A change in the color of urine in representatives of the stronger sex can be due to various reasons. Often provoking factors are certain foods and alcohol consumption. However, in some cases, dark urine in men signals a pathological condition. What affects the color of urine in men and in what cases will a mandatory visit to a doctor be required?
When not to worry?
If the urine has darkened, do not exclude non-pathological causes. You can detect color changes in the morning. Overnight, the maximum amount of pigments accumulates in urine, which affect its color change. Often, it can darken against the background of dehydration. This happens during intense physical exertion or under the influence of high temperatures. During this period, active sweating occurs, which leads to loss of moisture. Dehydration may also occur due to insufficient fluid intake. If the body loses moisture, urine excretion is reduced, as a result of which it is oversaturated with the colored pigments that are present in it.
Causes of dark-colored urine in men may also be related to the consumption of certain foods and drinks. The pigments contained in food can cause urine to take on a different color. The same effect is observed when taking certain medications. If urine has changed color, do not sound the alarm. First you need to analyze the situation, remember what foods, drinks and medicines were used the day before.
Natural causes of a change in the color of urine
To find out why dark urine in men, you need to consider a number of factors that can lead to such a phenomenon. Urine becomes yellow due to the presence of urobilin in it. If a person has no health problems, urine will have a light yellow color. After night, the concentration of coloring pigment increases, so in the morning urine can darken, and after using enough water during the day, regain transparency.
If urine color changes are detected, you need to analyze your diet. Food that has a natural colorant can affect this. We are talking about carrots, beets, and legumes. As for beets, it can lead to the fact that urine will turn pink or reddish. Checking whether such a change is associated with eating vegetables is fairly simple. It is necessary to collect a dose of urine in a clean container, add a small amount of baking soda to the biological fluid, 1 tbsp. l table vinegar and mix thoroughly. If the urine has changed color due to the use of beets, it will turn white at first, after which it will again become pinkish.
Darkening of urine after alcohol
Dark urine in men after alcohol is a common occurrence. It can make itself felt even after a single intake of alcohol. Large doses of alcohol can provoke nephronecrosis, which manifests itself not only in the form of excess protein in the urine, but also in the presence of blood impurities in it, which can be noticed with the naked eye. Such a symptom should definitely alert, since it can be a signal of a serious kidney pathology.
Pathological causes
Dark urine in men can be caused by dehydration in case of gastrointestinal tract malfunction. In this case, we are talking about diarrhea and vomiting. Various factors can cause this phenomenon, but in most cases this is observed against the background of poisoning. The dark color of urine can also signal a disease such as prostatitis. This ailment can develop asymptomatically over a long period. More at risk are men who are more than 40 years old.
If you turn to the doctors in time, you will be able to overcome the disease quickly enough. In addition, urinary hyperchromia (darkening) can provoke:
- liver pathology;
- urolithiasis disease;
- cystitis;
- renal failure;
- kidney cancer
- hepatitis;
- cholelithiasis;
- pyelonephritis;
- cholestasis;
- poisoning the body with chemicals.
Causes of dark urine in men can be due to other diseases. Often during urination, pain can disturb. The pain in the region of the lower back and sacrum also annoys. It is not excluded that an increase in body temperature and the occurrence of a febrile state. With inflammation or narrowing of the lumen of the urethral canal from the genitals, mucus discharge may be observed with traces of pus or blood. If these symptoms appear, it is extremely dangerous to ignore them, since irreversible consequences are not ruled out.
In what cases is a visit to the doctor mandatory?
Dark brown urine in men can be associated with the presence of substances such as bilirubin, red blood cells. Traces of pus and mucus also affect the shade. In most cases, a change in the color of urine is accompanied by a number of other symptoms. This can be pain in the right hypochondrium, urination disorders, discomfort in the pubic area, lower back.
If the problem is in the liver
The liver is the organ in which the main processes of decay and processing of waste products occur. When her work is disrupted, these substances penetrate the bloodstream and kidneys, which can not be processed. This entails blockage of the lumen of the bile ducts, after which bilirubin enters the kidneys, from where it enters the urine.
