Modern methods of treating diseases are very effective, but subject to accurate diagnosis. Analysis of such biomaterials as urine is one of the components of this process. Without examining the urine, in many cases it is impossible to determine the exact diagnosis. For an objective analysis, it should not have extraneous odors, distorted color and composition. In order to avoid these factors, the analysis must be properly prepared, that is, follow the doctor's recommendations and find out what you can not do before passing the urine.
Urine
Urine (urine in Latin) is one of the waste materials (excrement) of the human body. Urine is secreted by the kidneys. Chemical compounds from cells are released in them, reabsorption and blood filtration occur. As a result of these processes, urine is formed, it is removed from the kidneys into the bladder, and from it in general from the body. Its composition is influenced by a person’s lifestyle, how much he moves, sleeps, what he eats, what he drinks, smokes or not, how much time is in the fresh air, etc. Since so many factors affect the composition, it is important to know that you can’t eat before giving urine.
The properties
When urine is normal, it is light yellow, transparent. 99% - water, contains salts (phosphates, sulfates, chlorides), decay products (nitrogenous) of substances containing protein (hippuric acid, uric acid and others), inorganic substances (anions, cations). The composition of urine is a very sensitive indicator of the most varied abnormalities in the body. A competent, qualified doctor will warn the patient before giving blood and urine what is forbidden, what is allowed to eat and drink, so that the results are correct and there is no need to repeat this procedure.
Urinalysis
A comprehensive (comprehensive) laboratory study reveals the physical and chemical characteristics of the biomaterial, having studied which it is possible to establish the presence or absence of diseases. Since the general analysis provides a fairly voluminous information about the state of the body, it is one of the components of complex diagnostic studies.
As a rule, urine collection is carried out in the morning (from 7 to 10 in the morning), since urine must be in the body for at least 4 hours before collection (it is better to accumulate all night). Morning urine is the best material for analysis, the results of which will be the most objective.
It is contraindicated for women to give urine during menstruation, foreign substances will get into it, and the results will be unreliable.
Increased physical activity is contraindicated about a week before the study. They will lead to the appearance of protein in the material, and this will adversely affect the result. It is very good to abstain from stress (if possible), they can also change the composition of urine.
Indicators for decoding a complete urinalysis
The process is investigated: the degree of transparency, how dense color, specific gravity, acidity coefficient. The content of the following elements is also determined:
- hemoglobin;
- squirrel;
- pigment bile;
- glucose
- ketone bodies;
- inorganic substances;
- epithelial cells (which may be in the urinary ducts) and blood (red blood cells, white blood cells and others).
All of the listed signs and elements, their norm or deviation from the norm confirm or refute any pathology. In order for the results to be reliable, and not distorted, on the eve of the test, you do not need to take what you can not eat before the delivery of urine.
Circumstances in which a urine test is prescribed
Such an analysis is necessary if it is necessary to additionally monitor the state of the urinary system and study its possible pathologies, monitor the body during the disease and the degree of influence on the treatment of the medication taken. Urinalysis is required for medical examination and various preventive measures.
Urine Disease
According to the results of studies, tumors, diseases of the prostate gland, bladder, kidneys, pyelonephritis can be detected. A disease such as diabetes (seemingly far from the urinary system and kidneys) can also be determined by the results of this study.
Medication
Before taking urine tests, you can not take any medications that change the physical and chemical parameters of urine, color, smell. If the medicine was taken as prescribed by the doctor, then stop taking it 12 hours (in other cases 48 hours) before collecting the biomaterial. When a doctor has prescribed a urinalysis, the patient should inform him of what medicines he is taking, with what frequency.
The use of vitamin-mineral complexes also changes the color and composition of urine. For example, vitamin B 12 dyes it orange (this is an abnormal color). Ascorbic acid changes the volume of oxalate salts in urine.
Medications of the nitrofuran group change the color of urine to brown (sometimes rusty), metronidazole to dark, rifampicin to red. And color is a sign of a norm or deviation from the norm.
The use of diuretic drugs must be postponed, since after taking them the patient will often go to the toilet, urine should accumulate in the body for 4 hours (no less).
