Hematuria is the presence of red blood cells in the urine. If there are enough red cells, the urine can become bright red, pink or cola colored. Often, however, the urine appears completely normal because there is not enough blood to cause a color change. In this case, the condition is called "microscopic" hematuria. There are many possible causes of hematuria, including:
- Urinary tract infection — Hematuria can be caused by an infection in any part of the urinary tract, most commonly the bladder (cystitis) or the kidney (pyelonephritis).
- Kidney stones
- Tumors in the kidney or bladder
- Exercise — Exercise hematuria is a harmless condition that produces blood in the urine after strenuous exercise. It is more common in males than females.
- Trauma — Traumatic injury to any part of the urinary tract — from the kidneys to the urethral opening (the connection between the bladder and the outside world) — can cause hematuria.
- Drugs — Hematuria can be caused by medications, such as blood thinners, including heparin, warfarin (Coumadin) or aspirin-type medications, penicillins, sulfa-containing drugs and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan).
- Glomerulonephritis — Glomerulonephritis is a family of illnesses that are characterized by inflammation of the glomeruli, the filtering units of the kidneys. Glomerulonephritis is a rare complication of certain viral and bacterial infections (including strep throat). It can also occur in people with certain auto-immune diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus or SLE) and vasculitis. Sometimes there is no identifiable cause.
- Bleeding disorders — This includes conditions such as hemophilia and von Willebrand's disease.
- Glomerulonephritis — If glomerulonephritis is not severe, it may not cause any symptoms. If symptoms appear, they can include swelling, especially in the lower extremities, reduced urination, and high blood pressure.
- Kidney or bladder infection — Symptoms depend on the site of infection, but can include intense pain on one side of the mid-back, fever, shaking chills, nausea and vomiting, pain above the pubic or bladder region, foul-smelling urine, the need to urinate more often than normal, and pain or discomfort during urination.
- Prostate infection — There can be pain in the lower back or in the area between the scrotum and anus, pain during ejaculation, blood in the semen, and, sometimes, fever and chills.
- Tumor in the kidney or bladder —Most kidney and bladder cancers grow without causing any pain or discomfort. When symptoms develop, the most common are abdominal pain, more frequent urination and pain at the end of urination.
- Kidney stones — When a kidney stone becomes trapped in one of the ureters (the narrow tubes connecting each kidney to the bladder), it can cause severe pain in the back, side or groin, nausea and vomiting, or painful and frequent urination.
- Bleeding disorders — Bleeding disorders tend to cause abnormal bleeding throughout the body, not just into the urine. Depending on the specific bleeding problem, symptoms can include abnormal bruising, prolonged bleeding from cuts, bleeding in the skin, bleeding into the joints or gastrointestinal tract (causing black, tarry stools or bright red blood in the stool), or gum bleeding even with gentle flossing or brushing.
- Trauma — There often will be signs of traumatic injury to the body surface, such as bruises, swelling, punctures and open wounds.
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Blood in urine
Having blood in your urine (pee) can be a sign that something is wrong with your kidneys or another part of your urinary tract. The medical name for blood in your urine is hematuria. There are two types of hematuria:
- If you can see the blood in your urine, it is called gross hematuria.
- If you cannot see the blood in your urine without looking at it under a microscope, it is called microscopic hematuria.
- Have a family history of kidney disease
- Have an enlarged prostate (in men)
- Have a history of getting kidney stones
- Are taking certain medicines, such as pain relievers, blood thinners and antibiotics
- Participate in strenuous (difficult) exercise
- Have or recently had an infection
What are the causes of blood in urine?
What are the symptoms of blood in urine?
What is the treatment for blood in the urine?
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Blood in urine (hematuria)
Seeing blood in your urine can be alarming. While in many instances the cause is harmless, blood in urine (hematuria) can indicate a serious disorder. Blood that you can see is called gross hematuria. Urinary blood that's visible only under a microscope (microscopic hematuria) is found when your doctor tests your urine. Either way, it's important to determine the reason for the bleeding. Treatment depends on the cause. Gross hematuria produces pink, red or cola-colored urine due to the presence of red blood cells. It takes little blood to produce red urine, and the bleeding usually isn't painful. Passing blood clots in your urine, however, can be painful. Bloody urine often occurs without other signs or symptoms.
