things to be on the look for and what they could mean.
Shade — The darker the urine is, the less hydrated a person might be. While how much water a person needs to drink hinges on several factors, eight cups a day is something to shoot for, as previously reported in The Dallas Express.
Color — Sometimes, what a person ingests can influence the color of urine, with B vitamins sometimes turning it a vibrant yellow and certain medications transforming it into blue or green. However, if urine turns red or pink and stays that way, it could indicate a problem with the kidneys, prostate, or more, according to Brahmbhatt.
Opacity — Cloudy urine could be a consequence of taking medication or undergoing surgery. However, if it does not clear up, a trip to the doctor is encouraged since this could indicate an infection, Brahmbhatt suggested.
Odor — While the odor of urine might change temporarily due to something a person has ingested, such as coffee or asparagus, pay attention to unusual or strong odors that last. As Brahmbhatt explained, the smell might indicate dehydration — as in the case of urine smelling like ammonia — or an infection of the urinary tract.
Urinary incontinence is also something to be mindful of, as it has been linked to abdominal fat and obesity more generally. Although the reason for this is unclear, it is speculated to have something to do with the chronic pressure placed on the bladder and the urethra by excess weight.
Adult and child obesity rates have reached record highs not only in Texas but across the world, as covered in The Dallas Express.
