Contact a healthcare professional if you notice:
- Blood in your urine
- Dark brown urine that doesn’t improve
- Persistent orange urine
- Painful urination
- Fever or chills
- Severe back or side pain
- Cloudy urine with a strong odor
- Changes lasting more than a day or two without an obvious cause
Tips for Healthy Urinary Tract Function
- Drink enough water throughout the day.
- Limit sugary beverages.
- Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
- Don’t ignore the urge to urinate.
- Practice good hygiene.
- Manage conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.
The Bottom Line
Urine color is a simple but useful indicator of your overall health. Most changes are related to hydration, diet, or medications and resolve on their own. However, persistent changes—especially red, brown, or very dark urine, or urine accompanied by pain or other symptoms—should not be ignored.
Paying attention to your urine color can help you recognize when it’s time to drink more water and when it’s time to seek medical advice.
