What findings related to urine suggest the kidneys are experiencing significant stress?

Changes in urination frequency or the color and odor of the urine despite adequate water intake

The kidneys are one of the body's primary filtering organs, dedicated to scrubbing waste products from the blood before excreting them primarily through urine. When the kidneys are under stress due to a high concentration of waste or a general systemic burden, the characteristics of the resulting urine can change noticeably. Significant indicators of this strain include variations in the typical frequency of urination, perhaps occurring much more or less often than usual. Moreover, the physical appearance of the urine can be affected; it might appear unusually dark, or it might develop a strong, persistent odor. Crucially, these changes are considered signs of stress if they persist even when the individual ensures they are consuming adequate amounts of water, suggesting the kidneys are having to work excessively hard to concentrate and remove the waste products present in the bloodstream.