Urine Test has a unique valuable role in medicine

Urine has a unique valuable role in medicine

Urine holds the clues not just to what people eat & drink, but also to how well their bodies are functioning. That is why doctors routinely ask for a urine test. The color, clarity & other physical characteristics of urine as well as substances dissolved in it, can provide clues to a wide range of problems, including infections, inherited metabolic disorders, kidney disease, substance abuse, exposure to toxins, bladder cancer, diabetes, inadequate or excessive fluid intake & as many competing athletes know all too well, the use of performance enhancing drugs.

A recent European study on many adults of 24 hour urine samples  to know the effect of sodium intake & high blood pressure showed that, too little sodium was riskier than too much has been widely challenged. But it is always better not to go to any excess in anything, whether it is too much of salt or sugar.

Color & odour

Normally, if you’re well hydrated, the urine is clear & pale yellow, a color imparted by the pigment urochrome. Dehydration can result in dark urine with a smell of ammonia, which should be treated as a warning to drink more water & other fluids.

But consistent dark colored urine can be a sign of hepatitis, a liver disease that requires prompt medical attention. Less seriously, many foods & some medication can impart an unusual & to the unsuspecting, sometimes, alarming color. For e.g., beets, which contain a betalain pigment that turn hands & cooking water red, can turn urine a color that may resemble blood. Likewise, blackberries can result in red or pink urine.

Blood in urine

Sometimes, blood does appear in urine- for e.g., as a result of a urinary tract infection, a kidney or bladder stone, an enlarged prostrate, or a jarring accident that injures bladder or urethra. Or blood tinged urine may follow strenuous exercise like a long run or triathlon.

If there is no obvious explanation for blood in urine, or if it persists, a visit to the doctor is mandatory to check for kidney disease or cancer. If no other explanation for red tinged urine is uncovered, a test for toxic levels of lead or mercury should be done.

If urine is excreted very rapidly, it may appear foamy. But consistently foamy urine can be a sign that protein is being lost, a symptom of kidney disease, and that a medical exam is needed.

Cloudy urine is typically a result of a bladder or urinary tract infection, which is typically accompanied by a frequent urge to urinate & a burning sensation or pain when urinating.

Volume of urine

The volume of urine produced can be an important indicator of hydration. Normally, a healthy person produces about 100 ml (about 3.4 ounces) of urine an hour or about 1 cup in 2 ½ hours. If the hourly output exceeds 300 ml, it could be a sign of excessive fluid intake, if the volume drops below 30 ml, it is probably a sign of dehydration.

Consuming lots of salty foods or carbohydrates can temporarily reduce urine output, because salt, sugar & starch hold more water in the body than say, protein. Consuming foods that are diuretics, including caffeine containing drinks (coffee, tea & many soft drinks), alcoholic drinks ( especially beer) & foods with a high water content, like watermelon or asparagus can temporarily result in higher than average urine output.

Urine test results

Presence of sugar – a sign of diabetics

Presence of protein- a sign of kidney disease

Check for bile acids is done to check for liver diseases

Presence of white blood cells- sing of an infection.

UTI- normally bacterium E coli is present, then one is tested for antibiotic sensitivity.

As urine gives us a correct diagnosis to various diseases, it is always better to collect the morning first sample in a clean & sterile bottle with a lid.