If you notice blood in your urine, experts agree that you need to see a doctor, but try not to worry because the cause might be harmless.Hematuria is a condition in which there is blood in the urine.According to research, blood in your urine may be a sign of a condition like a urinary tract infection, bladder condition, or liver disease.If you think you have blood in your urine, talk to your doctor.
Step 1: Take a look at the color of your urine.
Blood can make your urine look red, pink or brown.Before you flush the toilet, you should look for abnormal colors in the urine.Your urine should be clear or yellow.It should look like lemon juice from a single lemon.It is possible that you are dehydrated if your urine is dark yellow.If you want to have better urine, you should increase your water intake to 8 to 10 glasses a day.Dark or orange urine can be a sign of a problem with the liver, especially if you have light colored stools.If this describes your symptoms, get in touch with your doctor.If you have recently eaten beets, your urine may be pink.The alarm is not an indication of a medical problem.
Step 2: Assess other symptoms.
Blood in the urine can be a symptom of a problem.Do you experience any pain or irritation when you use the bathroom?Do you experience a burning sensation when you pee, or do you have trouble controlling it?This could be a sign of a urinary tract infection.Is there any pain in your kidneys?You will most likely have felt it in your back.Under your ribs and on either side of your spine are where your kidneys are located.If you have back pain, you might have an inflammation in the kidneys.Are you a long distance runner?Marathon runners have blood in their urine.You should still consult your doctor if you find blood in the urine.Are you menstruating?Blood can be found in the urine when you use the bathroom.If your symptoms persist after you finish menstruating, you should still consult your doctor.
Step 3: Call your doctor.
You should contact your doctor if you detect blood in your urine.Blood in the urine is a serious symptom that can only be properly assessed by a medical professional.Contact your general practice for an appointment.They will be able to test for problems in your urine and blood if they know your medical history.It is possible that they will refer you to a specialist if you need advanced treatment for a specific area of the body.
Step 4: Provide a sample of urine.
Your doctor will most likely want to test your urine, but he or she will also check for other anomalies, like pain in the kidneys or bladder.Your doctor can use the urine sample to find the underlying cause of the blood in your urine.The sample of urine is called a urinalysis.If the urinalysis shows E. coli in the urine, you may be suffering from a bladder problem.The urinalysis can showbacteria in your GI tract that comes from the anus.If you have urethritis or an infection of the urethra, this is the case.The presence of cancer can be detected by the urine sample.If there is a lot of protein in the urine, this is an indication that you have a disease of the kidneys.
Step 5: You need to get your blood tested.
A blood and urine sample may be taken by your doctor.You will most likely have it taken at your doctor's office, but they may send it to a facility that specializes in taking samples.The lab will analyze the blood sample.Your doctor can analyze a blood sample to determine the presence of creatinine, a waste product that is normally removed from the blood stream by your kidneys.If you have a high level of creatinine in your blood, this could be a problem with your kidneys.
Step 6: Get a sample.
If your urine sample and blood tests show a bigger problem in the kidneys, your doctor may want to do a biopsy.This is where a small piece of tissue will be taken out and examined.It is a very common procedure.The doctor will use a computer to guide a needle into your kidneys.A pathologist looks at the tissue after it is removed.Your doctor will call you in a week or so with the results and discuss what treatment is necessary.
Step 7: Explore more advanced testing.
After analyzing the blood and urine samples, your doctor is likely to give you a diagnosis.If not, he or she may want to do another test, such as a cystoscopy or an x-ray of your kidneys.The cystoscopy is more dangerous than a biopsy.A tubular instrument will be inserted into your bladder and urethra to look for tumors.Mass growth or tumors that are blocking the flow of blood in your urine will be revealed by X-rays of your urinary tract.If the cause of the blood is unclear from earlier tests, your doctor will only require these.
Step 8: You have to complete your treatment.
Depending on the underlying cause, the treatment for blood in the urine will be different.A course of antibiotics will be prescribed by your doctor if you have a UTI.If you have stones in your kidneys, you might be given shock wave therapy.It is possible that your doctor will find no cause for the blood in the urine.You should be aware of any reoccurrence of hematuria if you are not prescribed any treatment.
Step 9: The causes of hematuria should be researched.
There are a number of conditions that can cause hematuria.It can be caused by menstruation or excessive exercise.There are a number of more serious causes, such as a urinary tract obstruction, a blood clot, or an injury to the kidneys.
Step 10: There are invisible symptoms.
There are two different forms of hematuria.You can see the blood in your urine through the pink, red or brown color.If you suffer from hematuria, you will not be able to detect blood in the urine.If you have a family history of cancer, be sure to have your doctor test your urine at your annual check-up, especially if you are over the age of 40.Microscopic hematuria can be a symptom of a bigger problem in your urinary tract.
Step 11: Re-occurrences of hematuria are prevented.
There are general measures you can take to prevent a reoccurrence, even if the cause of the blood in the urine is different.If you have a hematuria, you should drink plenty of liquids to stay well hydrated.If you're a woman, be sure to wipe from front to back when you use the bathroom because you won't getbacteria from the anus.If you have hematuria, you should drink lots of water and avoid foods that are high in salt.If your hematuria is caused by cancer in the bladder, you should drink lots of fluids, eat a healthy diet of lean meats and vegetables, and stop smoking.Moderate exercise is a good preventative measure.