The sign in your morning pee that shows you’re ‘suffering chronic stress’ – and 5 colours to watch for

EVER stopped to peer down into the toilet bowl after your morning wee?

A quick glance could give you insight into how stressed you might get that day.

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Darker pee can be an indicator of stress, as dehydration can be a trigger[/caption]

A new study by Liverpool John Moores University found that people who woke up with darker urine had higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol when placed under pressure.

The study involved 32 healthy adults aged 18 to 35.

Some of the group had a low daily fluid intake of below 1.3 litres, while others had a much higher intake, above 4.4 litres. 

Each of the adults had to undergo a stressful job interview which involved public speaking and mental maths, performed in front of judges.

Although all the participants said they felt anxious during the test, their cortisol measurements varied. 

Those with a morning urine score of 4 or higher on the color chart – a darker colour, indicating dehydration – had high cortisol levels for 30 minutes after the job interview.

But participants whose pee was lighter in colour didn’t have significant cortisol increases.

London-based GP Dr Amos Ogunkoya tells Sun Health: “Cortisol is designed to keep us alive and allow us to survive.

“Dehydration is a stressor so when you have dark urine, you probably have high levels of cortisol as that’s what cortisol reacts to.

“If you’re dehydrated, your body thinks you’re in survival mode and therefore you need to release more cortisol.” 

Want to reduce your stress? Stay hydrated.

Nutritionist Rob Hobson says: “A pale straw-yellow usually suggests you’re well hydrated, while darker yellow to amber can indicate you need to drink more fluids.

“Remember, if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.”

But other pee colours could signal problems with your health…

1. Dark brown pee

If you’ve really been avoiding fluids, then your dark brown wee may point to significant dehydration.

Rob explains: “Very dark, tea-coloured urine during or after exercise can occasionally be a warning sign of rhabdomyolysis, a rare but serious condition linked to muscle breakdown though dehydration is the more common cause.”

Other symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include muscle pain and weakness.

Dark brown urine can also indicate liver disease, caused by bile getting into your urine.

If your urine remains dark, even when you’re drinking more water, you must visit your GP. 

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Have dark brown pee? Dehydration might not be the only cause[/caption]

The NHS recommends that most people drink 1.2 to 2 litres of fluids a day. However Rob adds that this is really just a starting point for the average person at rest. 

“If you’re active, exercising or spending time in hot environments, your fluid needs can easily double or more depending on sweat loss,”he says. 

“Some athletes will lose a litre of fluid in under an hour of hard exercise, so it makes sense that more active people often drink far above the guidelines.” 

GP, Dr Tom Jenkins says it’s best to drink steadily throughout the day, rather than glugging water down.  

“If you suddenly dilute your blood, your body will suddenly try to get rid of it,” he explains. 

“Whilst if you’re sipping gently through the day, then your body is accommodating it rather than getting jolted and facing sudden changes which it always tries to correct.”

2. Red pee

Seeing your pee tinged red is always alarming. 

But, Rob says that beetroot or other dark red foods such as rhubarb, can make it appear pink or red. 

Dr Ogunkoya adds that red food dyes can also cause wee to appear red.

On a more serious note, your red urine could indicate bleeding. 

“Blood in urine isn’t always dangerous, it’s more often than not, benign,” Dr Ogunkoya notes.

If you’re a runner, your red wee could be connected to your pavement-pounding.

“After a run, you can have increased bleeding,” the doctor says. 

“After exercise it’s quite common to have exercise-induced haematuria (red wee), which we don’t get concerned about, but if it’s still there after three or four days, see your GP.”

Red or pink urine can also be a sign of urinary tract infections (UTIs) or even kidney stones. 

Dr Jenkins says: “If you have blood in the urine and you have symptoms of a urine infection, you can reasonably treat that as a urine infection on a single occasion.”

Other UTI symptoms can include a burning sensation or pain when you pee, needing to pee more often, a fever, cloudy urine and lower tummy or back pain.

Your GP will be able to prescribe antibiotics to treat your UTI. 

“If you have no symptoms of a urine infection other than blood in the urine, then you can’t assume that it’s a urine infection,” Dr Jenkins goes on. 

“Urine infections are a bit of a dustbin diagnosis, and important things are easily missed. You need to visit your GP.”

Your GP may need to do a rectal and/or vaginal exam, and they may ask for a urine sample or refer you to a specialist.

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Someone who is well-hydrated should have light yellow-coloured pee[/caption]

Dr Jenkins warns: “If bleeding symptoms in your urine persist, then you need to prove that there’s a urine infection, otherwise your suspicion really needs to fall on possible cancer and you may need to be urgently referred if that’s the case under the Two-Week Wait rules.”

The Two Week Wait is a fast-track route for anyone with symptoms that could suggest cancer. 

If you have blood in your urine alongside pain in your sides, lower back or groin pain that comes and goes and you feel sick, then you may be suffering from kidney stones.

Visit your GP urgently as kidney stones left untreated can lead to permanent kidney damage, 

Often, kidney stones are so small, they can be passed in your pee and symptoms can be treated at home.

3. Green pee

Green-coloured pee doesn’t tend to be the norm – but it could be caused by a specific vegetable. 

Rob says: “Asparagus may give your wee a greenish tinge and it may also cause it to smell.

“Green or blue food dyes in sweets can occasionally affect urine colour but you’d generally need to eat quite a lot for this to happen so it’s not as likely.”

Not been near anything green?

Rarely, your green urine could be a sign of a UTI caused by bacteria called pseudomonas.

This usually happens in people who have catheters.

Dr Ogunkoya says: “If you have any other signs of infection such as burning, stinging, fever or abdominal pain, then you should visit your GP.”

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Green or red pee could indicate a UTI[/caption]

4. Neon yellow pee

Notice your urine is brighter than usual?

Rob says: “High doses of B vitamins, particularly riboflavin, often make urine a bright yellow as the body excretes the excess.”

Even if you aren’t directly taking a B vitamin supplement, you might notice B vitamins in your multivitamin or even electrolytes, so check the ingredient label.

Some foods are also fortified with B vitamins, which means you may be taking B vitamins without even realising. Again, check the label. 

5. Frothy wee with a thick white foam 

Is your urine looking a little more bubbly than usual?

If you’ve been holding in your wee for a while and your urine hits the toilet quickly or forcefully when you do eventually go, it can create temporary bubbles or foam.

This is nothing to be worried about. 

But, Dr Jenkins warns that frothy, foamy pee could be a sign of kidney problems, specifically proteinuria, which is protein in your urine.

“The most common cause of proteinuria is kidney disease, because the filtration system in the kidney that keeps proteins in blood becomes leaky and the proteins can leak into the blood causing frothy, foamy urine,” he says. 

Visit your GP who may ask for a morning sample of wee which can be sent to a lab for testing. 

Dr Jenkins warns that often, kidney issues are asymptomatic, so checking your wee is a good way to stay on top of your kidney health. 

“If you are going to get other symptoms, sometimes you can feel tired, lethargic and experience a loss of appetite.

“Occasionally you can get peripheral oedema (swelling in the hands, legs, arms and/or feet), itchy skin and nausea.”