This is what can cause dark urine in men. An identical process starts when liver tissue is affected, due to cirrhosis, tumor, hepatitis. With this pathological condition, the patient has an increase in temperature, yellowing of the skin, the color of the eye sclera changes.
If the problem is in the kidneys
Why urine is dark in men, can only be found after visiting a doctor. Its shade depends on the work of the kidneys. The main causes of changes in its color in kidney pathology are:
- Pyelonephritis. In the urine there are impurities of pus, in connection with which it not only darkens, but also becomes cloudy.
- Glomerulonephritis. With such a disease, fluid accumulates in the kidney, blood clots appear, which lead to the fact that urine acquires a dark brown or burgundy color.
- The movement of kidney stones. As a result of injury to the ureter and kidney, dark urine is observed in men. If this phenomenon leads to trauma to the mucous membrane of the urethra, traces of bright red blood will be observed in the urine.
How to solve a problem?
If the color of urine has become dark due to the use of alcohol, tea, coloring food or medications, its condition normalizes immediately after the coloring pigment is removed from the body. Changes to this plan do not pose a health hazard unless unpleasant symptoms are characteristic of them. With dehydration, regardless of what caused this phenomenon, the patient will need oral or intravenous rehydration.
If urine has found a dark color and at the same time there is a pungent odor and a number of characteristic symptoms, it is important to consult a doctor. Self-medication can lead to serious complications that will require persistent and difficult treatment. Moreover, many diseases that are not treated in a timely manner can be fatal.
To find out why dark urine in men requires a series of diagnostic tests. The treatment regimen will depend on the disease that affected the color change of urine. The patient may be prescribed outpatient treatment or a decision will be made to place him in the inpatient department.
Principles of Therapy
The treatment regimen depends on the disease that caused the darkening of the urine. The general principles of treatment include the restoration of water balance, the use of drugs with an antibacterial effect. If dark murky urine is observed in men, which is caused by liver diseases, drugs are prescribed to improve microcirculation inside the cells, normalize protein and fat metabolism. Droppers with ascorbic acid can also be given to the patient in order to eliminate the effect of toxins on the liver.
In severe pathologies, a liver transplant may be required. If a man has been diagnosed with kidney disease (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis), treatment is carried out in a hospital. Therapy involves the use of antibacterial and immunosuppressive drugs. In case of serious diseases, hemodialysis is prescribed.
Treatment of kidney stone disease is based on the use of drugs that help dissolve calculi. With complications can not do without surgical intervention. Genital diseases, as a rule, are infectious in nature, so the patient is prescribed drugs with an antibacterial effect. In case of detection of prostate adenoma resort to transurethral resection or adenomectomy. Such manipulations involve the removal of excess tissue, which leads to compression of the urethra.
In diseases such as cystitis and urethritis, treatment is reduced to the use of antibacterial drugs and immunomodulators. In addition, antiseptic drugs for administration to the urethra can be used. If conservative methods of treatment do not have a therapeutic effect, the doctor may decide to have an epicystomy.
Prevention
Dark urine in men can be associated with various kinds of diseases. A number of non-pathological factors can also lead to a change in its color. To prevent this phenomenon, it is recommended to adhere to the following recommendations:
- regularly visit a urologist (twice a year);
- minimize the use of coffee and tea;
- refuse to drink;
- adhere to the principles of proper nutrition (introduce cereals, dairy products, fresh vegetables, fruits, low-fat varieties of poultry and fish into the diet);
- do not eat junk food (fast food, preservation, smoked meats, etc.);
- comply with the drinking regime (consume at least 2 liters of water daily);
- pay attention to physical activity;
- Do not deviate from personal hygiene;
- Do not engage in sexual contact without protective equipment;
- if a discoloration of urine is detected, consult a doctor.
Conclusion
Various factors can affect the color of urine. If a change in the color of urine is detected, you should not worry about this. First you need to think about whether you consumed foods and drinks that have a high concentration of coloring pigments, various medications and alcohol. If such a phenomenon is observed every day and at the same time there are other symptoms characteristic of certain diseases, you can not do without the help of a urologist. After visiting the doctor, it will be possible to find out why dark urine is in men, and to begin treatment of a disease. In any case, when changing the shade of urine, it is imperative to monitor the situation in order to exclude possible pathologies.