I’m a doctor & these 4 signs in your wee could be symptoms of kidney problems

KEEPING an eye on your pee could help identify a problem with your kidneys.

Seeing things like blood in your urine would automatically ring alarm bells.

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There are around four things that should spark slight concern if you see them in your pee.

It doesn’t mean there is definitely a problem, but could be something worth looking into.

Consultant urologist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, Dr Richard Viney has outlined what the four are, and what they might mean.

Bloody urine

If you spot blood in your urine you must get it checked out by a GP.

Often it isn’t anything serious, but it can be an indicator of kidney or bladder cancer, among other problems.

It could also be an infection, kidney stones or harmless leakage from the bladder area.

Dr Viney said: “Where the bleeding is associated with pain the causes are usually infection or stones in the urinary tract.

“More worryingly is when there is blood in the urine with no pain. In this instance we need to rule out a cancer of the bladder, prostate (in men) or kidney.

“Individuals on blood thinning treatments are a greater risk of seeing blood in the urine but will still need investigating by your doctor.”

If you haven’t got any other symptoms and its the first time it has happened, get in touch with your GP or call 111.

Cloudy urine

Healthy urine is generally clear or transparent.

If your urine is cloudy it could mean you have a urinary tract infection, or perhaps also a kidney stone.

Dr Viney explained: “When urine spears cloudy this will be because of debris.

“This debris will likely be from shedding of the lining of the bladder usually due to infection but can be caused by stones in the urinary tract.”

STIs can also cause cloudier urine, due to milky discharge from the penis or vagina.

And it can also indicate prostate problems – as any swelling of the prostate can block the flow of urine.

This then causes blood or debris to get built up in the trapped urine and turn it cloudy.

It could also be caused by dehydration, with the lack of fluid making the pee look more concentrated and darker.

Smelly urine

This is usually a sign something is not quite ship shape – as pee usually has a mild smell.

Dr Viney said: “There are a variety of reasons why there may be a change in the odour to urine.

“Firstly, the more concentrated the urine the stronger it’s smell will be.

“The presence of certain bacteria in the urine will create a characteristic offensive smell which will alert an individual to potential trouble.”

It can be a sign of a urinary tract infection, as well as the biproduct of some medicines and supplements.

Certain types of food and drink can also make urine smell stronger, like coffee or asparagus.

Sweet smelling pee can be a sign of type 2 diabetes, stronger smelling pee with pain in your abdomen and feeling sick can be a sign of kidney stones and yellow skin and eyes with tummy pain and strong smelling pee could be a symptom of liver failure.

If you need to pee more than usual, it seems cloudy, it smells and its painful when you urinate book in with your GP.

If you have smelly pee and there is blood, you feel tired, there is pain and you have a temperature call 111 or ask for an urgent GP appointment.

Frothy urine

Now, this might be something that wouldn’t even occur to you to note.

But spotting your pee is frothy or foamy is an indicator something might be wrong.

Dr Viney said: “Like all fluids, if driven in a strong stream, the agitation caused as it hits a surface will cause air to get mixed in causing frothing so a prolonged wee with a strong stream will cause some transient frothing.

“If there are some cleaning agents already in the toilet the urine will froth in contact with it, and so there should be no immediate panic if you see froth in your urine. 

“If there is excessive protein in the urine this can also cause frothing and this is an issue.

“Protein shouldn’t get into the urine as the kidney is designed to filter it out. If the kidney isn’t working properly then protein will be lost in the urine and this is an indicator of failing kidneys.

“Common causes of kidney failure include diabetes and high blood pressure.

“The loss of protein from the blood means that water will move from the blood into tissues causing oedema (swelling) which will settle around the ankles and pelvis through gravity and shortness of breath if the fluid settles in the lungs.

“If these are symptoms you are experiencing then you need to see your GP.”