Your urine is usually yellowish, until one day you go to the toilet and notice that it is different. Urine can change color and there are specific explanations depending on the color you find that can be very varied, such as blue, green, white, red, pink or orange. An abnormal urine can be identified by having a cloudy, dark or hematiric color (with blood), so you should go to a doctor since he will give you the definitive answer that problem is producing the change of color in your urine.
In this article we focus on orange urine and although it is often not due to anything serious, your health could be in danger, so if you want to know more about this, keep reading because we tell you the possible causes that answer your question of why my urine is orange.
Causes of orange or orange urine
The causes why your urine is orange are many and can range from something as simple as some kind of medication, certain foods or food dyes, to a serious health problem. If the color change in your urine occurs occasionally and you notice that over the days it is yellowish again, you should not be too alarmed since the problem comes when this is persistent.
The main causes of orange urine are as follows:
- Dehydration: this is the main cause why urine turns orange, it is characterized by drinking little liquid so that the urine is more concentrated due to the increase in urochrome pigment (yellow nitrogenous substance, which forms the most abundant pigment in urine). It can also occur from a constant loss of fluids, such as vomiting or diarrhea, prolonged exposure to the sun or exercise where sweating occurs. Some symptoms that you suffer from dehydration and that you should not overlook are also constant thirst, dry mouth and swollen tongue, confusion, dizziness, fainting and heart palpitations.
- Medications: Supplements such as vitamin B and C or medications such as those containing sulfasalazine, phenazopyridine, certain laxatives, diuretics, and some medications indicated for chemotherapy may be the cause of orange urine.
- Food: this problem can also appear when you eat foods that contain beta-carotenes, these have a pigment that gives them the orange or red color.
- Diseases: in the most severe cases the orange color in the urine can be due to liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis or fatty liver. They can also be due to gallstones, kidney, pancreas, or urinary tract problems that are normally urinary tract infections. Studies claim that most urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria that invade and multiply by this system and that these bacteria come from the digestive system and begin to colonize the urethra.
In the face of any of these causes diagnosed by a doctor, it is advisable to continue visiting the doctor to examine you more thoroughly, especially if the orange urine is persistent. If in the presence of orange urine, the doctor has ruled out the causes described above, you will have to continue the analyzes focusing on other possible less frequent causes, such as some diseases, apart from those already mentioned.
Symptoms associated with orange or cloudy urine
Sometimes, the orange color in the urine brings symptoms associated with the causes explained in the previous section. Some of the symptoms related to orange urine that must be taken into account and not hesitate to go to a doctor if you observe its appearance are:
- Fever.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Headache.
- Confusion.
- Muscle weakness.
- Diarrhea.
- Lack of appetite.
- Fatigue.
- In the case of liver, pancreatic or biliary diseases, as in the case of gallstones, symptoms similar to jaundice and changes in skin color may appear associated with turning like yellow.
- Kidney failure in the case of kidney problems.
Treatment of orange or orange urine
The treatment for orange urine usually given by your doctor can vary greatly depending on the cause:
- In the case of dehydration that is not very advanced, you can recover the normal color of your urine by drinking a lot of fluids, especially water. Keep in mind that it is recommended to drink between 2 and 2.5 liters of water daily. If the dehydration is very advanced, surely the doctor will tell you that you have to be admitted to be able to administer fluid therapy and that you recover as soon as possible. Studies, such as the one indicated at the end of this article, have shown that in most helmets’ dehydration disappears quickly after fluid intake without limitation, but they affirm that it is better to drink liquid in small amounts although frequently. Depending on whether you have other symptoms associated with this problem, he may send you some medication for dizziness or vomiting in case you have them and it is necessary.
- If you are taking any medications and supplements that may affect the color of your urine, it is totally normal that your urine has turned orange. So don't worry, the normal color of your urine will return when you finish such treatment.
- Foods rich in beta-carotenes can turn urine orange, however if you observe your orange urine visit a doctor in case you are ingesting these foods in excess and it is harmful to you or simply to make sure that everything is fine. Do not worry because if it is due to these foods, it should not be a serious problem. So, if really the orange color of your urine is due to it and nothing else, you will have to reduce this type of food and that's it.
- If it is not possible that your urine has turned orange neither by the type of diet, nor by medications nor by dehydration and you also have other worrying symptoms do not hesitate to go to a doctor to examine you and can administer the necessary treatment if any disease or infection has appeared in the urinary tract. Treatment will depend on the cause of your urine changing color, which can only be diagnosed by your doctor.
- In either case, your doctor may recommend a urinalysis and blood test.
