5 Hydroxy Indole Acetic Acid (HIAA) (24 Hour Urine) Tips

A Urinary Tract Infection(UTI) can occur in any part of the urinary tract including the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra. The causes of a UTI can be many, with bacteria being the most common cause. In fact, UTIs are generally more common among women as they have shorter urethras, which make it easier for the UTI causing bacteria to pass through to the bladder.

The symptoms of UTI vary depending on the area of your urinary tract that has been infected. These symptoms are:

Lower Urinary Tract Infection:

1. Bladder cystitis, in which the lining of bladder and urethra become inflamed and irritated

2. Dysuria, which is a burning sensation during urination

3. A frequent or intense urge to urinate, even though little comes out when you do

4. Urinary urgency, which is the sensation of having to urinate urgently

5. Cloudy, dark bloody or strange-smelling urine

6. Cramping or pressure in lower abdomen or lower back

7. Pelvic pain in women particularly in the center of the pelvis and around the area of pubic bone

8. Mild fever or chills indicating that the infection may have reached your kidneys

Upper Urinary Tract Infection:

1. Fairly high fever with fatigue

2. Shaking chills with a feeling of discomfort

3. Nausea and vomiting

4. Flank Pain, which is pain in the back or side, usually on only one side at about waist level

Since pregnant women are at an increased risk of contracting UTIs, their urine should be checked during prenatal visits to prevent unrecognized infection that can cause pregnancy complications. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a Gynaecologist.

यूरिन इनफैक्शन को यूरिनरी ट्रैक्ट इनफैक्शन (यूटीआई) भी कहते हैं। ज्यादातर ये समस्या महिलाओं में पाई जाती है। ये समस्या वयस्कों की अपेक्षा बच्चों में ज्यादा देखी जाती है। वहीं अगर ये समस्या बच्चों को हो जाए तो ज्यादा गंभीर होती है। बच्चों में ये समस्या बिस्तर गीला करने की वजह से हो जाती है। अपने जीवनकाल में चालीस फीसदी महिलाओं और बारह फीसदी पुरुषों में ये समस्या देखी जा सकती है। गर्भवती महिलाओं में ये संक्रमण काफी सामान्य होता है। जब एक महिला बच्चे को जन्म देती है तो उसके प्रेग्नेंसी हॉर्मोन का विकास शरीर के अंदर होता है, और इसके फलस्वरूप उसके यूरिनरी ट्रैक्ट में भी काफी परिवर्तन होते हैं। जैसे ही किसी महिला का गर्भाशय बढ़ता है, यह ब्लैडर पर अतिरिक्त दबाव डालने लगता है। इससे ब्लैडर से पूरी तरह मूत्र का निकलना संभव नहीं हो पाता है। जो मूत्र ब्लैडर के अंदर बच जाता है, उससे संक्रमण की प्रबल संभावना रहती है। । अगर आप इस इन्फेक्शन को शुरूआती चरणों में नहीं रोक पाती तो इससे किडनी में भी इन्फेक्शन की संभावना बढ़ जाती है।

ऐसे पहचानें यूरिन इनफैक्शन- यहां दिए गए कुछ लक्षणों से आप पहचान कर सकते हैं कि कहीं आप भी यूरिनरी ट्रैक्ट इन्फैक्शन के शिकार तो नहीं हो गए...

• पेशाब करते वक्त जलन या दर्द होना
• बार-बार पेशाब लगना
• खुजली होना
• बदबूदार पेशाब होना
• पेशाब का कलर बदलना
• पीठ के नीचे हिस्से में दर्द

यूरिन इनफैक्शन के कारण- यूरिनरी ट्रैक्ट इन्फैक्शन का सबसे बड़ा कारण कॉमन टायलेट का इस्तेमाल करना है। इसके अलावा पेशाब रोकना और पेशाब के बाद सफाई न रखने से भी इन्फैक्शन हो जाता है। बेहतर होगा कि टॉयलेट हमेशा साफ सुधरा रखें, पेशाब रोके नहीं और और पब्लिक कमोड का जितना हो सके कम इस्तेमाल करें। इसके अलावा अंडरगार्मेंट्स और प्राइवेट पाट्र्स की सफाई का भी ध्यान रखें। कभी-कभी सेक्स की वजह से भी बैक्टीरिया महिलाओं के मूत्रमार्ग में पहुंच जाते हैं।
यूरिनरी ट्रैक्ट इन्फैक्शन बैक्टीरिया से होता है। डॉक्टर इस बीमारी में एंटीबायोटिक देते हैं जिससे बैक्टीरिया में प्रतिरोधक क्षमता आ जाती है जिससे दवाएं बेअसर होने लगती हैं। यहां दिए गए ये घरेलू उपाय अपनाकर इस समस्या का निदान किया जा सकता है।

