Many possible reasons for smelly urine

Q: Some days my urine smells like ammonia.

Then it goes away for a few days. Should I get checked for bladder cancer? — Kelly-ann C., Bethesda, Maryland

A: Unless there’s blood in your urine and it’s painful to urinate, you probably don’t have bladder or kidney issues. It’s more likely that the ammonia smell in your urine is caused by dehydration, medications or supplements, eating asparagus or a urinary tract infection.

Urine usually has a weak smell, but when the chemicals in your body’s liquid waste flow become more concentrated, so does both the color and the smell. That’s why deep-yellow urine is a sure sign that you need to drink more water; you want it pale or colorless.

Foods high in vitamin

B-6 — like salmon or turkey, or veggies like asparagus or garlic that contain the sulfur compound methyl mercaptan — probably are the most common cause of stinky urine, but it also could be from starting or stopping medications and/or vitamins, or even stress!

Q: My doc says I should get a heart rate monitor and use it when I work out. Is that really beneficial? — Frank D., Reno, Nevada

A: Our guess is that your doc is concerned about your heart. Maybe using the monitor will help you see something that he or she has been trying to get across to you.

Whether you use a wristwatch-style monitor or strap one around your chest, these high-tech tools can:

Help you exercise safely.

Make training more efficient.

Tell you if you’re not training hard enough.

Alert you if you’re training too hard.

You can calculate your maximum exercising heart rate by subtracting your age from 220. And for most aerobic and strength-building routines you want to stay between 80 and 85 percent of your maximum heart rate. Ask your doc if that’s safe for you, and work up to it.

The Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Michael Lauer says the most important factor in measuring heart health is your heart-rate reduction following exercise.

Once you stop your workout, your heart rate should drop by about 20 beats during the first minute. Says Dr. Lauer, folks who have a reduction of 12 beats or fewer during that first minute are at higher risk of suffering a heart attack later in life.

Ask your doc about establishing your target heart rate for working out ; then you’ll make sure you get all the amazing physical and emotional benefits that come from regular exercise.

Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare.com.