What makes urine dark yellow

Beets and blackberries can turn the urine red and eating rhubarb can result in a dark brown or tea-like color. Red blood cells develop in the bone marrow. The body usually destroys old or faulty red blood cells in the spleen in a process called hemolysis. When the body mistakenly destroys too many red blood cells, a person might develop hemolytic anemia.

Genetic blood disorders, such as sickle cell disease or thalassemia, can also lead to hemolytic anemia. It is also a potential side effect of some medicines and can sometimes occur after blood transfusions. Urinary tract infections UTIs happen when bacteria get into the bladder, usually through the urethra. Women tend to develop UTIs more often than men, and many people know them as bladder infections or cystitis.

The hepatitis C virus HCV can cause an infection of the liver. It has few symptoms during the early stages, so many people do not know they have it until liver damage starts causing problems. Because it affects how the liver processes waste, HCV may cause dark urine. People who received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July or a blood product for clotting problems manufactured before are at risk of having HCV.

Other risk factors include sharing needles, having sex without a condom with a person who has HCV, and receiving tattoos using unsterile equipment. If symptoms do occur, they usually appear within 2 weeks to 6 months of exposure to the virus. They are generally mild and may include:. People experiencing severe dehydration may need rehydration therapy.

This process usually involves administering oral rehydration salts or fluids and electrolytes in the hospital. Dark urine due to food, drink, or medications is not usually a cause for concern. The urine will return to its normal color once a person stops consuming whatever is causing the change. Many mild cases of hemolytic anemia do not require treatment. For others, lifestyle changes can help control symptoms. In severe cases of hemolytic anemia, blood transfusions, blood and bone marrow transplants, or surgery to remove the spleen may be necessary.

Doctors will usually prescribe a short course of antibiotics to treat UTIs. Corona Virus Update: Learn more about the precautions we're taking. The color of your urine can be one of the single most important things you should be thinking about when it comes to your health.

While many people might never think to look or realize how important it can be to check , there are many things the color of your urine can say about your health - and in fact, it's one of the most commonly searched health questions there is. A chance in the color of your urine is one of the first things someone might notice about their own health. Even if you aren't actively paying attention, you'll surely notice if there's a sudden and drastic change: Depending on the color of your urine, it might indicate different things - either temporary things like medication or diet that causes these changes, or temporary conditions like a routine infection or chronic ones.

Urine color is pretty important: Any sudden changes should mean that you see your doctor depending on what it might indicate, especially if you experience a change in the shade of your urine over a long period of time.

There's nothing embarrassing about looking: In fact, everyone should be encouraged to check on a regular basis. Changes in your urine can be an indicator that you have a temporary or chronic condition and your urine might be one of the first ways to spot it. Take note. Here's what some of the most common urine color changes can indicate when it comes to your health. If your urine ends up a shocking color that seems like it would belong in a movie instead of emerging from a person, then it can be caused by any number of pigmentation that can be found in both prescription and over-the-counter medications - and also certain foods and drinks.

Energy drinks and brightly colored ones are some of the most common culprits. In the majority of cases where urine appears colors like blue, purple or neon-like, it's not much of a cause for concern and the symptom is likely to go away as soon as the medication has worked out of the body or the food element has passed entirely through. If your doctor suspects complicated urinary tract infection UTI , there are several treatment options they may recommend. Learn what to expect if you….

Cystocele is a condition in which the bladder protrudes into the vagina. We explain the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and more. A urine pH level test analyzes the acidity or alkalinity of a urine sample. Discover why it's important, what a normal urine pH level is, how to…. Foul-smelling urine is not a symptom or sign of cancer. It can, however, indicate other conditions, such as urinary tract infections or STIs. The idea that urine is sterile is a pervasive idea, but what does the research say?

Painful urination may be a sign of a urinary tract infection UTI , sexually transmitted infection STI , or other cause. Learn more about relieving…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Why Is My Urine Dark? Medically reviewed by Elaine K.

Luo, M. Causes Outside factors When to see a doctor Diagnosis and treatment Prevention Overview Dark urine is deeper in color than urine that is usually straw to yellow in color. Associated diagnoses. Outside factors that affect urine. When to call your doctor. Diagnosis and treatments. Preventing dark urine. Read this next. Is Blue Urine Normal? Urine Colors Explained. Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R. Why Is My Urine Foamy?

Medically reviewed by Suzanne Falck, MD. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.