It is a well-known medical fact that a urine sample gives much information about the health status of an individual. It is quite important as it indicates whether one is healthy, unhealthy, or suffers from infectious diseases. By understanding your urine pH level, you can take steps to improve your overall well-being.
This guide will teach you everything you need about urine pH testing, including the results and lifestyle.
What Is PH in Urine Test?
Urine is primarily a waste product of the body and it is also a combination of water, salts, and other unwanted materials and compounds the body doesn’t require. The chemical balance of these compounds largely affects the acidity levels of the urine sample. These acidity levels are what medical specialists measure in pH.
The pH or the urine pH level (as it is commonly termed) refers to the measurement of the acidity or alkalinity of a urine sample. Thus, a urine pH level test measures the extent to which a urine sample is either alkaline or acidic.
Doctors often use the urine pH scale to measure the pH level of a urine sample.
What Does PH in Urine Mean?
A urine pH level indicates the extent to which a urine sample is alkaline or acidic. This helps the healthcare provider to know if you are suffering from an infection or other health conditions.
What Is the Average PH Level?
According to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, the average pH of urine is 6.0. However, it can be within 4.5 to 8.0. However, if the urine pH level is higher than 5.0 it is termed acidic, but if it goes beyond 8.0 it is alkaline.
As much as this is the standard measurement, numerous laboratories have different measurement standards regarding the average pH of urine. For example, for Vivoo, 6, 5,5 and 5 pH indicates acidic, 6,5 and 7 pH indicates optimal and 7.5, 8, 8.5 and 9 pH indicates alkaline urine.
What Is a Healthy Urine PH?
As mentioned earlier, the standard average pH of urine is 6.0. Thus, a healthy urine pH level will be within this range.
What Does High PH in Urine Mean?
A high urine pH level could indicate numerous health conditions such as:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Imbalanced oxygen levels
- Some other related health conditions
Plus, your diet plays a major role in determining whether you will have an acidic or alkaline urine sample. For instance, if you take more of veggies and fruits than meat, your urine is more likely to be alkaline. If it is otherwise, you are more likely to have acidic urine when tested on a urine pH scale. Therefore, eating alkaline is important for urine pH balance.
Is High PH in Urine Dangerous?
High PH in urine is not dangerous in itself. However, it can be a sign of a condition that may require treatment, such as a UTI or some types of kidney stones.
Be sure to eat more nuts, veggies, and fruits. Soda, sugary foods, and other types of processed foods can make your urine acidic and this could really increase your urine pH level. The more acidic your urine is, the higher the pH level.
So, if you are looking to beat the nature of your urine pH level you should consider increasing your fruits and veggies intake. Natural foods will always do the trick when attempting to lower your pH level.
What Causes High Urine PH Level?
Causes of a high urine pH level include:
- Kidney stones
- Urinary tract infections (when there’s a urinary infection, it also spikes the urine pH level.
- Kidney stones
- Stomach pumping or gastric suction
- Frequent vomiting
These health conditions are quite capable of causing the urine pH level to increase and fortunately, urine pH testing is one such way to assess your health status and diagnose them. The more acidic your urine is, the higher the pH level.
What Causes Low Urine PH Level?
A low urine pH level can be caused based on the following condition:
- Diarrhea
- Starvation
- Too much acid present in body fluids (otherwise called metabolic acidiosis)
- Diabetic ketoacidiosis (a very serious diabetes condition in which the body produces too many blood acids)
However, if you suspect you have a low urine pH level, you should have a balanced diet for a few days before going for a urine test. As mentioned earlier, a diet high in fruits and veggies can increase your pH level but one high in meat, fish, cheese, and other similar products can decrease your pH level.
Thus, you have to be disciplined in striking a balance so as to a pH balance in urine.
Are There Any Risks Involved in Urine PH Testing?
There isn’t. It is entirely safe.
Good news: you can now carry out a pH urine test in the comfort of your home with Vivoo! With Vivoo’s home urine test, you can get real-time data on 9 key parameters – from urine PH to calcium, from oxidative stress to sodium, and more. Get your results in 90 seconds no need to ship samples to the lab! Plus, the Vivoo App provides actionable nutrition and lifestyle advice specific to your needs! Now, what’s better than that?