अपनाएं ये घरेलू उपाय
ज्यादा से ज्यादा तरल पदार्थों का सेवन करें- पूरे दिन में ज्यादा से ज्यादा तरल पदार्थ लेने से आपके सिस्टम से बैक्टीरिया बाहर होते हैं। तांबे के बर्तन में रातभर पानी रखकर पिएं। तांबे में कीटाणुनाशक गुण होते हैं। ये आपके शरीर से बैक्टीरिया दूर करता है।

1. अनानास-
अनानास में बेहतरीन एंटी बायोटिक गुण होते हैं, जो कि यूरिनरी ट्रैक्ट का इन्फेक्शन दूर करने में काफी प्रभावी होते हैं। अनानास में ब्रोमेलेन नाम का एंजाइम होता है, जो कि यूरिनरी ट्रैक्ट के इन्फेक्शन को आसानी से दूर कर देता है। आप या तो नाश्ते में, या फिर दोपहर के खाने के बाद अनानास का फल के रूप में सेवन कर सकती हैं। आप इसे ग्राइंडर में डालकर इसका रस निकालकर पी सकती हैं।

2. बेकिंग सोडा- बेकिंग सोडा शरीर में एसिड और बेस को संतुलित रखता है। यूरिन इन्फैक्शन के लक्षण दिखें तो एक गिलास पानी या दूध में आधा चम्मच बेकिंग सोडा मिलाकर दो बार पिएं।

3.प्याज- प्याज शरीर से टॉक्सिन बाहर करता है। यूरिन इन्फैक्शन होने पर प्याज का सेवन दोनों टाइम सलाद के रूप में करें।

4. छाछ- छाछ शरीर से बैक्टीरिया बाहर निकालने के साथ यूरिन इन्फैक्शन के दौरान होने वाली जलन को भी दूर करता है।

5. करौंदे का जूस-  यूरिनरी ट्रैक्ट इन्फैक्शन में करौंदे के जूस को अचूक उपाय माना जाता है। आपको करौंदा पसंद हो तो उसे कच्चा भी खा सकते हैं। इसका जूस निकालकर इसमें सेब का जूस मिलाकर पीने से इनफैक्शन में काफी राहत मिलती है।

6. हरी इलायची-  यूरिनरी इन्फैक्शन के दौरान मूत्रमार्ग पर बेहद जलन होती है। इसके उपचार के लिए ठंडे दूध के साथ इलायची का पाउडर लें। इसके अलावा कच्ची इलायची भी खाने के बाद खा सकते हैं।

7. ब्लूबेरी-  ब्लूबेरी में  बैक्टीरिया को पूरी तरह नष्ट करने के गुण होते हैं। हाल में ही हुए एक शोध के अनुसार ब्लूबेरी का रस गर्भवती महिलाओं में यूरिनरी ट्रैक्ट का इन्फेक्शन रोकने में मदद करता है। आप सुबह के नाश्ते में भी इस फल का रस के रूप में सेवन कर सकती हैं।

8. सिट्रस फ्रूट या खट्टे फल खाएं- सिट्रस फ्रूट जैसे, नींबू, संतरा, आंवला और मौसमी जैसे फलों में मौजूद साइट्रिक एसिड यूरिन में इनफैक्शन क्रिएट करने वाले बैक्टीरिया को नष्ट करता है। 

Urine is known as the liquid waste that is discharged by the body on a regular basis, many times during the day and even during the night. Most of us do not give too much importance to this aspect of our being. Yet, this is an important indication of many things regarding your health. One of the vitals that are usually checked when we are having any symptoms of ailments and serious conditions, includes the urine.

