Hematuria, or blood in the urine, can be caused by a range of conditions from kidney disease to bladder health problems. While not always life-threatening, it is a symptom of a larger problem and may require further testing.
Hematuria is the medical term for blood in the urine, specifically an excessive number of red blood cells. Sometimes, the amount of blood is so small that it can only be detected through a microscope. This condition is referred to as microscopic hematuria. If the urine contains visible streaks of blood, medical professionals call the condition gross hematuria. However, both varieties are cause for concern.
There are a number of causes of blood in the urine, ranging in severity from cancer to the minor trauma of excessive exercise. Some people live their entire lives with mild cases and are unaware of it. Others develop the problem due to blood thinners or other prescribed medications. Hematuria is often one of many conditions created by a traumatic injury to the urinary tract, which includes the adrenal glands, kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate gland, and urethra. A strong blow to the kidneys, for example, can force blood into the bladder.
One of the most common causes is kidney disease. Kidney stones can cause small tears in the urinary tract tissues as they pass through the ureters and into the bladder. Cancerous tumors located in the kidneys can also cause bleeding as the cells are cleared. Inflammations of the kidney caused by viral or bacterial infections can also cause blood to enter the urine.
Another cause of hematuria is related to bladder health. The bladder can also form stones, which cause blockage of the urinary tract and tears in the walls of the bladder. A severe urinary tract infection can also cause bleeding into the bladder. There is also the possibility that the problem develops after the cancer has developed in the bladder itself.
For men, another cause could be a prostate problem. As men age, the prostate gland enlarges and occasionally interferes with the natural flow of urine. The extra effort of urinating through a narrowed urethra can cause blood vessels to rupture, leading to bleeding.
Other possible causes include sickle cell disease and excessive exercise, especially jogging and running. The stresses placed on the lower abdomen during strenuous exercise can cause a number of blood vessels to rupture or present actual physical trauma to the kidneys or bladder. Some medical professionals call this phenomenon jogger’s hematuria.
Fortunately, many episodes of blood in the urine are not considered life-threatening. Excess blood isn’t necessarily dangerous in and of itself, but it does indicate a potentially serious condition. When doctors test urine for the presence of blood, they view a positive result as a symptom of a larger problem.
Patients diagnosed with this problem may need to have more invasive tests, such as an intravenous pyelogram (IVP). During an IVP, a dye is injected into the bloodstream just before the urinary tract area is x-rayed. Any excessive bleeding should be evident on the film, along with any other abnormalities affecting blood or urine flow.
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