Make an appointment to see your doctor anytime you notice blood in your urine. Some medications, such as the laxative Ex-lax, and certain foods, including beets, rhubarb and berries, can cause your urine to turn red. A change in urine color caused by drugs, food or exercise might go away within a few days. Bloody urine looks different, but you might not be able to tell the difference. It's best to see your doctor anytime you see red-colored urine. In hematuria, your kidneys — or other parts of your urinary tract — allow blood cells to leak into urine. Various problems can cause this leakage, including:
- Urinary tract infections. These occur when bacteria enter your body through the urethra and multiply in your bladder. Symptoms can include a persistent urge to urinate, pain and burning with urination, and extremely strong-smelling urine. For some people, especially older adults, the only sign of illness might be microscopic blood in the urine.
- Kidney infections (pyelonephritis). These can occur when bacteria enter your kidneys from your bloodstream or move from your ureters to your kidney(s). Signs and symptoms are often similar to bladder infections, though kidney infections are more likely to cause a fever and flank pain.
- A bladder or kidney stone. The minerals in concentrated urine sometimes form crystals on the walls of your kidneys or bladder. Over time, the crystals can become small, hard stones. The stones are generally painless, so you probably won't know you have them unless they cause a blockage or are being passed. Then there's usually no mistaking the symptoms — kidney stones, especially, can cause excruciating pain. Bladder or kidney stones can also cause both gross and microscopic bleeding.
- Enlarged prostate. The prostate gland — which is just below the bladder and surrounding the top part of the urethra — often enlarges as men approach middle age. It then compresses the urethra, partially blocking urine flow. Signs and symptoms of an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH) include difficulty urinating, an urgent or persistent need to urinate, and either visible or microscopic blood in the urine. Infection of the prostate (prostatitis) can cause the same signs and symptoms.
- Kidney disease. Microscopic urinary bleeding is a common symptom of glomerulonephritis, an inflammation of the kidneys' filtering system. Glomerulonephritis may be part of a systemic disease, such as diabetes, or it can occur on its own. Viral or strep infections, blood vessel diseases (vasculitis), and immune problems such as IgA nephropathy, which affects the small capillaries that filter blood in the kidneys (glomeruli), can trigger glomerulonephritis.
- Cancer. Visible urinary bleeding may be a sign of advanced kidney, bladder or prostate cancer. Unfortunately, you might not have signs or symptoms in the early stages, when these cancers are more treatable.
- Inherited disorders. Sickle cell anemia — a hereditary defect of hemoglobin in red blood cells — causes blood in urine, both visible and microscopic hematuria. So can Alport syndrome, which affects the filtering membranes in the glomeruli of the kidneys.
- Kidney injury. A blow or other injury to your kidneys from an accident or contact sports can cause visible blood in your urine.
- Medications. The anti-cancer drug cyclophosphamide and penicillin can cause urinary bleeding. Visible urinary blood sometimes occurs if you take an anticoagulant, such as aspirin and the blood thinner heparin, and you also have a condition that causes your bladder to bleed.
- Strenuous exercise. It's rare for strenuous exercise to lead to gross hematuria, and the cause is unknown. It may be linked to trauma to the bladder, dehydration or the breakdown of red blood cells that occurs with sustained aerobic exercise. Runners are most often affected, although anyone can develop visible urinary bleeding after an intense workout. If you see blood in your urine after exercise, don't assume it's from exercising. See your doctor.
- Age. Many men older than 50 have occasional hematuria due to an enlarged prostate gland.
- A recent infection. Kidney inflammation after a viral or bacterial infection (post-infectious glomerulonephritis) is one of the leading causes of visible urinary blood in children.
- Family history. You might be more prone to urinary bleeding if you have a family history of kidney disease or kidney stones.
- Certain medications. Aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers and antibiotics such as penicillin are known to increase the risk of urinary bleeding.
- Strenuous exercise. Long-distance runners are especially prone to exercise-induced urinary bleeding. In fact, the condition is sometimes called jogger's hematuria. But anyone who works out strenuously can develop symptoms.
