A Rainbow of Urine... What does it mean to you?

The picture above was taken by Heather West at Tacoma General Hospital in Tacoma, Washington. Heather was one of the scientists in the lab that gathered all of the urine samples, which only took a week to complete. As perfectly picturesque as these pristine pee portions are, the important thing to take from this photo is what colors raise a red flag when it comes to your urine.

Red

Red urine can be caused by a variety of things, and the color can vary from a pale pink to a deep red. From increased red blood cells from strenuous exercise, to blood in the urine. It can be increased by a number reasons from bladder cancer to eating too many beets. The best thing to do when you see your urine is red or suspect blood in the urine would be to contact your physician immediately.

Orange

Many medications can cause your urine to turn to a tint of orange. An increase in B-Vitamins, Rifampin or other medications used to treat TB, and Pyridium (for pain relief during urination) can cause the urine to turn a tinge of orange. Also, an increased amount of carrots or carrot juice can have a similar effect.

Yellow

Yellow is the natural color of urine. For someone that is properly hydrated, the urine should be a straw color. If your urine is darker yellow, it may mean that you are dehydrated and should try to drink extra water.

Green

Green urine is an indication that there is something blue mixing with the natural color in your urine. A few medications can cause green urine like Tagamet (heartburn), Elavil (amitriptyline), and Michael Jackson's drug of choice propofol. Asparagus can also cause the urine to turn a tinge of green. Green urine is usually just a harmless side effect.

Blue

Blue urine is usually only caused by the drug methylene blue, which was first used as a cure for Malaria during WWII. Today it is used commonly in procedures, usually in a dentist office.

Purple

Purple is the only urine color that has a syndrome named after it: purple urine bag syndrome. It occurs when someone has a urinary catheter. Bacteria colonizing the catheter, the collection bag, or both produce a substance called indirubin, which is red, and indigo, which is blue, and they combine to make a bright purple color.

White

Urinary tract infections sometimes turn urine a milky-white color because they provoke an immune response that unleashes a flood of white blood cells. Other causes of whitish urine include uric acid crystals from eating purine-rich foods, such as anchovies, herring, and red meat (lamb, beef, and pork), and phosphate crystals from excess parathyroid hormone.

Brown

If the red of red urine is dark, it may look brown or even black. In such cases, the causes of brown or black urine may be the same as those of red urine. But urine can turn truly brown. Bilirubin, another breakdown product of hemoglobin, sometimes builds up in the blood because of liver conditions, like hepatitis and cirrhosis, or a bile duct blocked by gallstones, a tumor, or some other obstacle. If some of that excess bilirubin gets into the urine, the urine can turn a brownish color. Hemolytic anemia, when too many red blood cells get broken down at the same time, also produces a bilirubin surplus that may taint urine. Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, can, in rare instances, put melanin, the pigment that darkens skin, in circulation, and some of that pigment may wind up in the urine. Foods that may turn urine brown include fava beans and rhubarb.
 
If you have any questions or concerns about urine, your first call should be to your doctor, but the second should be to The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy of Largo to answer any questions you may have. 727-501-0188.

7 Triggers That Increase Hot Flashes and 5 Remedies to Cool You Off

A hot flash is a momentary sensation of heat that can be accompanied by a red, flushing face and sweats. Hot flashes occur when the blood vessels near the skin's surface dilate to cool. This produces the red, flushed look to the face. A woman may also perspire to cool down her 

body. In addition, some women experience a rapid heart rate or chills.

How can you help prevent hot flashes? You can try to avoid these 8 triggers.

Stress

Caffeine

Alcohol

Spicy foods

Tight clothing

Heat

Cigarette smoke

Are you currently having them and want to try to temper them? Try these remedies.

Hormone Replacement Therapy. Everyone's body is different, so everyone experiencing hot flashes or other premenopausal symptoms require different levels of medication. The good thing about this, with lab work and an experienced doctor, you will know exactly what hormone you need, how much you need, and the best way to take the medicine. This will require a prescription, but this is the best way to treat the underlying cause of your symptoms.

Soy products. Plant estrogens, found in soy products, such as isoflavones, are thought to have weak estrogen-like effects that may reduce hot flashes. The research results, however, have been contradictory. Soy foods, not supplements, are recommended.

Black cohosh. Some studies suggest that black cohosh may be helpful in the very short term (six months or less) for treating hot flashes and night sweats. Side effects include gastrointestinal upset.

Evening primrose oil is another botanical that is often used to treat hot flashes, although there is no scientific evidence to support this. Side effects include nausea and diarrhea. Women taking certain medications, such as blood thinners, should not take evening primrose oil.

Flaxseed. Although there is no scientific evidence to support using flaxseed, it is thought to decrease the symptoms of menopause, particularly hot flashes. Also known as linseed, flaxseed is available in both whole seed and seed oil forms.

If you have any questions about Hormone Replacement Therapy, need help finding a doctor, or have any questions about the supplements listed here, call The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy of Largo at 727-501-0188 and the staff can give you any information you need. You can also bring in your lab results from your blood work and have our pharmacist give you his opinion about your hormone levels.