… Urologists give clues to vital signs

 

Urine predictsYou can detect if you have any serious disease condition or prevent occurrence of any by simply observing your urine each time you urinate. This is because changes in the colour, frequency, smell, thickness and how long you are able to hold your urine can reveal useful information about your health, according to the Urologists at Cleverland Clinic, Ohio, USA.

 

Giving clues into what such changes could mean, the Urologists say when the colour of your urine appears blue-green, for instance, it may be the result of certain medications such as laxatives, chemotherapy drugs, or vitamins. But if you are not taking any of these medications and you continue to see this colour for more than a few days then it is time to see your doctor as this could be a sign of a serious condition.

 

According to one of the Urologists, Dr. Raymond Rackley, bright yellow or orange urine can indicate the individual has consumed a lot of vitamin C, carrots, or other foods in the orange family, though some medications can change the urine colour as well.

 

“Dark orange or brown urine could suggest you are dehydrated. It can also mean you have bile in your urine or a problem with your liver while pink or red urine can simply indicate you’ve eaten red-tinted food. But on a more serious note, this can also be a sign of blood in your urine.

 

 

Bloody urine may indicate internal injury, kidney issues, or cancer. Blood in your urine is never, ever normal, and requires immediate medical attention,” Dr. Rackley says.

 

For the Cloudy and white urine, he said, this can suggest the presence of phosphates, which can be a precursor to kidney stones.

 

“However, cloudy urine most likely suggests bacterial infection. If germs such as E.coli from faeces get into the bladder, the body sends white blood cells to fend off the attack; these can stick together in tiny clumps.

 

A man’s urine may also look cloudy after sex. During ejaculation, the semen is pushed out of the testicles and goes into the urethra, the tube that both urine and sperm pass through. As a result of this, traces of semen can get left in the urethra.

 

But if cloudiness worsens and you experience burning or urgency, make sure to see a doctor”, he advised.

 

Increase in frequency is another sign to watch out for, says urogynecologist, Beri Ridgeway. According to him, urinating frequently could simply mean that you may be drinking too much fluid or consuming too much caffeine, which is a diuretic and is flushing liquids out of your body.

 

“But frequent urination also can be a sign of several more serious conditions, including a urinary infection, prostate problems, a heart condition, leg swelling, or interstitial cystitis (also called painful bladder syndrome), which is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the bladder.

 

“It can also be a symptom of an overactive bladder, a common and easily treated condition that could be caused by several problems, such as nerve damage, medications, infections, being overweight and estrogen deficiency”, Ridgeway explained.

 

For a woman, he said the need to urinate frequently may be a sign of falling organs; this is when the bladder drops into the vaginal opening because of weak pelvic floor muscles, following childbirth. For men, he said frequency could be symptoms of a bladder problem or more commonly an enlarged prostate known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

 

Another Urologist, Troy Sukkarieh, MD noted that the smell of your urine can also indicate a health issue. He said the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections (UTIs) can produce foul smelling urine, while Sweet-smelling urine may be a sign of diabetes or liver disease.

 

According to the Urologists, eighty percent of bladder problems are related to conditions of the overall health. For instance, they explained that diabetes-related rise in blood sugar can increase urinary output so getting up multiple times at night to use the bathroom is an early sign of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Also. The experts say, kidney problem, certain cancers, urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted infections, nervous and cardiovascular disease conditions can actually change the color, smell and output of your urine so it is important to know what your urine might be telling you about your health.

 

by FRANKA OSAKWE 

National Mirror