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Hematuria
Hematuria is the presence of blood or blood cells in the urine. Although blood in the urine is not always a significant symptom of disease, it can be an important warning sign to a possible health problem. Bloody urine should never be ignored. The treatment of hematuria depends strongly on the actual cause of blood in the urine. The information collected from the medical history, physical exam, and any test results will be used to determine the best treatment option. What is hematuria? Hematuria is the presence of blood cells in the urine. Hematuria can be called either gross or microscopic:
- Gross hematuria occurs when there is enough blood present in the urine that it is visible to the naked eye. It can turn toilet water a pale pink or bright red color.
- Microscopic hematuria is a result of there being an amount of blood in the urine that can only be seen through a microscope.
- Dipstick hematuria results when oxidation of the urine test strip causes a color change. It does not always mean that blood cells are present in the urine.
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Pyelonephritis (UTI that has reached as far as the kidney)
- Urinary stone disease
- Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy)
- Injury to the urinary tract
- Kidney (renal) disease
- Sickle cell disease
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Prostate cancer
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Can blood in urine go away on its own?
Hematuria – the presence of red blood cells in the urine – can be caused by a number of different conditions. Most of them are not serious and will quickly resolve themselves. Strenuous exercise and medications such as certain laxatives, aspirin and penicillin can allow blood to leak into the urine, for example, and these are problems that will go away on their own. Certain foods (beets, berries, rhubarb) can give the urine a red, blood-like appearance that is nothing to worry about. But because hematuria can also be a symptom of a urinary tract infection or a more serious disorder, including kidney disease and cancer, it should never be ignored.
Types and Symptoms. It’s estimated that one in 10 people will experience hematuria. The blood in the urine is not always visible to the naked eye; it can be microscopic, discovered only when the urine is being checked for other reasons. Gross hematuria, the type that can be easily seen, tends to appear as red, pink, or dark brown. It isn’t always painful, it may or may not be associated with other symptoms, and it could be persistent or intermittent. The amount of blood in the urine – or whether it is microscopic or gross – doesn’t necessarily indicate whether the problem is serious – or whether there is a problem at all. Hematuria simply means that somewhere in the genitourinary tract – either in the bladder, the kidneys, the ureters (the tubes that carry the urine into the bladder), the urethra (the tube carrying the urine out of the body), and in men, the prostate – red blood cells are leaking into the urine, requiring further investigation.
Causes. Among the most benign causes is strenuous exercise – particularly long-distance running, which tends to jar the bladder. Other common causes include certain medications, urinary tract infections (particularly common among women), urinary tract blockages, benign prostatic hyperplasia (in middle-aged and older men), kidney and bladder stones, kidney disease, physical trauma to the kidneys, a sexually transmitted disease, and certain inherited disorders such as sickle cell disease and lupus. Hematuria can also be the first sign of prostate, kidney, or bladder cancer.
Diagnosis. A physical exam, personal and family history, and variety of tests may be given in an effort to pinpoint the cause of hematuria. These include urinalysis, blood tests, imaging tests, and cystoscopy, which injects a tube with a tiny camera to take pictures inside the bladder. Sometimes the cause cannot be determined, but at minimum certain conditions can be eliminated.
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Why Is There Blood in My Urine?
Hematuria is the medical term for blood in your urine. Several different conditions and diseases can cause hematuria. These include infections, kidney disease, cancer, and rare blood disorders. The blood may be visible or in such small quantities that it can’t be seen with the naked eye. Any blood in the urine can be a sign of a serious health problem, even if it happens only once. Ignoring hematuria can lead to the worsening of serious conditions like cancer and kidney disease, so you should talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor can analyze your urine and order imaging tests to determine the cause of the hematuria and create a plan for treatment.
There are two main types of hematuria:
- Gross hematuria - If there’s enough blood in your urine that your urine appears pink or red or has spots of visible blood, you have “gross hematuria.”
- Microscopic hematuria - When you can’t see the blood because the amount is so small, you have “microscopic hematuria.” Only a lab test that detects blood or looking at a sample of urine under a microscope can confirm microscopic hematuria.
- Infection - Infection is one of the most common causes of hematuria. The infection could be somewhere in your urinary tract, your bladder, or in your kidneys. Infection occurs when bacteria move up the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body from the bladder. The infection can move into the bladder and even into the kidneys. It often causes pain and a need to urinate frequently. There may be gross or microscopic hematuria.
