Can We Self Examine Our Urine to Become Careful and Prevent Critical

Dr. BHASKAR CHAKRABORTY Professor of Chemistry Sikkim Government College (NBBGC) An Extension Ce

Our regular urine and general characteristics

Our normal human urine is a liquid waste that our kidneys make to remove excess fluids and waste materials from our body. Urine mostly consists of water and waste materials as well as salt and electrolytes. Other constituents include urea, chloride, creatinine and inorganic and organic compounds. Normal human urine is pale yellow in colour and has mild odour. Usually, our kidneys produce 1000-1500mL of urine in 24 hours with a pH value ranging from 4.5 to 8.0 (acidic and alkaline).

How can we self-examine our urine?

We can self-examine our urine by following few abnormal characteristics which we usually don’t care or focus carefully. These characteristics are flow of urine, colour, odour, sedimentation, formation of foam in urine, presence of sugar and sudden pain or irritation during passing urine etc. Human urine is a highly effective and non-invasive, yet rich source of information for diagnosing and monitoring numerous chronic diseases. Because urine is a filtrate of the blood, it contains thousands of metabolites, proteins, and cells that can be a signal for long-term health issues. 

If we follow and monitor irregular flow of urine compared to usual flow as well as amount of urine excreted and feeling uncontrollable pressure in each 2 -3 hours for more than a month, we should see a urologist without further delay. The symptoms indicate beginning of prostate gland enlargement, development of kidney stone, urinary trac infections (UTI). UTI usually happens due to bacterial infections (E. coli bacteria) and its probabilities are maximum whenever we use public wash rooms. Women are most affected in this issue and it is advisable to keep “Ethanol spray” with them for apply in the toilet before they use. If we see change in colour of our urine for a period of two to three weeks with change in odour and feeling irritation, our urinary bladder may be infected and could result development of RBC (Red Blood Cells) in the urine. Also, possibilities of UTI cannot be overruled. Finding sedimentation and foamy urine for a period of three to four weeks of time could the due to discharge of “Albumin” (Protein) which could be the development of “Nephritis”. Under these circumstances, we must see our urologist and consult without delay. To check, presence of sugar as sediments in urine, we may monitor our urine by keeping our toilet unflashy for at least one hour and see the results. Usually, ants start gathering at the sedimented areas of urine. If we start feeling light to moderate pain during passing of urine for a period of two weeks while no other abnormality is seen (colour, odour etc), it could be the development of kidney stone or symptoms of kidney diseases.

If we observe these symptoms, our first duty to perform “Urine for RE” (routine examination) in a reputed laboratory. If the results are within the usual reference values, we don’t need to worry. We may keep hydrating ourselves so as to normalise the irritation, and slight colour change found in urine. If irregularities or abnormal results are observed, there could be many diseases that can be identified with some more advanced tests like USG, KFT (Kidney Function Test) and PET (Positron Emission Transmission) -CT scan according to the advices of urologist.

Some diseases which are diagnosed preliminarily by the urine RE test are: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): RE-Urine testing (especially 24-hour collection) is crucial for detecting protein leakage (proteinuria) and elevated creatinine levels, which are early markers of kidney damage. The presence of glucose or ketones can signal uncontrolled diabetes or prediabetes. Specific urinary metabolites if found in RE test (trimethylamine-N-oxide or TMAO) and proteins (albumin, angiostatin), it could be the biomarkers for high blood pressure and heart disease risk. RE-Urine tests can detect markers for bladder, kidney, and prostate cancer, often before symptoms appear. The presence of blood (more than 10 cells of RBC) in urine could be early signs of prostatitis, tumours in urinary bladder and prostate cancer. In this case, we need to repeat the same test twice in a month and report to our urologist for further investigations. In this context, this is to be noted that in case of women, the presence of RBC (up to 5-6 cells) are normal due to their menstruation. Modern research studies are going on to detect early symptoms of diseases like Alzheimer’s (beta-amyloid) and Parkinson’s (alpha-synuclein). Chronic, low-level inflammations associated with diseases like arthritis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be detected in RE-Urine through the presence of markers such as desmosine and cytokines in the urine. 

Points to be noted while we pee

We can presume or identify potential diseases based on changes in the colour, smell, and rate of flow of our urine, as these are often early warning signs of health conditions. While changes can sometimes be caused by diet or medications, persistent changes often indicate issues with the kidneys, liver, or metabolic system. While passing urine in our daily life just watch few things which will certainly help you to self-identify initiation of diseases. Clear to pale yellow colour of urine usually indicates proper hydration while dark yellow/amber colour indicates dehydration, causing the kidneys to concentrate urine. Red or pink colour may indicate blood in the urine (known as haematuria), which can be signal of urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney stones, prostatitis or bladder/kidney cancers. Dark brown/tea-coloured urine suggests liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) or severe muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis). Orange colour may indicate liver dysfunction or bile duct issues. Green or blue colour (which is very rare) can indicate a bacterial infection (Pseudomonas) or metabolic disorders. Foamy or cloudy urine can indicate proteinuria (excess protein in urine), a sign of chronic kidney disease (CKD) or kidney damage. 

Like colour, the smell of the urine also very much informative. Strong ammonia smell indicates dehydration or a UTI. Sweet or fruity odour can be a sign of diabetes or a metabolic disorder. Foul or unpleasant odour indicates presence of puss cells in urine or UTI, or in rare cases, specific genetic metabolic disorders. Another very important point to be noted is “Rate of flow and volume” of urine. Slow stream and difficulty in urinating may suggest an enlarged prostate (BPH) in men, or an obstruction in the urethra. Weak stream and dribbling in urine can indicate bladder outlet obstruction. Frequent urination (2 hourly) indicates a potential sign of diabetes, UTI, or an overactive bladder. 

Sometimes we have temporary changes in colour of urine. This is primarily caused by intake of certain foods in our diet or dietary supplements (beet root) or vitamins.

When to see a doctor? 

If changes in colour or smell persist for more than a few weeks, or if they are accompanied by pain, burning, fever, or swelling in hands/feet, we should consult a doctor for a urinalysis. Unlike blood tests, urine collection is painless and easy, making it ideal for regular monitoring. RE-Urine testing serves as a cornerstone of preventive medicine, helping to manage chronic conditions and prevent them from becoming more critical. 

Courtesy: Elsevier Research Journals of Microbiology (UK), 2025