Urine.
We think nothing of it.
We know it’s stored in the bladder, and that it is the body’s way of getting rid of liquid waste material.
But did you know that there are secrets hiding behind every urine sample?
That sample can tell tales and stories…if you know how to listen.
Urinalysis
Urinalysis or urine test is the process of looking into the visual, chemical, and microscopic aspects of pee.
It generally has three stages:
Sample collection—A sterile container is used to collect the urine (preferably mid-stream), and around 30-60 ml. or 1 to 2 ounces is needed. The sample is quickly brought to the lab to prevent bacterial growth and preserve the integrity of the specimen.
Sample preparation—Once the sample is received, it is labeled with a unique identifier to ensure accurate tracking during the whole process.
Analysis—An automatic chemical analysis is done by a urine analyzer, which looks into the properties of the sample and looks into parameters such as pH, specific gravity, protein, glucose, ketones, bilirubin, urobilinogen, and others.
What Is It For?
A urine test is one of the most useful tools in a physician’s kit and is a vital piece of the diagnostic puzzle. It is used for:
Information and insights into the overall health and hydration status of the patient.
Detection and diagnosis of various diseases.
Monitoring the progress of a specific treatment.
Monitoring the progress of pregnancy and the health of mother and baby.
In addition to these, a urine test is also used to screen for drugs and is utilized as a pre-employment requirement.
When you come in for a regular check-up or when you visit your doctor because of an ailment, he usually requires a urinalysis, along with a blood test, to help him diagnose or get a closer look at the situation.
What Do The Results Mean?
There’s so much information that can be extracted from a single urine sample. It contains an assortment of minerals and you can test it for a number of parameters.
As one of the diagnostic tools in your physician’s quiver, urinalysis can help look into conditions like UTIs (Urinary tract infections), kidney disorders (e. kidney stones, glomerulonephritis, and kidney infections), diabetes mellitus, liver diseases, bladder cancer, and pregnancy-related complications.
Here are some of the stories your pee can tell:
Color: Normal pee color ranges from pale yellow to amber, while abnormal colors like red or brown may indicate the presence of blood or certain medications.
Clarity: Clarity refers to the transparency of urine, and cloudy or turbid urine may suggest the presence of infection or other abnormalities.
Smell: The odor of pee is typically mild, but certain conditions like an infection or some metabolic disorder can cause it to have a strong or foul smell.
Specific gravity: This is a measure of how concentrated a urine sample is. Normal values range from 1.005–1.030. A high result means pee is highly concentrated. Now this could mean a number of things. It could mean that the individual is not drinking enough fluids, or is losing too much fluid (eg. Vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating).
pH level: This indicates the acidity or alkalinity of urine. The normal range is around 4.5 to 8. Anything less than 7 is considered acidic. And anything more than 7 is considered alkaline. A high pH may indicate some problem with the kidneys or a urinary tract infection. On the other hand, a low pH may indicate diabetes.
Protein: The presence of protein in the urine, known as proteinuria, may indicate kidney damage or dysfunction. It means that protein has leaked into the urine. But high levels of protein don’t automatically mean kidney problems. There may be short-term causes for it. For example, things like stress, fever, dehydration, intense physical activities, or very cold temperatures can temporarily spike protein in the urine.
Glucose: Normal glucose levels are around 0 to 0.8 mmol/L (millimoles per liter). Anything higher than that could be a sign of a health issue. Diabetes, so far, is the most common cause of elevated glucose levels.
Ketones: The presence of ketones in pee indicates that fats are broken down for energy instead of glucose. Perhaps the individual has been fasting. But high ketones levels can also point to a body that’s too acidic.
Bilirubin: This provides insights into liver functions. High levels of it can make your pee darker. Bilirubin is a by-product when red blood cells break down. High bilirubin levels can be an early sign of some liver issues (eg. jaundice).
Red/White blood cells: The presence of red blood cells (hematuria) or white blood cells (pyuria) in the urine may indicate infections, kidney stones, or inflammatory conditions affecting the urinary tract. Cloudy and foul-smelling urine are other signs of a urinary tract infection.
Bacteria: The presence of bacteria in the urine suggests an infection somewhere in the urinary tract.
Crystals: Crystal minerals can form in the urine. It’s normal to have a few small ones. But too much, they can clump together and cause blockage. They may also indicate certain metabolic disorders or kidney stone formation.
Healthy Body, Healthy Pee
For optimal urine test results, the cardinal rules of health hold true. But the list that follows isn’t just so your urinalysis results fit in the normal range. (That would be looking at it the other way around.) It’s so you and your family are in the best of health.
So here are the things you can do to keep yourself healthy…which will be reflected in the urine test:
1) Stay hydrated.
Water is essential for many bodily functions. For example, even mild dehydration can have a negative impact on your energy levels and cognitive function.
Also, adequate hydration is important for maintaining proper kidney function. Water helps flush out waste products and toxins from the body through urine, reducing the risk of kidney stones and UTIs.
Increased hydration and urine output prevents the concentration of minerals and salts in the urine. This reduces the likelihood of kidney stone formation and helps maintain a healthy urinary system.
2) Stay active.
Besides the thousand-and-one benefits of exercise to the body, regular exercise promotes kidney function. It improves blood circulation, including blood flow to the kidneys. This is crucial because the kidneys filter waste products and excess fluids from the bloodstream through urine.
With regular exercise also comes a boost in the immune system, which helps prevents things like urinary tract infections.
3) Get adequate sleep
Sleep is a time when your body undergoes important restorative processes. By getting enough sleep, you provide your kidneys with the necessary rest to maintain their functions. Sleep supports kidney function by allowing them to efficiently filter waste products and toxins from the bloodstream.
In addition, sleep helps regulate important hormones like antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and aldosterone, which are involved in fluid balance and urine production. With adequate sleep, you ensure hormone balance and function.
4) Avoid stress
Stress can lower the efficacy of the immune system and make you more susceptible to infections like UTIs.
Chronic stress can contribute to elevated blood pressure, which can have negative effects on the kidneys and urinary system. For example, high blood pressure can damage blood vessels in the kidneys and impair their function.
And over the long term, stress can contribute to the formation of kidney stones.
5) Eat healthy
A healthy diet supports overall well-being, which in turn positively impacts urinary health. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats provides the necessary nutrients for optimal body function, including the urinary system.
Consuming a variety of nutrient-rich foods ensures an adequate intake of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that play a role in maintaining healthy kidneys, bladder, and urine production.
So if you want your pee to say nice things about your health, do these five on the regular, and you won’t have any issues with any urine test.
Our job at BloodWorks Labs is to help you uncover the stories that your body tells about you. We are your one-stop shop for all blood test needs. And we offer not just urine tests, but a variety of check-up packages, and a wide array of medical screenings and tests.
As a premier medical testing outfit, BloodWorks Labs was the first in the country to introduce the Anti Acetylcholine Receptor (lgG) Antibody Test and the Anti N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor (Anti NMDA Receptor) Antibody Test.
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