The colour, odour and even consistency of the urine can point at the state of your health. There are many chemicals and toxins that are there in your urine which may be checked in order to decipher the level of the waste going out and the chemicals in the same. This is an indication of the type and severity of the disease that a patient may be suffering from. Here are the things that the colour and odour of the urine can tell you.

1. Pale hued: If your urine is pale-hued, then it means that your health is in normal condition. This colour may also tend towards golden. This colour of the urine is down to the pigment called urochrome, which exists in the liquid waste.
2. No colour: If your urine is colourless, then it means that you have been drinking plenty of water or even ingesting a substance known as a diuretic that is known for flushing out the bodily fluids at a faster rate. This lack of colour usually means that your fluids and waste are both getting flushed out routinely and that everything is fine with your body and your health in general.
3. Brown: If your urine colour is dark and appears brown, then you may want to see the doctor immediately. This may also come with episodes of burning and pain during urination, which can point to a range of problems. Very dark coloured urine with a moderate odour may point towards infection in the urinary tract or even the onset of a kidney dysfunction. Brown-hued urine may point at conditions that have to do with the kidneys as well as the liver, which will need to be checked immediately to make the correct diagnosis on a timely basis and begin treatment for the ailment in question. You may need more fluids in order to get the colour back to normal, as it may also be a sign of dehydration.
4. Orange: Orange urine may point at a high dosage of vitamin B12, and may show that you are dehydrated, while pink or red urine must be reported to the doctor on an emergency basis, as it may point at a urinary tract infection (UTI) or prostate problems.

Blood in urine, medically known as Hematuria is not usually a cause of concern, but it can translate into an adverse condition if left unevaluated. The kidneys and other structures in the urinary tracts such as urethra (tube connecting the bladder to the outer part of the body); bladder (that stores the urine) and ureters (tube joining the bladder to the kidney) are the sources of blood flow to the urine. Hematuria can be accompanied by symptoms such as discharge of tea-colored, brownish-red or pink colored urine due to the presence of red blood cells, traces of which can only be detected under the microscope.

Underlying causes behind this disorder might be

1. Urinary tract infection is where the bacteria enter the body through the urethra and begin to proliferate in the bladder.
2. Kidney infections (pyelonephritis) is when bacteria infiltrate into the kidneys from the bloodstream or travel up from the uterus to the kidneys.
3. A kidney or a bladder stone is marked by the minerals in the concentrated urine precipitating out and molding into crystals that deposit on the bladder or kidney walls.
4. Enlarged prostate is a condition in which the prostate gland, that is situated just below the bladder surrounding the upper part of the urethra, starts growing as males head towards their middle age.
5. Kidney disease such as glomerulonephritis causes swelling of the kidneys, thus disrupting the filtering system.
6. Bladder, kidney and prostate cancer are also possible causes.
7. Hereditary disorders such as sickle cell anemia (a hereditary disease of the red blood cells in the hemoglobin) can also pose as a cause behind this disorder.
8. Kidney injury as a result of heavy blows, accidents or injuries sustained while playing a spot can also contribute to this condition.
9. Medications such as penicillin or the anti-cancer drug ‘cyclophosphamide’
10. Strenuous physical exercises like intense workout or running may also result in Hematuria.

Treatments
There is no fixed cure for Hematuria; instead the doctor would work on treating the repressed conditions behind the symptoms, such as prescribing antibiotics to heal the urinary tract infection or a medicine to shrink and normalize the enlarged prostate or administer a shock wave therapy to destroy the kidney or bladder stones. 

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Blood in urine, medically known as Hematuria is not usually a cause of concern, but it can translate into an adverse condition if left unevaluated. The kidneys and other structures in the urinary tracts such as urethra (tube connecting the bladder to the outer part of the body); bladder (that stores the urine) and ureters (tube joining the bladder to the kidney) are the sources of blood flow to the urine. Hematuria can be accompanied by symptoms such as discharge of tea-colored, brownish-red or pink colored urine due to the presence of red blood cells, traces of which can only be detected under the microscope.

