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. Either variety is cause for concern, however.
There are a number of causes of blood in the urine, ranging in seriousness from cancer to the minor trauma of excessive exercise. Some people live their entire lives with mild cases and are not aware of it. Others develop the issue as a result of prescription blood thinners or other 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 sharp blow to the kidneys, for example, can cause blood to enter the bladder.
One of the most common causes is kidney disease. Kidney stones can cause tiny ruptures in the tissues of the urinary tract as they pass through the ureters and into the bladder. Cancerous tumors located in the kidneys can also cause bleeding as cells are sloughed off. Inflammations of the kidney caused by viral infections or bacteria can cause blood to enter the urine as well.
Another cause of hematuria is connected with bladder health. The bladder can also form stones, which cause blockage of the urinary tract and tears in the bladder walls. A serious urinary tract infection can also cause bleeding in the bladder. There is also the possibility of the problem developing after cancer has developed in the bladder itself.
For men, another cause may be prostate trouble. As men age, the prostate gland enlarges and occasionally interferes with the natural flow of urine. The added strain of urinating through a narrowed urethra can cause blood vessels to rupture, leading to bleeding.
Other possible causes include sickle cell anemia 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 incidents of blood in the urine are not considered life-threatening. Excessive blood is not necessarily dangerous in and of itself, but it does indicate a potentially serious condition. When medical professionals test the urine for the presence of blood, they consider a positive result to be a symptom of a larger problem.
Patients diagnosed with this issue may have to undergo 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 apparent on the film, along with any other abnormalities affecting the flow of blood or urine.