Dark urine is where your urine is a darker shade than what\u2019s considered the standard pale or straw yellow.<\/span><\/p>\n It can occur for multiple reasons, ranging from mild issues to serious health problems.<\/span><\/p>\n Depending on the underlying cause, you may also experience pain when you urinate or other disruptive symptoms. (<\/span>1<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n Urine is liquid surplus to requirements. It\u2019s filtered from your blood along with excess fluid by your kidneys. It\u2019s then stored in the bladder and expelled from the body.<\/span><\/p>\n Since urine is essentially your body\u2019s internal waste, it can be a useful indicator of your health. (<\/span>2<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n The causes of dark urine fall under two broad categories. The first is external factors: certain substances you consume can darken your urine.<\/span><\/p>\n The second category consists of medical conditions. Dark urine can be a symptom of certain illnesses or diseases. (<\/span>3<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n We will now explore the various potential causes of dark urine.<\/span><\/p>\n Dehydration<\/b><\/p>\n Water is essential for life and overall health. Dehydration<\/a> occurs when your water loss exceeds water intake.<\/span><\/p>\n When you don\u2019t keep your body adequately hydrated it can impact upon your physical and mental performance. Even mild dehydration can provoke headaches, fatigue and irritation.<\/span><\/p>\n Urine color can be helpful in determining whether you are drinking enough throughout the day. The less water there is in your urine, the darker in color it will be. (<\/span>3<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n Medications<\/b><\/p>\n Certain forms of medication can change the color of your urine. These changes are ordinarily a minor side effect.<\/span><\/p>\n For example, the antibiotic metronidazole can cause dark brown urine. Rifampicin, another antibiotic, can result in reddish-orange urine.<\/span><\/p>\n Check with your doctor if the medication you are taking can cause dark urine. (<\/span>4<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n Foods and Beverages<\/b><\/p>\n Some foods and drinks can cause startling color changes in your urine. Eating fava beans can cause your urine to turn the color of tea. (<\/span>5<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n Artificial dyes found in processed foods and drinks can discolor urine. Your urine can turn orange or even green as a result.<\/span><\/p>\n Darkened urine as a result of foods and beverages is not permanent and usually harmless. (<\/span>6<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)<\/b><\/p>\n A urinary tract infection<\/a> is a result of bacteria in the urinary tract. Depending on the bacteria strain, symptoms can be minor to debilitating.<\/span><\/p>\n UTIs are one of the most common infections in the world. They affect an estimated 150 million people per year. (<\/span>7<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n The telltale signs of a UTI are painful urination and frequent urge to urinate. Urine may have an unpleasant odor and be darker than usual.<\/span><\/p>\n Most UTIs occur in the lower urinary tract and are easily treated with antibiotics. Infections in the upper tract can affect the kidneys and tend to be more serious.<\/span><\/p>\n If your urine is light brown, it can signal bleeding somewhere in the urinary tract. (<\/span>8<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n Blunt Trauma and Injury<\/b><\/p>\n An injury that does not penetrate your skin is known as blunt trauma. This type of injury on your abdomen or back can cause blood in your urine.<\/span><\/p>\n Bloody urine can be red, light brown, or pink depending on the freshness of the blood.<\/span><\/p>\n An injury to your urethra \u2013 where urine is expelled from \u2013 can also result in bloody urine. Blood in the urine should not be taken lightly. (<\/span>9<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n Jaundice<\/b><\/p>\n Jaundice is when the whites of your eyes and skin develop a yellow tinge. It is a result of high levels of bile in the blood.<\/span><\/p>\n Bile is considered waste by the body and is harmful in large quantities. Jaundice is usually a symptom of a problem with the bile duct or liver. <\/span><\/p>\n If your liver is inflamed or the bile duct is blocked, bile builds up in your blood.<\/span><\/p>\n The excess bile can pigment your urine a dark tea-color. Causes include: gallbladder stones<\/a>, hepatitis<\/a>, and liver cirrhosis. Jaundice can also indicate certain cancers. (<\/span>10<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n Rhabdomyolysis<\/b><\/p>\n Rhabdomyolysis results from indirect or direct assault to your muscle tissue. This includes crushing injuries from accidents drug use, and viral infections.<\/span><\/p>\n This condition causes fibers in the muscles to die off, which means their contents release into the bloodstream. If left untreated, rhabdomyolysis can end in kidney failure.<\/span><\/p>\n This dangerous illness has several key symptoms: dark brown or red urine, muscle weakness, and muscle pain. (<\/span>11<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n Cancer<\/b><\/p>\n Cancer of the bladder, kidneys, and pancreas can cause dark urine.<\/span><\/p>\n Early-stage kidney cancer is usually symptomless. As the cancer grows, it can cause weight loss, lower back pain<\/a>, and dark or bloody urine. (<\/span>12<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n One of the primary symptoms of pancreatic cancer is jaundice. Darkened urine is a typical early warning sign. (<\/span>13<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n Dark urine is often the earliest manifestation of bladder cancer. Your urine can turn orange, pink, or dark red depending on the amount of blood. (<\/span>14<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n Healthy urine ranges in color from pale yellow to straw yellow. Clear urine can indicate you are drinking too much water.<\/span><\/p>\n Dark urine itself is not a condition, but can be a symptom of underlying complications.<\/span><\/p>\n There are different shades of urine that are classified as dark:<\/span><\/p>\n Here are the different symptoms and what your body could be telling you: (<\/span>15<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n Dark Yellow<\/b><\/p>\n Dark yellow urine can still be considered normal. However, if you\u2019re experiencing other symptoms it can be indicative of another condition. For example, UTIs and dehydration can darken urine.<\/span><\/p>\n Amber or Honey<\/b><\/p>\n Urine that is amber or honey in color is a typical sign of dehydration. Depending on the accompanying symptoms, it can also indicate a health condition.<\/span><\/p>\n Syrup or Brown ale<\/b><\/p>\n Urine of this color may indicate a serious issue. Brown-tinged urine can be a symptom of rhabdomyolysis, jaundice, or trauma-related injury.<\/span><\/p>\n Orange<\/b><\/p>\n Certain medications such as sulfasalazine, an anti-inflammatory, can turn urine orange. Artificial orange food-dyes can produce the same effect.<\/span><\/p>\n If you have symptoms such as pain and fever, you may have a blocked bile duct or infection.<\/span><\/p>\n Red<\/b><\/p>\n Red-tinged or pink urine is usually caused by blood in the urine. Bloody urine can be a sign of serious underlying causes, such as bladder cancer<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\nCauses<\/b><\/h2>\n
Symptoms<\/b><\/h2>\n
Diagnosis<\/b><\/h2>\n