- Stones - Another common reason for blood in the urine is the presence of stones in the bladder or kidney. These are crystals that form from the minerals in your urine. They can develop inside your kidneys or bladder. Large stones can cause a blockage that often results in hematuria and significant pain.
- Enlarged prostate - In men who are middle-aged and older, a fairly common cause of hematuria is an enlarged prostate. This gland is just beneath the bladder and near the urethra. When the prostate gets bigger, as it often does in men at middle age, it compresses the urethra. This causes problems with urinating and may prevent the bladder from emptying completely. This can result in a urinary tract infection (UTI) with blood in the urine.
- Kidney disease - A less common reason for seeing blood in the urine is kidney disease. A diseased or inflamed kidney can cause hematuria. This disease can occur on its own or as part of another disease, such as diabetes. In children ages 6 to 10 years, the kidney disorder post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis may cause hematuria. This disorder can develop one to two weeks after an untreated strep infection. Once common, it’s rare today because antibiotics can quickly treat strep infections.
- Cancer - Cancer of the bladder, kidney, or prostate can cause blood in the urine. This is a symptom that often occurs in advanced cancer cases. There may not be earlier signs of a problem.
- penicillin
- aspirin
- blood thinners like heparin and warfarin (Coumadin)
- cyclophosphamide, which is a drug used to treat certain types of cancer
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10 Things That Can Cause Blood in Your Urine
Not sure if you’ve realized, but you and peeing are in an extremely committed relationship. You’ve been doing it since you were born, after all, which means you have a solid idea of what your pee should look like. Seeing blood in your urine doesn’t exactly make the cut.
“Blood in your urine can be alarming,” Jennifer Linehan, M.D., urologist and associate professor of urologic oncology at the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, tells SELF. Gross hematuria, which is blood that you can see in your urine, might make your pee look pink, red, or like you dumped some Coke into the toilet, according to the Mayo Clinic. Microscopic hematuria is blood in your pee that’s only visible under a microscope. None of this is ideal, but some causes of bloody urine are more serious than others.
Here’s what could be behind your bloody pee:
- You ate something hella red
- You have a bladder infection
- You have a kidney infection
- You have a bladder or kidney stone
- Your kidneys are inflamed
- You have sickle cell anemia
- You have Alport syndrome
- Your medication is causing bloody pee
- You went way too hard at the gym
- Rarely, bloody pee can be a sign you have cancer
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Blood in the Urine (Hematuria) Causes, Pain, and Treatment in Men and Women
Hematuria, or blood in the urine, can be either gross (visible) or microscopic (blood cells only visible through a microscope). Gross hematuria can vary widely in appearance, from light pink to deep red with clots. Although the amount of blood in the urine may be different, the types of conditions that can cause the problem are the same, and require the same kind of workup or evaluation. People with gross hematuria will visit their doctor with this as a primary complaint. People who have microscopic hematuria, on the other hand, will be unaware of a problem and their condition will most commonly be detected as part of a periodic checkup by a primary-care physician.
What are the causes of blood in the urine:
- The causes of gross and microscopic hematuria are similar and may result from bleeding anywhere along the urinary tract. One cannot readily distinguish between blood originating in the kidneys, ureters (the tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder), bladder, or urethra. Any degree of blood in the urine should be fully evaluated by a physician, even if it resolves spontaneously.
- Infection of the urine, (often called a urinary tract infection or UTI) stemming either from the kidneys or bladder, is a common cause of microscopic hematuria. Urine is naturally sterile and should not contain bacteria. Kidney and bladder stones can cause irritation and abrasion of the urinary tract, leading to microscopic or gross hematuria. Trauma affecting any of the components of the urinary tract or the prostate can lead to bloody urine.
- Hematuria can also be associated with renal (kidney) disease, as well as hematologic disorders involving the body's clotting system. Medications that increase the risk of bleeding, such as aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), or clopidogrel (Plavix), may also lead to bloody urine. Lastly, cancer anywhere along the urinary tract can present with hematuria.
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What causes bloody urine in men?
Blood in the urine is a symptom of many common problems in males. The medical term for blood in the urine is hematuria.
