Measuring the normal pH of urine is a test carried out to see the acid and alkaline levels of urine. From there, you will see information about a person’s health. People who consume meat more often, for example, will have a urine pH that is more acidic than vegetarians.
Normal urine pH examination is usually carried out to detect diseases related to abnormalities in acid levels in the body. Apart from that, urine pH levels that are too acidic or too alkaline will also affect your risk of developing kidney stones.
What is the normal urine pH value?
Normal urine pH values range from 4.5 to 8.0. However, the average value is 6.0 and the neutral urine pH value is 7.0. Urine that has a pH below 5.0 is acidic, while a pH above 8.0 is alkaline.
However, each laboratory may have its own normal values. However, it will not differ much from the range mentioned above.
One of the factors that most influences urine pH is diet. So, before assessing the laboratory results of the urine examination, the doctor will ask about your daily diet.
If the urine pH is abnormal, it is a sign of this disease
If the results of the examination show that the urine pH value is below normal, then this is a sign that you are more likely to get kidney stones. The risk of other diseases that also increases if the urine pH is acidic is:
- Acidosis
- Dehydration
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Diarrhea
- Starving
Meanwhile, if the urine pH reads higher than the normal value, then there is an indication that you are experiencing the following disorders:
- Kidney failure
- Renal tubular acidosis
- Pyloric obstruction or narrowing of the valve located between the stomach and small intestine
- Alkalosis respiratori
- Urinary tract infection
- Throws up
Urine pH levels can also be higher than normal if you have recently undergone gastric suctioning.
The pH value of urine is not the only reference for diagnosing disease. So, the doctor will still carry out a complete examination. If your diet causes your urine pH to become abnormal, your doctor may advise you to change your diet to a healthier and more balanced one.
Urine test to find out what disease?
A urine pH test will be carried out if the doctor assesses that you are at risk of developing kidney stones. Several types of kidney stones can form in the body, depending on the acidity level of the urine.
Apart from that, this examination is also recommended by doctors if you need to take medication to treat urinary tract infections. Doctors usually use the results of this examination to choose the type of medication that is most effective and appropriate for your condition.
Some drugs are more effective when given when the urine pH is acidic. However, some do the opposite, namely they work more effectively when the urine pH is alkaline.
Procedure for checking urine pH
Before the urine pH examination procedure is carried out, the doctor will instruct you to temporarily stop consuming drugs that can affect pH levels. Even so, you should not change your daily diet before the examination, unless it is recommended by your doctor.
If you suddenly change your diet, the results obtained from checking your urine pH may be inaccurate. So, it will be difficult for doctors to find out the cause of changes in pH or the pH value of urine that you have every day.
To take samples used in the examination, the doctor will usually instruct you to clean the genital area first. The goal is to prevent urine from being contaminated by bacteria around the genital area.
After the urine test, the laboratory staff will take a sample of your urine and start carrying out the examination. Urine analysis has three main components that are carried out during the examination, namely:
• Visual inspection
The first examination that will be carried out on a urine sample is a visual examination. The doctor will look at the color of the urine and check for other components, such as blood, mixed in it. The doctor will also check the consistency of the urine, which in some people, may appear foamy.
• Dipstick test
As the name suggests, that is dipstick, this examination is carried out by dipping a piece of paper the size of a toothpick into the urine sample. The paper will change color, indicating that the urine has an acidic or alkaline pH.
• Microscopic examination
Finally, the doctor will perform a microscopic examination to see the possibility of red blood cell particles, white blood cells, or crystals in the urine. Under normal conditions, these three components are not present in urine. So when found, this condition indicates a health problem that needs to be recognized.
For patients who undergo it, the urine examination procedure is very simple. Because, you just need to urinate as usual when you want to give a sample. No side effects will occur after this examination is carried out.
Read Also
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Notes from SehatQ
Normal urine pH values range from 4.5 to 8.0, but the average value is 6.0 and the neutral urine pH value is 7.0. If urine pH is below or exceeds normal limits, this can be a sign of a serious health problem.
How to measure whether urine pH is normal or not can be done using various methods. There are several ways to check urine pH levels, including visual examination, dipstick test, and microscopic examination.
