Description

It can be scary to see blood in the urine, also called hematuria. In many cases, the cause is harmless. But the blood in the urine can also be a sign of a serious illness.

If you can see the blood, is called gross hematuria. The blood that cannot be seen with the naked eye is called microscopic hematuria. It is such a small amount that can only be seen under a microscope, when a laboratory test of the urine. Either way, it's important to find out the cause of the bleeding.

The treatment depends on the cause.

Symptoms

Blood in the urine may look pink, red or cola-colored. Red blood cells cause the urine to change color. You only need a small amount of blood which in turn urine red.

The bleeding often is not painful. But if the blood clots are passed in the urine, which can do damage.

When to see a doctor

See a health care provider when the urine seems to have blood on it.

Red colored urine is not always caused by the red blood cells. Some medications can cause your urine color red, like a medicine called phenazopyridine that relieves the symptoms of the urinary tract. Certain foods can also turn urine red, including beets and rhubarb.

It can be difficult to know whether a change in color of the urine is caused by the blood. That is why it is always best to get a checkup.

Causes

This condition occurs when the kidneys or other parts of the urinary tract to let the blood cells to leak into the urine. Different issues that can cause this leak to happen, including:

  • Urinary tract infections (Uti). These occur when bacteria penetrate into the duct through which urine exits the body, called the urethra. Then, the bacteria multiply in the bladder. Urinary tract infections can cause bleeding, which causes the urine to red, pink or brown. With a urinary tract infection , you can also have a strong desire to urinate that lasts a long time. You may have burning and pain while urinating. The urine may have a strong odour also.
  • The infection of the kidneys. This type of urinary tract infection, also called pyelonephritis . Kidney infections can occur when bacteria enter in the kidneys from the blood circulation. Infections may also occur when the bacteria move to the kidneys from a pair of tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder, called the ureters. Kidney infections can cause the same urine-related symptoms that other urinary tract infections can be. But they are more likely to cause fever and pain in the back, side or groin.
  • Of the bladder or kidney stone.The minerals in the urine can form crystals in the walls of the kidneys or bladder. Over time, the crystals may be small, hard stones. The stones are often painless. But can hurt a lot if they cause an obstruction or out of the body through the urine. Bladder or kidney stones can cause blood in the urine, which can be seen with the naked eye, as well as bleeding that can be seen only in the laboratory.
  • Enlargement of the prostate. The prostate gland is just below the bladder and surrounds the upper part of the urethra. Often becomes larger toward the middle ages. Then, place pressure on the urethra, in part, by blocking the flow of urine. With an enlarged prostate, you may have trouble urinating, urgency, or long-term need to urinate, or blood in the urine. The infection of the prostate, called prostatitis, can cause the same symptoms.
  • Kidney disease.Blood in the urine, which can be seen only in the laboratory is a common symptom of a kidney disease called glomerulonephritis. With this disease, the tiny filters in the kidneys remove waste from the blood is inflamed. Glomerulonephritis may be part of a condition that affects the entire body, such as diabetes. Or it can happen on its own.
  • Cancer. Blood in the urine, which can be seen with the naked eye can be a sign of advanced kidney, bladder, or prostate cancer. These types of cancer may not cause symptoms in the afternoon, when the treatments could work best.
  • Inherited diseases. A genetic condition that affects the red blood cells, called anemia sickle cell anemia, can cause blood in the urine. The blood cells may be visible or too small to see. A condition that damages the small blood vessels in the kidneys, the so-called Alport syndrome, can also cause blood in the urine.
  • The renal injury. A blow or other injury to your kidneys from an accident or contact sports can cause blood to show up in the urine.
  • Drugs . The anti-cancer drug cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), and the antibiotic penicillin are linked to blood in the urine. Medicines that prevent blood clots are also linked to blood in the urine. These include medicines that keep blood cells called platelets from sticking together, such as aspirin to relieve the pain. The blood thinning medicines such as heparin, can also be a cause.
  • The intense exercise.Blood in the urine may occur after you play contact sports, like football. It may be linked to damage in the urinary bladder caused by getting hit. Blood in the urine can also occur with long-distance sports, such as running a marathon, but it is less clear why. It may be linked to bladder damage, or other reasons that do not involve an injury. When hard exercise makes the blood in the urine, which may disappear on their own within a week. If you see blood in the urine after exercise, don't assume it's about exercising. Consult your health care provider.

