What You Should Know About Blood in Urine (Hematuria) Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Understanding Blood in Urine (Hematuria)

Finding blood in your urine can be alarming. However, while hematuria should always be evaluated, it isnt necessarily a sign of serious illness. This article explores the common causes of blood in urine and what to expect from testing and treatments.

What Does Blood in Urine Look Like?

The amount of visible blood can range from mild pink, red or brown urine to visibly bloody pee. Sometimes the urine looks normal but a routine urinalysis detects occult (invisible to the naked eye) blood. The severity depends on the underlying cause and location of bleeding.

What Causes Blood in Urine?

There are several possible causes of hematuria, including:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Kidney infections (pyelonephritis)
• Kidney stones
• Enlarged prostate (common in older men)
• Cancer of the kidney, bladder, prostate or urethra
• Vigorous exercise
• Medications like blood thinners or chemotherapy drugs
• Trauma to the kidneys, bladder or urethra

When to See a Doctor

You should make an urgent same or next day appointment with your healthcare provider if you experience:

• Large amounts of visible blood in urine
• Clotting in the urine
• Difficult or painful urination
• Back/abdominal pain alongside hematuria
• Fever, chills, vomiting or other concerning symptoms
• History of cancer, frequent UTIs or kidney problems

Even small amounts of blood with no other symptoms warrants a non-urgent medical evaluation within a week or two to determine the cause.

Diagnosing Blood in Urine

Finding and treating the underlying reason for hematuria is key. Your provider will likely begin with questions on your medical history and symptoms. A physical exam checks for enlarged prostate or bladder tenderness.

Urinalysis

A urine sample is sent to the lab for an analysis under the microscope. This confirms if blood is present and can detect issues like infections, crystals from kidney stones or cancer cells.

Cystoscopy

In this procedure a thin tube with a camera is inserted into the urethra to view the bladder and urethra. This checks for cancer, stones, inflammation and other issues that could cause bleeding.

Imaging Tests

Your doctor may order ultrasounds, CT scans or MRIs of the kidneys and urinary system to identify the source of bleeding or rule out cancer, blockages or trauma.

Ureteroscopy

A thin lit scope is inserted through the urethra and bladder to closely inspect the ureters and kidneys for the bleeding trigger. It can also treat kidney stones.

Biopsy

If any abnormalities are spotted during testing, a tissue sample will get analyzed in the lab to check for cancer cells.

Treating Blood in Urine

Treatment aims to resolve the underlying cause of hematuria, which varies by the origin. Possible treatments may include:

Treating Infections

Infections like UTIs or kidney infections causing bloody urine are treated with antibiotics. Drink plenty of fluids and avoid irritating the urinary tract until the drugs clear the bacteria.

Passing Kidney Stones

Small stones may pass naturally by drinking extra fluids. Larger ones may be shattered with ultrasound waves or retrieved with ureteroscopy. Pain relievers ease discomfort passing stones.

Surgery for Enlarged Prostate

An enlarged prostate pressing on the urethra/bladder requiring surgery can lead to blood in urine in men. Minimally invasive procedures reduce prostate bulk to alleviate urinary symptoms.

Treating Cancer

Cancers found early have the highest chance of remission and cure. Treatment plans like chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy or surgery are customized to your specific cancer type and stage.

Medication Changes

If medications like blood thinners or chemotherapy drugs are the likely culprit, your doctor may adjust dosages or switch prescriptions to resolve medication-induced hematuria.

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Recurrent Hematuria

Certain healthy lifestyle adjustments can help prevent repeat instances of blood in urine after your specific trigger has been treated:

Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of fluids dilutes urine, preventing UTIs and flushing out kidney stones before they grow large enough to be problematic.

Urinate When Needed

Dont hold it in as retaining urine raises infection risk. Allow your bladder to empty fully each time to discourage bacterial growth.

Practice Good Hygiene

Women can reduce UTIs by wiping front-to-back and avoiding fruity soaps/sprays around the urethra which can irritate the area.

Take Medications as Directed

Carefully follow instructions for any medications tied to hematuria risks, monitoring for side effects. Report any concerns promptly to your healthcare provider.

When to Worry About Blood in Urine

While blood in urine doesnt necessarily indicate serious illness, certain circumstances do require prompt reevaluation:

• Persistent visible blood after treatment for initial cause
• Recurrent or worsening hematuria
• Finding blood clots in urine
• Associated symptoms like back/abdominal pain or trouble urinating
• Risk factors like frequent UTIs or family cancer history

Routine urinalysis testing can also detect occult blood invisible to the naked eye. Repeat exposure to things that commonly cause hematuria like certain medications, intense exercise or dehydration may require medication adjustments to resolve.

Seeking Ongoing Care

Working closely with your healthcare provider is key for both finding and addressing the reasons behind blood in urine through testing, treatment and lifestyle changes. Alert them to any recurrent or worsening bladder/urinary symptoms requiring reevaluation.

Tracking details like the color/amount of blood, associated symptoms, contributing factors and medication use between visits can also help guide appropriate next steps when dealing with repeat hematuria.

The Takeaway

Discovering blood in your urine can be unsettling but isnt necessarily indicative of serious disease. A variety of benign conditions can cause bleeding like UTIs, kidney stones or vigorous exercise. However, hematuria warrants medical assessment for underlying reasons.

Based on exam findings, urinalysis and possible imaging tests, an appropriate treatment plan can address the cause. Lifestyle adjustments may help prevent recurrence once any underlying trigger has been resolved.

Stay alert to symptoms requiring follow up care and maintain open communication with your healthcare providers throughout evaluation and treatment. In many cases, blood in urine resolves without complication under proper medical guidance.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.