What food is better not to eat on the eve of the test
Visual methods for the study of urine is an examination of its color and transparency, the determination of smell. Abnormal turbidity, color, or odor may be misinterpreted by laboratory personnel. Therefore, it should be understood that you can’t eat foods that change its transparency, color, smell before giving urine.
So, for example, the use of beets will color urine in raspberry color, carrots - in orange. Blueberries will make dark, asparagus, rhubarb, black licorice greenish. Watermelon, eaten the day before, will cleanse and brighten the urine greatly, in addition, increase the amount of nitrates.
If the patient eats a lot of sweets before the tests, the biomaterial contains a high glucose content, the doctor will be forced to prescribe additional tests to confirm a possible diagnosis. The same effect will give the use of flour products, dairy products, cereals. Limit or remove the menu should be salty, pickles will provoke an increase in phosphate in the urine.
It should be remembered that you can not eat a variety of condiments before passing urine (especially with strong odors): garlic, horseradish, onion, spices, mustard, bay leaf. Urine will have a pungent odor that is very different from normal. This is a very important indicator of norm or non-norm. An uncharacteristic urine odor proves diabetes mellitus, the development of inflammation (for example, if there is a strong smell of ammonia).
The collection and analysis of urine according to the Nechiporenko method involves the delivery of material on an empty stomach. In this case, the patient will be warned that you can not eat anything before giving urine for 8 hours. In case of exhaustion of the patient (for example, after a complex illness), you can eat a little, but with the analyzes, give the laboratory a list of eaten food for half a day.
In a biochemical study of urine 1 day before the procedure, exclude products containing vitamin C (currants, Brussels sprouts, bell peppers, Victoria, wild rose).
Urinalysis according to Zemnitsky does not prescribe restrictions on food and drinks. Two days before the urine is submitted for analysis to the level of catecholamines, remove pickled herring, cheese, bananas and chocolate from the menu.
Limit should be taking marinade, fried, greasy, smoked food, honey. These products can also change the composition of urine.
The opinion that lemon or pomegranate eaten on the eve of the procedure will make the urine composition normal (even if the patient ate or drank previously not recommended foods or drinks), erroneously, modern medicine has not confirmed this.
What drinks to refrain from
A large volume of any liquid (not only water) can discolor urine, so you can not drink a lot before passing urine. A color other than normal will lead to false results. Do not drink sparkling water, and if you drink, then ordinary.
Needless to say that you can not take alcohol. From it, the amount of carbohydrates and proteins will change. Alcohol, which has penetrated the bloodstream, enhances the function of the kidneys in removing fluid from the body, so urine can have an excessive amount of toxins. The results are unreliable. Alcohol, ingested with alcohol, causes thirst, a person drinks water uncontrollably, this will change the color and composition of urine. The same recommendations apply to beer and low alcohol drinks. Do not take alcohol and beer for two days before the procedure.
If the patient could not resist and drank vodka, wine, beer, then the doctor should be warned about this, then he will definitely not be treated for diseases that he does not have.
If a urine test is carried out to check the hormonal system, then the day before collecting the material, you can not drink coffee and tea.
The composition of modern juices and juice (or juice) drinks includes flavors, preservatives and colorings. These substances are obtained chemically, they can change the normal composition of urine, its color. Before analysis, they should not be drunk.
Pregnant women
For women in the situation, recommendations on food and drinks are the same as the rest of the patients, therefore, that it is impossible before giving urine to pregnant women, then not everyone. But it is better for these women to reduce the amount of protein food.
For pregnant women, before the procedure, it is not recommended to take foods and drinks containing caffeine, nitroglycerin, ethanol (since there will be an increased adrenaline).
Particular attention to women in position should be paid to taking diuretics. The day before collecting urine, you must stop taking them, they will provoke increased sodium in the urine. Results will be unreliable. As for these women, the supervising doctor will clearly instruct them that they should not eat before taking a urine test.
Smoking
Quitting this bad habit will definitely improve the composition of urine. Right before collecting the material (about an hour) smoking is contraindicated. The result will be as accurate as possible, you will not need to retake urine for analysis.