Of the bladder or kidney stone. The minerals in the urine can form crystals in the walls of the kidneys or bladder. Over time, the crystals may be small, hard stones.

The stones are often painless. But can hurt a lot if they cause an obstruction or out of the body through the urine. Bladder or kidney stones can cause blood in the urine, which can be seen with the naked eye, as well as bleeding that can be seen only in the laboratory.

Kidney disease. Blood in the urine, which can be seen only in the laboratory is a common symptom of a kidney disease called glomerulonephritis. With this disease, the tiny filters in the kidneys remove waste from the blood is inflamed.

Glomerulonephritis may be part of a condition that affects the entire body, such as diabetes. Or it can happen on its own.

The intense exercise. Blood in the urine may occur after you play contact sports, like football. It may be linked to damage in the urinary bladder caused by getting hit. Blood in the urine can also occur with long-distance sports, such as running a marathon, but it is less clear why. It may be linked to bladder damage, or other reasons that do not involve an injury. When hard exercise makes the blood in the urine, which may disappear on their own within a week.

If you see blood in the urine after exercise, don't assume it's about exercising. Consult your health care provider.

Often the cause of hematuria is unknown.

Risk factors

Almost anyone can have red blood cells in the urine. This includes children and adolescents. Some of the things you may increase the risk of blood in the urine are:

  • Age. Middle-aged and older men may be more likely to have hematuria due to an enlargement of the prostate gland. The risk of some types of cancer that can cause blood in the urine may also rise after the age of 50 years.
  • Urinary tract infection. This is one of the main causes of the blood, which can be seen in the children's urine.
  • The history of the family. The chances of having blood in the urine can upload if one or more members of the family have had kidney disease.
  • Certain medications. Some analgesics, anticoagulants, and antibiotics can increase the risk of blood in the urine.
  • The intense exercise. The marathon runner of the hematuria is an alias for the hematuria. Contact sports can increase the risk as well.

Diagnosis

These tests and exams play a key role in finding a cause for blood in the urine:

  • Physical exam. This includes a talk with a health care provider about your health history.
  • Urine tests. These can be used to diagnose blood in the urine. It can also be used for weeks or months later to see if your urine still has blood in it. The analysis of urine can also search for a urinary tract infection or of minerals that cause kidney stones.
  • Imaging tests. An imaging test is often necessary to find the cause of blood in the urine. You might need a ct scan or an mri or an ultrasound.
  • The cystoscopy. A health care provider, threads of a narrow tube equipped with a tiny camera into the bladder to check for signs of disease.

Sometimes, the cause of blood in the urine can not be found. In that case, you may need regular follow-up testing, especially if you have risk factors for bladder cancer. These risk factors include smoking, radiation therapy to the pelvis or exposure to certain chemicals.

Treatment

The treatment for blood in the urine depends on the cause. Treatment may include:

  • Take antibiotics to clear a urinary tract infection.
  • Trying a medication prescribed to reduce the enlarged prostate.
  • Have a treatment that uses sound waves to break up bladder or kidney stones.

In some cases, no treatment is necessary.

If you receive treatment, consult your dealer after this to make sure that no more blood in the urine.

Preparing for your appointment

You can start by making an appointment with your health care professional. Or you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in disorders of the urinary tract, which is called a urologist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Make a list of:

  • Their symptoms. Include any of the symptoms, including some that do not seem to be related to the reason for your check-up. Note when your symptoms began also.
  • Key medical information. This includes other conditions for which you are being treated. Note if the bladder or kidney disease in your family, too.
  • All medications, vitamins or supplements that you take. Include the dose for each one. The dose is the amount you take.
  • Questions to ask your health care provider.

Some questions about the blood in the urine are:

  • What could be the cause of my symptoms?
  • What tests do I need?
  • How long will this condition last?
  • What are my treatment options?
  • I have other health problems. How can I best manage them together?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What websites do you suggest?

Do any other question too.

What to expect from your doctor

Your provider is likely to ask you questions, such as:

  • Do you have pain when you urinate?
  • Do you see blood in your urine only sometimes or all the time?
  • When you see blood in your urine — when you start peeing, towards the end of his stream of urine, or all the time you're peeing?
  • They are also of passage of clots of blood when you pee? What size and shape they are?
  • Do you smoke?
  • They are exposed to chemicals in the workplace? What kind?
  • Have you had radiation therapy?
Symptoms and treatment of Blood in urine (hematuria)