Underlying causes behind this disorder might be

1. Urinary tract infection is where the bacteria enter the body through the urethra and begin to proliferate in the bladder.
2. Kidney infections (pyelonephritis) is when bacteria infiltrate into the kidneys from the bloodstream or travel up from the uterus to the kidneys.
3. A kidney or a bladder stone is marked by the minerals in the concentrated urine precipitating out and molding into crystals that deposit on the bladder or kidney walls.
4. Enlarged prostate is a condition in which the prostate gland, that is situated just below the bladder surrounding the upper part of the urethra, starts growing as males head towards their middle age.
5. Kidney disease such as glomerulonephritis causes swelling of the kidneys, thus disrupting the filtering system.
6. Bladder, kidney and prostate cancer are also possible causes.
7. Hereditary disorders such as sickle cell anemia (a hereditary disease of the red blood cells in the hemoglobin) can also pose as a cause behind this disorder.
8. Kidney injury as a result of heavy blows, accidents or injuries sustained while playing a spot can also contribute to this condition.
9. Medications such as penicillin or the anti-cancer drug ‘cyclophosphamide’
10. Strenuous physical exercises like intense workout or running may also result in Hematuria.

Treatments
There is no fixed cure for Hematuria; instead the doctor would work on treating the repressed conditions behind the symptoms, such as prescribing antibiotics to heal the urinary tract infection or a medicine to shrink and normalize the enlarged prostate or administer a shock wave therapy to destroy the kidney or bladder stones. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a Urologist.

If there is blood in your urine, it is a sign of renal illness. While this could be happening because of various reasons, it is advisable to see your doctor soon.

Following are the causes of blood in your urine:

1. An enlarged prostate - An enlarged prostate is a common cause of the appearance of blood in the urine in men who are in their middle ages or older. Enlargement of the prostate gland causes the urethra to be compressed. This prevents the urethra from getting fully emptied while urination.
2. Cancer - A cancerous kidney, bladder or prostate gland can also cause blood to appear in the urine. It is another major cause of hematuria but usually occurs in older patients.
3. Infection - Infections like urethritis, pyelonephritis, cystitis or infection in any other body organ along the urinary tract is one of the most common causes of hematuria. Such bacterial infection in the urethra can also infect the kidneys and the urinary bladder. It results in the urge to urinate frequently and also causes blood to appear in the urine.
4. Kidney stones and bladder stones - Another reason that can cause blood to appear in the urine is the presence of stones in the kidney or bladder. These stones are crystallized minerals that are formed in the kidney or the bladder but fail to pass through the urinary tract. They cause blockage and pain and result in hematuria.
5. Polycystic kidney disease - PKD is a kidney disorder in which cysts filled with fluid form in the kidneys and impair the kidneys, causing them to fail entirely at times. It is an inherited disease and causes blood to appear in the urine.In children who are between 6-10 years of age, kidney disorder after streptococcal glomerulonephritis can be a possible cause of hematuria.

Human urine is a useful tool for the diagnosis and detection of several health conditions. The colour, smell and density of your urine can reveal a lot about the state of your health. Colour, especially, is a strong determinant of many ailments or concerns.

Here is a list of the health conditions you might be suffering from, based on the colour of your urine:

1. Straw colour to transparent yellow colour: This urine colour signifies that your body is healthy and perfectly hydrated. This should be the normal colour of urine, which shows you are in good health.
2. Transparent or clear: Transparent and extra clear urine indicates that you have drunk too much water, which leads to the transparent appearance. It happens due to overhydration.
3. Dark yellow colour: This shade of urine is considered normal, but it may indicate some amount of dehydration. You need to drink more water to eliminate the darker yellowish tinge from your urine.
4. Honey colour: Urine of honey colour signifies dehydration and you must consume increased amounts of water.
5. Pink or red colour: Your urine may have a pinkish red shade when you consume foods like carrots, beets, blackberries and rhubarb. This may also happen due to the effect of some antibiotics or a drug which treats urinary tract infections. The presence of blood in your urine is indicated by these colours too, and it can lead to kidney diseases, UTI, prostate problems or tumors.
6. Orange colour: Your urine may have an orange colour which resembles the colour of orange soft drinks. This occurs as a result of a high dose of vitamins and several antibiotics. This colour may also indicate dehydration or problems related to the kidney or bile duct.
7. Blue or green colour: Such shades may be present in your urine because of dyes present in food items and medications. Your urine may turn blue or green, signifying several other medical conditions which require immediate medical attention.
8. Foamy: If your urine has a foamy appearance, irrespective of the colour and shade, you need to consult a doctor. The consistent foamy or frothy appearance of your urine may indicate the presence of protein in your urine, which further signifies problems in the kidneys.
9. Maple syrup colour: Urine of this shade indicates a severe case of dehydration or liver diseases.

