Q . My urine has been very dark yellow for over a year. It does not seem to matter how much I drink - 5 litres a day and it's still dark. Could this be another problem apart from dehydration? I live in a hot climate but am otherwise in good health. A. You are quite correct to suspect dehydration as it is the most common cause of dark urine.
In addition stress can have direct effects on the skin (rashes, hives, atopic dermatitis, the gastrointestinal system (GERD, peptic ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis) and can contribute to insomnia and degenerative neurological disorders like Parkinsonâs disease.
Because caffeine and stress can both elevate cortisol levels, high amounts of caffeine (or stress) can lead to the negative health effects associated with prolonged elevated levels of cortisol (which you can read about here).