by Jonte Rhodes

Created on: December 10, 2007   Last Updated: May 03, 2010

Cloudy urine is a common complaint and can have a multitude of causes, a few of which can be medically serious. Many people tend to be embarrassed when they have cloudy urine, although the most important thing is do diagnose the cause as quickly as possible.

The reasons why someone can have cloudy urine are very varied and diverse both in cause and severity. Urine in general has a great range of colors anyway, from clearer then water to sunflower yellow, which usually depends on the levels of ammonia in your system. This in itself can be due to a number of things, some as simple as how much you have had to drink recently.

The more ammonia you have the more yellow the urine appears, which is usually due to your levels of hydration. You may also have noticed when you have been in a swimming pool your urine afterward is clear as the chlorine filters the ammonia out of your system.

In ancient times the color of someone's urine was used widely as a measure of how healthy they were, and to a certain extent this method can still be effective today in the diagnosis of many different medical problems.

Sudden changes and new colors maybe worrying, but could just as easily be nothing, although if these persist it is always safest to consult a doctor just in case as it could be a sign of something more serious.

If there is a distinctively red tinge to your urine for example it could be a sign of blood passing into the urinary tract, although this is usually accompanied by severe pain as well. This is either a signal of a urinary tract infection or in some cases a kidney disorder, such as stones, which will need treatment immediately. If you are diabetic this is especially important as you will be more likely to encounter kidney complications at some point in your life.

It is entirely normal for you to have cloudy urine from time to time in the mornings. The danger is usually if you have cloudy urine repeatedly and throughout the day. If you are already seriously ill then cloudy urine is often a symptom as the body uses the bladder to expel dead bacteria and antibody cells from the body.

There are several different urinary tract infections that can cause the urine to become cloudy. Many urinary tract infections will mean that you might need to urinate much more frequently then normal as well. You might also encounter a burning sensation when passing water.

Frequent urination can also be a sign of prostate problems in men, (generally the over 50's) and pregnancy in women.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>