
What causes yellow urine in the morning? Change in the color of the urine indicates certain medical conditions like jaundice and dehydration. Read on, to know why dark urine needs prompt medical attention…
Normally, the urine is colorless or the color of normal urine is described as pale yellow. Change in the color of the urine, for example, yellow or dark yellow urine can be a symptom of several health conditions. Sometimes, dark urine is noticed after consumption of certain foods or medicines. This is not a cause of concern but dark yellow urine noticed as a symptom of dehydration, or some other underlying health condition requires prompt medical attention.
Possible Yellow Urine Causes
Dehydration
Dehydration is the most common cause of dark yellow urine in the morning. Lack of sufficient water in the body is called dehydration. Excessive sweating can lead to dehydration and dark yellow urine. You are supposed to drink at least 8 glasses of water during the day. Along with water, you can also have other healthy liquids like clear soups, milk, milkshakes, fruit and vegetable juices. Insufficient water makes urine concentrated with waste material and therefore it looks darker.
Foods
Consumption of certain foods, for example, consumption of asparagus, fava beans can impart dark yellow color to urine. Consumption of beet can impart reddish purple color to the urine. A reddish tint in the urine can be noticed after consumption of blackberries and rhubarb. Sometimes, dyes used in foods impart yellow color to the urine.
Medication
Intake of certain drugs, or supplements can result in dark yellow urine in the morning. For example, vitamin B supplements, carotene can make the urine dark yellow colored. Intake of vitamin C can impart an orange or bright yellow color to the urine. Use of certain medications like quinine derivatives, sulfamethoxazole and nitrofurantoin can result in dark yellow or brown colored urine. The urine color should turn pale yellow after you have stopped taking the drugs. Use of laxatives can also affect urine color.
Diseases
If you have noticed dark yellow colored urine persistently for 3-4 days, and if you are not consuming any medicines and foods that can change the urine color, you should immediately see your doctor. Dark yellow urine can be a symptom of jaundice, cirrhosis, other liver diseases, cystitis or urinary tract infection. Dehydration due to morning sickness, cystitis or urinary tract infection can be the reasons behind dark urine during pregnancy. Dark urine is also a symptom of acute kidney failure. Hemolytic anemia can be another cause of dark-colored urine.
Abnormal break down of red blood cells leads to their excretion through urine in hemolytic anemia. Kidney stones, urinary tract infection and gallstones can lead to hematuria, excretion of red blood cells through urine, giving it dark yellow or reddish tinge. Kidney infection, copper poisoning can result in yellow urine. Serious diseases like melanoma, skin cancer or certain other cancers can turn the urine dark yellow. Numerous diseases and disorders can cause dark yellow colored urine.
The dark yellow colored urine in the morning may sometimes have a strong and offensive odor. If you are experiencing burning sensation while urinating, or if you have noticed increased frequency of urination, then you should immediately consult your doctor. These symptoms indicate kidney or urinary tract infection. These symptoms should never be neglected, as negligence can result in life-threatening conditions. Take a look at the urine color chart for more information.
I hope the above information has conveyed the message that urine color plays a significant role in determining the state of your health. Your body processes what you eat and drink. Your kidneys filter the blood and the liquids. The final product ‘urine’ consists of water and dissolved waste material. Therefore colors of the urine can indicate diseases or changes in your diet.