It is common for people to be worried when they see blood in their urine. This condition which doctors call hematuria, comes about for different reasons. A few people may observe their urine is reddish or pinkish and want to know if it is anything to worry about. The most common question is: can blood in urine go away on its own? This article will explain the causes, what can go wrong and the best things to do next.
Try to keep in mind these three things:
- Blood in the urine does not always mean there is a problem.
- Minor causes might resolve just by themselves.
- Having your doctor examine you helps identify severe issues.
What Are Some Regular Reasons for Seeing Blood in the Urine?
Many different things can lead to blood in the urine. There are harmless symptoms and there are others that may mark a more serious problem. Here are some of the main reasons this condition develops:
- Blood in the urine is commonly due to a UTI. They are caused by bacteria being present in the urinary tract. Because of this, the skin may become irritated which may bring about bleeding. The patient often finds that urination burns, urges to urinate are common and there is lower abdominal discomfort.
- The buildup of deposits in the kidneys causes kidney stones. Stones in the urinary tract can bring great pain and scratch the tract which may cause blood to appear in the urine. It shows up most often as urine that is either bright red or a darker brown color.
- Running very far or very fast may occasionally result in blood in the urine. It often goes away when the stress on the body is reduced.
- There are certain medications such as blood thinners (including aspirin and warfarin) which can cause bleeding in the urinary tract.
- Diseases such as bladder or kidney infections, inflammation in the kidney filters (glomerulonephritis) or cancers may also result in seeing blood in the urine.
Comparison Chart: What Might Cause Blood in Your Urine
| Cause | Common Symptoms | Can It Go Away on Its Own? |
|---|---|---|
| UTI | Painful urination, urgency | Yes, with or without meds |
| Kidney Stones | Severe back/side pain | Sometimes |
| Exercise | Temporary discoloration after activity | Yes |
| Medications | Depends on dosage and health | Possibly, if medication adjusted |
| Medical Conditions | Varies; could be serious | Rarely without treatment |
Be sure to review your personal medical background when looking at your symptoms.
Blood in the urine might not be an indication of something serious.
Yes, blood in urine can sometimes be a normal finding. This happens most often with minor problems like strenuous activity, small injuries or eating foods that change the color of your urine (including beets). Still, just because something is harmless on the surface, it remains important to check through the right testing.
Suppose you ran a marathon or lifted a lot of weight last week. Having blood could be a result of stress. In many cases, rehydrating and having some rest can deal with the health issue.
A harmless sign at first could be covering up a more serious issue. Microscopic hematuria (unseen blood in urine) is frequently detected during regular health checkups. Even if it’s asymptomatic, it might reveal kidney disease.
It helps to look for signs apart from breathing such as fever, pain or changes in weight. When one or more of these are found, hematuria is probably not healthy.
If you see blood in your urine more than once, always check with your doctor, just in case.
Should I Make an Appointment with the Doctor If I Discover Blood in My Urine?
Yes, you should make an appointment with the doctor even when you see blood just once. Some pet illnesses are not serious, but others might benefit from more testing and treatment. A health professional will likely prescribe a urine test as well as imaging exams or a cystoscopy to figure out the cause.
For example, older people are more at risk for cancer of the bladder or kidneys and these cancers may first appear as blood in the urine. Overlooking such signs can cause important health problems to be missed for longer.
Blood in the urine can also occur in children, usually from a health situation called IgA nephropathy or from sports injuries. Both adults and children should get treatment as soon as the problem is noticed.
Now, we’ll go over a table summarizing how and when to get medical care for poisoning.
| Symptom | Action Recommended |
| Blood after exercise | Wait and observe |
| Blood with fever or pain | See doctor immediately |
| Repeated episodes of hematuria | Medical evaluation |
| Blood with weight loss or fatigue | Urgent care required |
Leaving the blood present in your urine may not be safe. Symptoms might go away, but problems that caused them may still be present.
How Can Blood in Urine Be Found and Treated?
Doctors run different tests to understand why there is blood in urine. Most of the time, the first step is a urinalysis. The test can find out whether your urine holds red blood cells, protein and other materials. If the results are not completely obvious, new tests might be required.
Diagnostic Methods:
- Urinalysis is able to show presence of blood, infection or problems with the kidneys.
- Imaging tests can show if the patient has stones or tumors.
- A camera is inserted through the urethra to allow the doctor to see inside the bladder.
Once it is known what the illness is, the appropriate treatment will be chosen. For example:
- Antibiotics are given to treat UTIs.
- Small kidney stones may pass by themselves, but larger ones might need removal with surgery.
- For cancers, patients may be given care like chemotherapy, surgery or radiation.
No treatment is required in mild cases like exercise-induced hematuria apart from resting and drinking enough water. Therefore, it is possible that your doctor will schedule more visits to make sure there are no unnoticed problems.
In Some Cases, Blood in Urine Improves on Its Own.
In some cases, the blood in the urine clears up by itself, for example, when the reason is exercise, a minor UTI or minor injury. Still, ignoring it is not a good idea.
For our example, a young adult urine is pink-colored following a football match. They are not affected by pain and want to take a break. The urine color goes back to normal the next day. Generally, these factors lead to inflammation and the symptoms may get better without treatment.
Suppose though, a senior adult sees blood in their urine and cannot explain why. If the blood is gone after one day, it could still indicate something serious like bladder cancer. You should look at how much risk you face and what your main symptoms are.
Most doctors advise having at least one more test after hematuria, even when the symptom goes away. This makes certain no important points are forgotten.
Just because you look healthy does not always mean that a disease is not there.
Conclusion
If you find blood in your urine, it may not always suggest that you have a serious condition. Causes like light exercise or minor infections will often go away by themselves, but other conditions must be seen by a doctor. It helps to notice your symptoms, pay attention to any changes, and get advice from a doctor when you are unsure. Taking care of your health is important since your body will often signpost issues gently. Focusing closely on other people can really help.
FAQ’s
1. Are there cases where blood in the urine is just temporary?
Sure, especially when the reason is exercise or a small infection, but you should still see a doctor.
2. Which meals might result in red- or pink-colored urine?
Drinking beets, rhubarb or eating blackberries can change your urine to look like blood.
3. I need to know if and how long I have to wait before visiting a doctor due to blood in my urine?
See a doctor right away if you notice something worrying again or have related discomfort.
4. Is it always possible to see blood in the urine?
Sometimes, the only way to detect it is by using a microscope (microscopic hematuria).
5. Do our kidneys filter out blood particles by drinking more water?
Hydrating yourself may give some help if your pain is light, but it won’t make a big difference with serious discomfort.