In males, blood in the urine can result from any of the following:
- Urinary tract infection
- Kidney and bladder stones
- Exercise-induced hematuria
- Enlarged prostate
- Recent catheterization
- Injury to the kidneys
- Medications
- Prostate cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Gross hematuria: This is when blood in the urine is visible to the naked eye. People may pass blood clots or notice urine that is red or brown.
- Microscopic hematuria: This is when blood in the urine is only visible under a microscope.
- antibiotic treatment for infections
- surgery to remove large kidney stones
- muscle relaxants, hormone-blockers, and surgeries to treat prostate problems
- medications or blood-filtering procedures for GN
- surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation to treat cancer or benign growths
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What Causes Blood in Urine?
Blood in the urine (hematuria) is surprisingly common. In fact, about 16 percent of us experience it at one point or another. Blood in the urine can be visible to the naked eye as bright red or brown in color or can be present microscopically. While it may be the result of something quite benign, it can also be a sign of a more significant issue—so it's important to follow up when it happens. Here are the common causes, diagnosis, and treatment options for hematuria in men.
Common Causes:
- The presence of blood in the urine means that bleeding is occurring somewhere in the genito-urinary tract. In men, those organs include the kidneys, ureters, the prostate gland, the bladder, and the urethra.
- The most common causes of hematuria in men are urinary tract infections (UTI), neoplasms, and urolithiasis (stones).
- Another set of major causes includes trauma to the kidney, bladder, or other parts of the genito-urinary tract.
- In addition, anything from “jogger's hematuria" that occurs after exercise, kidney disease, sexually transmitted diseases, benign prostate hypertrophy, infection of the urinary tract, tumors, and blockages, as well as some medications can cause a bleed.
- There are several rare diseases and genetic disorders that can cause blood loss in the urine.3 Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder.
- Von Hippel-Landau disease is an inherited disorder in which benign tumors grow on the kidneys, testicles, and spine. Systemic lupus erythematosus, a chronic inflammatory disease of the connective tissue, is another rare cause of blood in the urine.
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Is There Blood in Your Urine? What Men Need to Know
Hey guys, if a simple visit to the bathroom has you seeing red, don’t ignore it. Blood in your urine (hematuria) can be a sign of a serious problem, so you should see your doctor right away. You may see a range of colors — from pink or slightly dark urine to bright red or cola-colored liquid. You may also see clots, which can come from the prostate, urethra, kidneys or ureters (tubes connecting the kidney to the bladder). Blood in the urine may show up over a long time, come and go, or happen just once. Many times, doctors don’t find a medical reason for the blood, says urologist Robert Abouassaly, MD. But your doctor will want to rule out serious illnesses and treat less serious ones if possible.
Common reasons for blood in the urine - Typical causes (for both men and women) may relate to:
- Urinary tract — most likely an infection (UTI) or urinary stone disease
- Kidneys — typically kidney stones or kidney disease
- Inherited conditions, including sickle cell disease
- Vigorous exercise
- Medications such as aspirin or blood thinners
Are there different causes for men? In some cases, blood in the urine may mean something different for men than for women. Blood may show up from either an enlarged prostate gland or prostate cancer. And, both bladder and kidney cancers are more common in men than in women. For 2018, the American Cancer Society estimates 42,680 new diagnoses of kidney cancer in men and 22,660 in women. For bladder cancer, the society estimates 62,380 new cases among men and 18,810 in women in 2018. The most common cause of bladder cancer is smoking, Dr. Abouassaly says. “The carcinogens get absorbed in the blood and filter into the kidneys and bladder and they just sit there,” he says. “I recommend if you are a smoker, do everything you can to stop smoking.”
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What to know about blood in urine (hematuria) in females
Hematuria refers to the presence of blood in the urine. Some causes are specific to, or more likely to affect, females. Blood in the urine is often due to infections, kidney problems, or injuries. Hematuria can occur when part of the urinary tract, which includes the kidneys, bladder, and ureters, sustains damage or becomes irritated. However, blood that appears in the urine does not always come from the urinary tract. In females, blood from the vagina, cervix, or uterus may appear in the urine, giving the false appearance of hematuria.
Types of hematuria include:
- Gross hematuria, where a person can see blood in their urine. The urine can appear pink, red, or brown.
- Microscopic hematuria, in which the urine contains trace amounts of blood that are invisible to the naked eye. Microscopic hematuria accounts for 13% to 20% of urology referrals.
