Cloudy Urine and Changing Colors: Serious vs. Harmless

Cloudy urine can mean trouble.

So can certain colors of urine like cola colored or tea colored.

Cancer can cause urine to change colors. So can many other conditions including very strenuous exercise (dark color).

“Cloudy urine can be due to dehydration (concentrated urine), urinary tract infection (bacteria), blood in the urine, crystals in the urine (such as patients with kidney stones), elevated urine glucose (sugar) or medications,” explains Susan L. Besser, MD, with Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore; Diplomate, American Board of Obesity Medicine and board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

“Medications can change urine color,” continues Dr. Besser. “For example, OTC bladder infection medications; ‘AZO’ can turn urine orange; some vitamins can turn urine green or blue.”

Dehydration, even though you may not feel thirsty, can result in orange urine – which can be mildly murky or “cloudy,” or crystal clear.

Wide Color Range of Urine

Your flow can appear in a wide range of colors: cloudy, clear-yellowish, light yellow, medium yellow, dark yellow, bright yellow, orange, pinkish, red, maroon, tea, light brown, dark brown, and of course — green, greenish-blue and blue.

Sometimes, the color of the flow can be the gateway to your health or your body’s current medical or dietary status, be it cloudy, bluish-green or dark brown.

When it is bright, dark yellow or light orange, this usually means you are dehydrated, even though you may not feel thirsty.

To know if you’ve been getting enough water, simply check the color of your flow.

Flow should be a light yellow, which can also be described as clear-yellow, medium yellow or — in cases of well-hydration, like ginger ale.

Cloudy Urine: When to Worry

This is a Q & A interview with a urologist – Go to article

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Orange Urine: Causes, Solutions

A urologist explains causes and what to do – Go to article 

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Top 8 Causes of Blood in the Urine

The image at the top of this article shows “gross hematuria,” which means visible blood in the urine.

A urologist provides information including about cancer as a potential cause – Go to article 

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Dark or Brown Urine

Causes and solutions are given by a urologist. Most causes of dark or brown flow are serious, and there are quite a few causes  – Go to article 

All in all, the causes of color changes can either be quite benign and very interesting; or, are a symptom of a moderately-serious or easily treatable medical condition; or, are a symptom of a disease that can kill you.

Thus, it’s important to keep tabs on the color of your flow, and it will help to know which colors are the colors you never need to worry about.

Foamy Urine

Flow can also be foamy, and here’s information from a urologist about that.

Urologist Defined

A urologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the urinary tract.

You should check the color of your urine on a regular basis, and also check to see if it’s excessively murky or cloudy. Catching your urine in a clear plastic cup will allow you to accurately see what it looks like.

More on Blue or Green Urine

Explained by a urologist: Go to article

Dr. Besser provides comprehensive family care, treating common and acute primary conditions like diabetes and hypertension. Her ongoing approach allows her the opportunity to provide accurate and critical diagnoses of more complex conditions and disorders.

Lorra Garrick is a former personal trainer certified by the American Council on Exercise. At Bally Total Fitness she trained clients of all ages for fat loss, muscle building, fitness and improved health. 

 

Top image: James Heilman, MD