Sometimes it isn’t easy to determine if symptoms are a sign of minor or more severe illness. Blood in the urine, a condition called hematuria, is one of those symptoms that could indicate a more severe disease, or it could be the result of something as minor as strenuous exercise or a urinary tract infection. These issues can be quickly resolved and cured.
Some foods like beets, rhubarb, and berries turn your urine red, so you might struggle to determine the cause of bloody urine unless you talk with a doctor and peruse the information below.
What is Hematuria?
As previously noted, hematuria occurs when blood cells become present in the urine. These blood cells can be quite visible, a condition referred to as gross hematuria. Conversely, microscopic hematuria occurs when you can’t visibly see the blood cells unless it is examined with a microscope.
More specifically, if you have hematuria, your kidneys or other parts of your urinary tract system will allow blood cells to enter your urine. If these blood cells are present, they will most likely take on the colors red, pink or brown, and keep in mind, it takes only a small amount of blood to produce red urine.
Depending on your age, any recent infections, family history, medication consumption, and or exercise regimen, you may be a heightened risk of experiencing this condition. While bloody urine is not typically painful, it does usually occur without any other signs or symptoms, so be proactive about your health, and consult a doctor if you experience this.
What Causes Blood in Urine?
There are many possible culprits for blood showing up in your urine, but here are a few that might shed some light on how this condition occurs. Even though both men and women experience these health issues, Harvard Medical School found that men are more at risk for developing Hematuria.
Bladder or Kidney Stone
Cancer
Enlarged Prostate
Exercise
Glomerulonephritis
Kidney Infection (pyelonephritis)
Medications
Urinary Tract Infection
Signs and Symptoms of Hematuria
How is Hematuria Diagnosed?
In order to diagnose this condition, Mayo Clinic and other experts recommend examining the entire urinary tract system. This requires a physical exam with a digital rectal exam or pelvic exam, urine tests, imaging tests, and a cystoscopy.
1
Physical exams are used to explore your medical history, possible causes for blood in your urine, an overview of your body, and discussion for next steps.
2
Urine tests (urinalysis) are used to determine if there is blood in the urine. If the test is positive, clinicians will typically employ a second test to check for any red blood cells in the urine. These tests also double for checking for urinary tract infections and minerals that can cause kidney stones.
3
Imaging tests ultimately determine the cause of hematuria and are usually completed in the form of a CT scan, MRI scan, or an ultrasound exam.
4
A cystoscopy is a bit more invasive and involves your doctor feeding a tube into your bladder. The tube has a tiny camera attached to it and allows the doctor to examine your bladder and urethra more thoroughly.
Blood in Urine Treatment
Treatment for hematuria depends on the condition that is causing blood in the urine. Antibiotics clear up urinary tract infections, prescription medications shrink an enlarged prostate, or shock wave therapy breaks up bladder or kidney stones.
Altogether, treatment for hematuria varies and in some cases, no treatment at all is necessary. If your condition does require treatment, follow up with a doctor to make sure red blood are no longer present in your urine or urinary tract system.
Natural Treatments and Home Remedies for Hematuria
If traditional measures are not for you, try one of these home remedies. With just some simple ingredients, you can make your own natural treatment and begin the healing process.
Coconut water drink
What you'll need:
Mix these two ingredients and drink twice a day to help fight infections.
Pumpkin drink
What you'll need:
Mash the pumpkin into a paste and then add sugar cane juice. Drink this immediately after making for optimal results.
Barley water
What you'll need:
Boil the barley in water for about 6 minutes, and then divide the contents into 3 drinks. Drink this 3 times a day.
Bitter gourd juice
Bitter gourd juice comes in natural form, pill form, or can be eaten. The juice is what will help remedy urinary tract infections while simultaneously removing harsh toxins from your body.
Meat soup
What you'll need:
After cooking the meat and draining any excess fat, mix these ingredients together in a large pot, boil, and let simmer for about 1 ½ hours. Ingredients vary on an individual basis but do NOT add any spices or oil because they can actually worsen your condition.
Lemon tea
What you'll need:
Mix these two ingredients together and sip mixture. Lemon tea is most effective if you drink it about every 2 hours.
Baking soda drink
What you'll need:
Mix baking soda into water, stir and drink.
Appropriate Diet for Hematuria Patients
Foods and Drinks high in vitamin C
Vegetables
Fermented milk products
Fish reduce inflammation
Omega-3 fatty acids
Foods to Avoid
Nutrition and Health for Hematuria Patients
Add more health tips such as dietary planning, exercise, meditation, and hygiene to help combat hematuria.
How Long Will It Take For Hematuria To Be Cured?
Once again, recovery from hematuria really depends on a series of other factors including the main cause of the illness. For those with medication, kidney stones, or urinary tract infection or exercise-induced hematuria, a quick and full recovery is almost always in the cards.
But for those who have a much more severe illness like kidney or bladder cancer, stage and type are much more representative of how and if you will make a full recovery. In most cases, and if caught in its early stages, kidney and bladder cancer patients can fully recover.
Age also plays a role in hematuria recovery. Children are more likely to experience hematuria as a result of glomerulonephritis infections like strep throat. If hematuria develops before an infection like strep throat, recovery might not be as speedy, and other issues might surface.
Adults with glomerulonephritis struggle to recover on their own and often need to seek out help from a doctor depending on the severity of the infection. In more severe cases, glomerulonephritis and associated infections can actually result in chronic kidney failure.
Conclusion
While you probably know your body best, health matters are very important. Conditions like hematuria are indicators of even larger issues like cancer or kidney failure. We recommend that you receive a periodic examination by a medical professional so that you can begin the process of healing and recovery.
And remember, just because you cannot visibly see urine in the blood, that doesn't mean that you are not experiencing an influx of red blood cells in your urinary tract. Be smart and take care of your body by scheduling annual exams and paying attention to the symptoms and signs that your body communicates to you.
very helpful thank you for sharing this
Toward the end of your article, you say FOODS TO AVOID include “Proteins like seafood, beef, animals organs or bean products.” But you have said, just above that, “Fish reduce inflammation: Flounder, tuna, salmon.”
Which is bad and which is good?