- Urinary tract infections
- Stones
- Endometriosis
- Cancer
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What Does It Mean If You Pee Blood?
They say that you can tell a lot about your health by looking at the color of your pee: Clear to pale yellow means you're hydrated, and amber to brown means you should probably drink some water ASAP. There are a few outside factors that can influence the color of your otherwise healthy urine. Eating beets, for example, can turn your pee reddish, and asparagus makes your pee smell a little off. Certain medications can also screw with your pee and make it darker. But if you notice that you have actual red blood in your urine, that might be a sign of a more serious medical condition that you shouldn't ignore.
"You should generally be concerned if you see blood in your urine," says Doreen Chung, MD, a specialist in female urology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. The medical term for "blood in your pee" is "hematuria," Dr. Chung says. It's important to see your doctor if you notice blood in your pee, so that they can test your urine and actually diagnose what's causing it, Dr. Chung says. Hematuria happens when blood cells enter your kidney or urinary tract, according to the Mayo Clinic. This can happen for a few reasons, most commonly because you have a urinary tract infection, Dr. Chung says. Kidney stones, some kidney diseases, and bladder tumors can also cause blood to appear in urine, she says. A viral or bacterial infection, like strep throat, can cause visible bleeding, too, if the kidney is inflamed as a result, according to the Mayo Clinic.
If you notice blood in your pee after strenuous exercise, as in a marathon or something of similar vigor, then that's usually not a big deal, Dr. Chung says. "It is relatively common and happens in 5 to 25% of people, lasting a few hours to three days," she says. Exercise-induced hematuria is harmless, but you should still talk to your doctor so that they can rule out any more serious causes, she says. In general, look out for blood spots in your urine, or toilet water that turns pink or red, according to Medline Plus. Sometimes, people confuse period blood or bowel movements with hematuria, so make sure it's actually coming from your urine. You know it's serious if you experience other symptoms, like severe back or flank pain (the area below your ribs), a fever, or if you can't pee, Dr. Chung says. In that case, you should get to the ER right away, she says. Depending on the cause, your doctor might give you antibiotics to treat the infection and stop bleeding, or they might not prescribe anything at all, according to Mayo Clinic. While you might be used to seeing monthly blood in your underwear, blood in your pee can be a literal red flag that something's up.
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6 Home Remedies for Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections affect millions of people every year. Though they’re traditionally treated with antibiotics, there are also many home remedies available that help treat them and prevent them from reoccurring. A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that affects any part of the urinary tract, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra. Bacteria from the bowel are the most common cause of UTIs, but fungi and viruses can also cause infection. The two strains of bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus saprophyticus account for about 80% of cases.
Common symptoms of UTI include:
- A burning sensation when peeing
- Frequent urination
- Cloudy or dark urine
- Urine with a strong odor
- A feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
- Pelvic pain
- Drink Plenty of Fluids
- Increase Vitamin C Intake
- Drink Unsweetened Cranberry Juice
- Take a Probiotic
- Practice These Healthy Habits
- Try These Natural Supplements
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Blood in the urine
In most cases, blood in the urine (called hematuria) is the first sign of bladder cancer. There may be enough blood to change the color of the urine to orange, pink, or, less often, dark red. Sometimes, the color of the urine is normal but small amounts of blood are found when a urine test (urinalysis) is done because of other symptoms or as part of a general medical check-up.
Blood may be present one day and absent the next, with the urine remaining clear for weeks or even months. But if a person has bladder cancer, at some point the blood reappears. Usually, the early stages of bladder cancer (when it's small and only in the bladder) cause bleeding but little or no pain or other symptoms.
Blood in the urine doesn't always mean you have bladder cancer. More often it's caused by other things like an infection, benign (not cancer) tumors, stones in the kidney or bladder, or other benign kidney diseases. Still, it’s important to have it checked by a doctor so the cause can be found.
Bladder cancer can sometimes cause changes in urination, such as:
- Having to urinate more often than usual
- Pain or burning during urination
- Feeling as if you need to go right away, even when your bladder isn't full
- Having trouble urinating or having a weak urine stream
- Having to get up to urinate many times during the night
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Hematochezia: Blood in Stool
Blood is supposed to stay in your body. Seeing blood in your bowel movement is very frightening. It is an indication that something is not working right, but it is not always a herald of colon cancer. Rectal bleeding has many causes, but only one of them is colon cancer.
