Abnormal urine color could be your body’s way of showing kidney malfunction. If you’re a healthy person, you should be tinkling a clear-ish or yellowish color. But if not, it could mean something is wrong. The most common and least alarming is pee that’s a darker color, like honey or amber. This suggests you may be dehydrated and must drink water immediately.
Brown urine can be caused by blood in the urine, which could indicate a kidney infection, stones, or injury to the kidney. Red or pink urine can be the body’s way of alluding to something more serious, like an infection or kidney disease.
Avoid Taking Supplements Without Prior Research
These small tablets of concentrated supplements may seem like a healthy habit, with the rationalization that you can basically get any lacking vitamin supplemented while your kidneys filter out all the rest. However, high doses of vitamin C and other vitamins have been linked to the formation of kidney stones. And if you also have a pre-existing condition, such as diabetes or an autoimmune disorder you're even at a higher risk. It’s highly recommended to consult with your doctor.
Based on a 2012 review by the American Society of Nephrology, some supplements you should be cautious of are cranberry, willow bark, wormwood oil, licorice, geranium, and vitamin C. Up Next: Why exercise benefits your kidneys and how it can also destroy them.
Five Glasses of Water a Day Keep the Doctor Away
According to a 2002 study in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the more dehydrated you are, especially if it's a habit, the less healthy your heart is. A minimum of five daily glasses of water will surely do your kidneys some good.
The British Journal of Haematology found that the more water you drink, the lower your blood viscosity is, meaning that it flows a lot better and gives your heart an easier time. High degrees of blood viscosity end up straining your heart, and as a result, your kidneys. If you’re having trouble staying hydrated during the day, consider purchasing a personal water bottle to carry around with you everywhere you go.
Taking Antihistamines Too Often
Nobody likes to have the sniffles all season long, which is why so many of us resort to antihistamines to keep our hayfever at bay. But be warned — acute kidney damage can be induced by a commonly-used over-the-counter antihistamine.
We do not usually think of this medication as a major source of renal stress, but it can cause problems in certain predisposed people, including elderly folks.
Not Checking Your Socks Before Putting Them on
Sickness caused by a spider bite may be rare, but it certainly does happen. Western Tennessee, an area rife with brown recluse spiders, often sees many patients seeking help for health complications following a bite.
These spider bites can eventually cause your kidneys to shut down. If left untreated it can cause permanent damage and eventually cause other organs to shut down.