Your urine tells a lot about your health by its colour, odour and density. The colour is an essential determinant for detecting several health conditions, which may be simple or chronic in nature. In case of abnormal urine colour or appearance, you should consult a doctor without delay.

Many people are embarrassed to talk about their urine colour or urine problem with anybody, including their doctor. But, what people always forget is that strong smelling urine and the change in the colour of the urine is a serious issue. Your urine colour directly tells you about your health, especially your inner body. So, without being embarrassed you should consult a doctor, if and when, you find foul odour in your urine. Following are some of the reasons for the causes of strong smelling urine.

1. You are dehydrated: Urine is not supposed to leave odour. It should be odourless, but if you find strong smell in your urine, you should consult a doctor immediately. The most common reason of foul odour in your urine is dehydration. If the amount of water needed in your body is not enough then, there will be less water in your body as a result the waste products will not be diluted in water being more concentrated making the urine darker and more odour. But once you start drinking water, it should go normal. Normally, this kind of situations occur in early morning when your water intake is less or not at all. But drinking lot of water will solve this issue immediately.
2. More alcohol or caffeine intake: If you are habituated to drink a lot of coffee then it may happen that you find strong smell of coffee in your urine. Although it is not very problematic yet it is healthy if you reduce the intake of coffee in your daily life in order to have a healthy digestive system. Not just coffee but even alcohol could be the reason of irregular or need to urinate a lot more than usual.
3. Bacterial Infection: There could be bacterial infection or kidney infection which could lead to strong smell of urine. In order to ensure you should go to a doctor and get important tests done. Then the doctor can suggest treatment according to your results and if all the results are normal then you could be suggested to maintain a balanced diet on regular basis.
4. Imbalanced Diet: The problem can sometimes come from the use of certain vitamins from imbalances in your diet. There are substances like nitrates and phosphates in the urine which can give dark colour and odour. You should always have a proper diet and follow it in order to have a healthy digestive system. Eating lot of garlic and onion can also bring odour in your urine.
5. Diabetes: If you are diabetic, it may be possible that you find dark urine and odour in your urine. It indicates that your sugar level is not normal and gone much high than normal. If you are not diabetic then it may be a sign of diabetes so you should get diagnosed immediately with your doctor.

There are multiple causes of strong smelling urine but most of them could be cured easily if diagnosed immediately. But in order to avoid this issue it is better to be careful with your diet and drink a lot of water. At least three litres of water a day is an absolute necessity!

Do you find it impossible to control the urge to urinate every now and then? If you feel the need to urinate more than 8 times a day, then it could be a health problem. Frequent urination is the medical term for this problem. The condition is not the same as urinary incontinence, where there is leakage of urine.

A number of habits can play a role in causing frequent urination. This includes drinking more fluids and consumption of caffeine-based beverages. However, the condition may also be a sign of an underlying kidney disorder.

Relation between frequent urination and kidney problems-

While frequent urination is itself not a serious problem, but it can be a symptom of kidney or ureter problems, urinary bladder problems, or diseases such as diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, or prostate gland problems.

Frequent urination is linked to a number of kidney problems such as:

a. Kidney infection (pyelonephritis)

Kidney infection (pyelonephritis) is a type of urinary tract infection (UTI) that normally starts in your urethra or bladder and travels to one or both of your kidneys. Frequent urination is often the most common symptom of pyelonephritis.

b. Kidney stones

Sometimes, hard collections of salt and minerals get accumulated in the form of stones in your kidney(s). These may increase in size in a ureter or the bladder. When the stone passes down the ureter, you may have an urge to urinate frequently.

c. Renal hypertension

If you suffer from renal hypertension (high blood pressure) or fluid buildup in the kidney, then your doctor may prescribe you medications that are used to treat and flush out excess fluid from the body. These medications can have a diuretic effect and may lead to frequent urination.

Feeling the urge to pass urine can be a symptom of many different problems. But if you experience the condition along with other abnormal symptoms such as fever or pain in abdomen, then you should consult your doctor immediately.  

In case you have a concern or query, you can always consult the best general physicians online & get answers to your question via online doctor consultation.