7 Possible Causes Of Unpleasant Smell In Urine
Have you noticed that your urine suddenly has an unpleasant odor? Would you like to know what could be causing this? Then read on! In this article, we will talk about the most common causes due to which there is an unpleasant odor in urine.
The characteristic smell of urine is due to the content of urea in it. Depending on the concentration of this substance in the body, urine acquires a weaker or pungent odor. Normally, human urine should not have a too sharp and repulsive odor.
However, as noted in a publication in Harvard Women’s Health Watch the fact that urine has a stronger-than-usual odor is not necessarily a concern.This is almost always a temporary phenomenon that disappears within a short time. Despite this, we must not ignore it. After all, it can also warn us about the presence of a disease.
Reasons Why Urine Can Smell Bad
Next, we will tell you about some of the reasons why your urine might smell bad. Although you can identify them, we recommend that you see a doctor you trust to determine the exact cause of this phenomenon.
Alcohol Abuse
It is not a hidden truth that heavy boozing makes you pee more often. This happens because alcohol is a diuretic and causes the bacteria to get more concentrated in your urine. As a result, your pee starts to smell like rotten greens. Alcohol abuse not only changes your pee’s odor profile but also destroys your well-being.
However, you can put an end to this bad habit by changing your behavior and making a conscious decision of getting addiction treatment. Yes, just a little change in your behavior can make a great impact on your health. Thus, in order to deal with your behavioral health and addiction problems in a healthy way, making a conscious effort is necessary.
Dehydration
As soon as you notice that your urine is beginning to smell bad, you should consider whether you have been drinking enough fluids in recent days. Each person will have their own norm, but on average an adult should drink about 2 liters of water per day. If you drink less, then dehydration can cause this problem.
As a rule, when dehydrated, urine not only acquires a pungent odor but also changes its color as it becomes dark yellow, almost orange. Also, due to a lack of fluid, urine begins to smell like ammonia. But if you start drinking more plain, unflavored water, the problem will go away on its own.
Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections are another possible cause of offending urine odor. According to a study published in 2010, urinary tract infections are quite common. As a rule, such infections are accompanied by symptoms such as:
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Burning when urinating
- Stomach ache
Most often, such infections are caused by Escherichia coli. In such a situation, it is very important to seek the advice of a medical specialist.
Diabetes
If your urine has acquired a repulsive sweet smell, you need to beware. After all, as Amy Krambeck, a specialist in urology at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester (Minnesota, USA), explains, this can be a symptom of diabetes.
In this case, the sooner you see a doctor, the better. As diabetes progresses, sugar and ketones can accumulate in the urine and generate a pungent odor, the expert says. However, many people ignore this reason and seek advice only when other symptoms of the disease appear.
Liver Problems
It may also be that urine acquires a pungent odor due to violations in the liver. According to the National Health Service (England), if this is the problem, then other symptoms may appear:
- Nausea
- Vomit
- Stomach ache
- Yellowish eye tint
- Weakness
- Weight loss
In this case, contacting a doctor is important as he/she will run appropriate tests to determine if it is a liver problem and if so, find a solution.
Abuse Of Certain Products
One of the main reasons why urine can smell bad has to do with food. For example, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal in 2016, 40 % of people experience bad-smelling urine after eating asparagus. However, this is not the only food that can cause odor. Other products:
- Onion
- Garlic
- Brussels sprouts
- Curry
- Salmon
- Coffee
If you do not eat such food, pay attention to the amount of salt used. This is because the abuse of salt also increases the concentration of urine, as a result of which the latter acquires a pungent odor.Try to reduce your salt intake. This will allow you to take care not only of the health of the kidneys but also of the heart.
Vaginal Cleansing
Some women find it difficult to accept the characteristics of the intimate area of their body, so they practice such a habit as washing the vagina. If you are fond of such a procedure, and your urine has acquired an unpleasant odor, you need to say goodbye to this habit as soon as possible.
As noted in a publication in the journal “Women’s Health” a vaginal douche not only cleanses the intimate area but also disrupts the bacterial microflora of the entire genital area. Because of this, unpleasant odors do not disappear but even intensify.If you are concerned about an unpleasant smell in the intimate area, you need to see a doctor and do not resort to washing the vagina.
Use Of Medications, Supplements, And Vitamins
Finally, it happens that urine acquires a pungent odor due to flavorings used in the manufacture of various medicines, dietary supplements, and vitamins. As a result, their taste becomes more pleasant, but this benefit can come with side effects, changing the smell and color of our urine.Also, a similar problem may be a side effect of drugs that affect the functioning of our organs in different ways.
In any case, it will never be superfluous to consult your doctor. Only he or she will tell you if bad-smelling urine is normal or if it is a problem that needs to be addressed.