When You Note Blood in the Stool - The best action you can take now, to advocate for yourself, is to pay attention to this symptom and be prepared to discuss it with your doctor. Ask yourself these questions:
- Was the blood in the stool, toilet bowl or on the toilet paper?
- Was the blood bright red or dark red?
- Approximately how much blood did you see? (Keep in mind, a drop of blood in a toilet bowl will turn all of the water red.)
- Did you have to strain to pass the bowel movement?
- How frequently do you have bowel movements?
- Do you have other symptoms?
- When was your last colon screening exam or colonoscopy?
- Do you have a history of polyps or a family history of polyps?
Causes of Blood in the Stool:
- Hemorrhoids
- Inflammatory Conditions
- Colon Polyps
- Constipation
- Bowel Infections
- Colon Cancer
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Nocturia: Excessive Urination at Night
Nocturia is a condition that causes you to wake up during the night to pee. This condition is also called nocturnal urinary frequency — having to pee more often at night. Nocturia becomes more common as people age (usually older than 60) and occurs in all genders and sexes, sometimes for different reasons. It can be common for people to wake up once during the night to pee, but peeing more frequently may be a sign of an underlying condition or problem.
When a person pees too much during the daytime, but can limit the amount of trips to the bathroom at night, it’s referred to as frequent urination. Nocturia is strictly using the bathroom multiple times after bedtime and before you wake up in the morning. Whether it’s happening due to an underlying medical condition or something else, it can leave you feeling tired because your regular sleep cycle is disrupted.
How common is nocturia? Nocturia is a common condition affecting more than 50% of adults after age 50. It’s more common in men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB) after age 50. Before 50, nocturia is more common in women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB). It affects up to 1 in 3 people over the age of 30.
Pneumaturia: Gas in urine
What Is Pneumaturia? Having small bubbles in your urine is called pneumaturia. It isn’t a diagnosis on its own but can be a symptom of certain health conditions. Common source causes for pneumaturia include urinary tract infections (UTIs) and passageways between the colon and the bladder (called fistula) that don’t belong.
If you have pneumaturia, you’ll feel gas or a bubbling sensation interrupting your urine stream. Your urine may appear to be full of small air bubbles. This is different than urine that looks foamy, which is usually an indicator of too much protein in your urine. Since pneumaturia is a symptom of other conditions and not a condition all by itself, you may want to look out for other symptoms that sometimes come along with it, such as:
- burning sensation while urinating
- difficulty urinating
- feeling the need to “go” all the time
- discolored urine
All of these symptoms could indicate an infection in your urinary tract. Common causes:
- One common cause of pneumaturia is infectious bacteria. Pneumaturia can indicate a UTI, as the bacteria create bubbles in your urine stream.
- Another common cause is a fistula. This is a passage between organs in your body that doesn’t belong there. A fistula between your bowel and your bladder can bring bubbles into your urine stream. This fistula can be an outcome of diverticulitis.
- Less often, deep sea divers will have pneumaturia after a period of time underwater.
- Sometimes pneumaturia is a symptom of Crohn’s disease.
Diabetes: Early Signs & Symptoms
Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect how the body uses blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is an important source of energy for the cells that make up the muscles and tissues. It's also the brain's main source of fuel. The main cause of diabetes varies by type. But no matter what type of diabetes you have, it can lead to excess sugar in the blood. Too much sugar in the blood can lead to serious health problems.
Chronic diabetes conditions include type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Potentially reversible diabetes conditions include prediabetes and gestational diabetes. Prediabetes happens when blood sugar levels are higher than normal. But the blood sugar levels aren't high enough to be called diabetes. And prediabetes can lead to diabetes unless steps are taken to prevent it. Gestational diabetes happens during pregnancy. But it may go away after the baby is born. Diabetes symptoms depend on how high your blood sugar is. Some people, especially if they have prediabetes, gestational diabetes or type 2 diabetes, may not have symptoms. In type 1 diabetes, symptoms tend to come on quickly and be more severe.
Some of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are:
- Feeling more thirsty than usual.
