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Urinalysis is one of the most common and useful tests in clinical practice, as it can provide a wealth of information about a person’s general health.
With this simple procedure, a physician can diagnose a wide range of medical conditions – from urinary tract infections to systemic diseases such as diabetes.
The most common test is requested to diagnose possible urine infections by looking for leukocytes, red blood cells or bacteria in the urine, indicative of a possible infection.
Other critical aspects such as the concentration and balance of certain chemicals in the body are also evaluated. For example, proteinuria, i.e. protein in the urine, can be a sign of kidney disorders and additional pathologies, such as hypertensive diseases or diabetes.
Also, the presence of glucose in the urine may mean that sugar control in the body is not effective or that diabetes is already at an advanced stage. A urine test may also reveal other changes in metabolism and hormonal imbalances:
- ketones in the urine may mean that the human body is using its fats and not carbohydrates as a source of energy. using its fats and not carbohydrates as a source of energy, which may indicate a sign of uncontrolled diabetes, or that the patient is or that the patient is fasting for a prolonged period of time,
- bilirubin and urobilinogen may also appear in the urinalysis due to liver diseases, such as hepatitis and cirrhosis,
- Another aspect that is monitored is the electrolyte status and acid-base balance. With a problematic kidney or diseases affecting the metabolism, too much acidity or freshness will appear in the urine,
- and traces of toxic and unwanted substances may also be found.
Just to give a few examples.
Urinalysis is a common practice, simple and easy to carry out and can provide the doctor with valuable information to effectively information to be able to detect pathologies present in the patient in an effective way.