So, Great dic-doc. I heard many years ago that the color (colour-for your Brits) of your urine can indicate if you are dehydrated or not. Is there any validity to this? Yellow= ? Clear= ? Red= Make appointment?
O-O-Ohhhh.....Pick me, Pick me, I can answer that!!! Urine typically is a shade of yellow. There are a few disorders which change the color of urine in a dramatic way. To be specific one should see their doctor. Generally when urine gets brown or Coke colored it suggests a liver or bile duct problem. Red urine can be blood or can look red from certain medicines. Black urine is classic for a genetic defect. The shades of yellow of urine are usually related to the concentrated of urine. Something that can really change the color of urine is the vitamin B2 (riboflavin). If you swallow a vitamin B2 supplement, and the amount is more than your body needs, the vitamin is excreted in the urine. The urine will be a VERY bright yellow - almost fluorescent (except it probably will not glow in the dark!). But there is nothing wrong with you when this happens - it is just your body getting rid of extra vitamin B2. Some health authorities use this as an example that taking large doses of vitamins only makes expensive urine. However, nutritionists who advocate large vitamin supplementation counter by saying that it is only when the excess amounts of vitamins spill over into the urine that you know for sure that your body is getting the maximum amount of the vitamins.
Specific gravity measures the concentration of particles in a solution (i.e., grams/ml). Osmolality is a more exact measurement of urine concentration than specific gravity because specific gravity depends on the precise nature of the molecules present in the urine. Specific gravity also requires correction for the presence of glucose or protein. But the specific gravity measurement is easier and more convenient to test. It frequently makes the osmolality measurement unnecessary.
Peter- FWIW, this has been bugging me since we were at Atwater Karting in the 100 + heat. Since I did not pee all day till the end, and then it was clear as day. I am/was trying to figure out if that is a sign of being hydrayted or dehydrated.
I only pee'd twice that day (Sorry for splashing on the wheels of your Audi) and I drank about ten bottled waters and four diet oranges. I did not think I sweated that much in the driving suit for such little urinary output. I did start to drink the water when I was not thirsty (They say this is a good thing to do). Beats the hell out of me!
Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeettttt. Everybody's an armchair urologist. Everybody (well, not everybody) has a d!!ck so they are an expert. Or maybe an ex-spurt, ewwwwwwwww. Specific gravity: from 1.005 to 1.030 typically, obviously 1.005 would look like water and 1.030 would be deep, deep yellow. Red = bad. In non=beet eaters. Remember my motto: "Your d!!ck is my bread and butter"
peter as you were busy googling the answer to no avail, your class mate mr. fishsticks has answered the q correctly, good kitty. and mr. kitty your modo should be ------ your dick is in my hands.
So is there ever a point when you are too hydrated? I drink a **** ton of water. Yellow is almost irregular for me.
An SMU Frat Boy here in Dalllas was hospitalized a few yrs ago because he succumbed to "water intoxication" in a hazing incident. http://chemistry.about.com/cs/5/f/blwaterintox.htm
A few additional thoughts. Yellow also indicates toxins leaving the body, a good thing. Clear indicates that no toxins are leaving the body, or all toxins are gone, could be be good, could be bad.
Color and dehydration are correlated, but only in the absence of diuretics. When I drink copious amounts of beer (insert joke about only renting here), I'll pee clear, and then I know I'm getting dehydrated!
since you offer, dr.. what is the best OTC oiment to use for the "rare" occasional excessive wear&tear? this is a serious inquiry (sorry 4 the potential thread hijacking...although this is not serious enuf to start a thread...or go see a dr). thanks, doc.
clear is almost always a sign of GOOD hydration. The extra water reduces the impurities/water ratio of the urine. (*except in presence of dieretics) I have one, I know !
I have never once claimed that I don't. But, unlike you, I take RESPONSIBILITY for my actions and don't call the cop a Jackass for writing or not writing in my case, a ticket. Hijack of my own thread over. Can we get back to if I was dehydrated or not? Yellow=_______________________ Clear=_________________________ answers: Hydrated or Dehydrated or No clear answer. Thats ALL i care about.
Yes you can't fake that. Only a low SG from a well hydrated person will show very clear. The only exception might be a diabetic (either Mellitus or Insipitus) in crisis, as well as certain forms of high out put renal failure or medications such as diuretics.
to put a fine point on it, generally: Clear = very well hydrated. Yellow= less so, depending on how deep yellow.