- Urinating often.
- Losing weight without trying.
- Presence of ketones in the urine. Ketones are a byproduct of the breakdown of muscle and fat that happens when there's not enough available insulin.
- Feeling tired and weak.
- Feeling irritable or having other mood changes.
- Having blurry vision.
- Having slow-healing sores.
- Getting a lot of infections, such as gum, skin and vaginal infections.
Constipation and Urinary Incontinence
Bloating and cramps are two common symptoms of constipation
Being constipated means your bowel movements are tough or happen less often than normal. You might be constipated if you have less than three bowel movements per week.
Constipation is very common. Around 2.5 million people visit their doctor each year in the U.S. because they are constipated. It's usually not serious, and home remedies can get you back on track. How often should you poop? The normal length of time between bowel movements varies from person to person. Some people have them three times a day. Others have them just a few times a week.
But going longer than 3 days without one is usually too long. After 3 days, your stool gets harder and more difficult to pass. Constipation Symptoms You may have:
- Few or no bowel movements
- Trouble having a bowel movement (straining to go)
- Hard or small stools
- A feeling that everything didn’t come out
- Belly bloating
- A feeling like your rectum is blocked
- A stomachache or cramps
Acupressure Points for Constipation
Acupressure can help in relieving constipation symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating and gas by applying pressure to specific points on the body. The following are the commonly used acupressure points to relieve constipation that you can do on your own. Instead of pressing with your fingers, you can also use acupressure stick:
- Tianshu (ST25) - Tianshu can improve digestion. You can place three fingers parallel and alongside the centre of the belly button. Tianshu is located at the edge of the last finger, away from the belly button. Use your thumb or forefinger and apply pressure or you can do circular motion with finger.
- Guanyuan (CV4) - Guanyuan is used for relieving abdominal pain and diarrhea. It is located at 3 inches below your belly button. Use your thumb or forefinger and apply pressure or you can do circular motion with finger.
- Zhigou (TE6) - Zhigou is an effective pressure point for relieving chronic constipation. It is located at 3 inches up the back of your arm from the crease of your wrist. Use your thumb and apply pressure or you can do circular motion with thumb. This procedure should have been repeated for the other wrist.
- Zusanli (ST36) - Zusanli can strengthen the digestive system. It is located on the outer calf, about four finger widths under the knee bone. Use your thumb or forefinger and apply pressure. This procedure should have been repeated for the other foot.
15 signs your stomach is functioning badly
A queasy feeling in the pit of your stomach, dreading even the idea of food, and having to constantly run to the washroom; these are all unpleasant symptoms of stomach issues. There are all sorts of reasons why you may have a poorly functioning stomach. Sometimes, it’s from food poisoning or a gastro bug going around; however, if your stomach is chronically upset, it might be a sign of a bigger problem. If you are experiencing any of these 15 signs that your stomach is functioning badly, be sure to make an appointment with your healthcare provider:
- Frequent and chronic diarrhea
- Blood in your stool
- Severe cramps after eating
- Chronic constipation
- Frequent heartburn
- Difficulty swallowing
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Sudden intense abdominal pain
- Feeling full after eating a small portion
- Swollen abdomen
- Anemia
- Fatigue and weakness
- Frequent vomiting
- Skin issues
What your poop tells you about your health
5 Things Your Poop Can Tell You About Your Health
Having a bowel movement is a critical part of digesting the food we eat. Stool formed by the large intestine is the body's way of getting rid of waste.
While you should talk to your doctor about any concerns, changes in poop color and consistency could show what is happening inside your digestive system:
- Rocks and Pebbles - Poop that is hard and shaped like tiny rocks or pebbles is likely just a sign of constipation. You can still be considered constipated even if you are able to pass a small amount of stool. The large intestine helps to concentrate waste by absorbing water. If muscle contractions in the large intestine are not working properly, waste left in the colon becomes even more concentrated, resulting in harder stool.
- Color Changes - A change in stool color is one of the most common concerns patients ask about. The foods you eat and the kind of bacteria living in your colon can both cause such changes, and added food colorings are frequent culprits. This is one reason why patients preparing for a colonoscopy are instructed to avoid food and beverages with certain added colors the day before. Doctors note that when they perform a colonoscopy, they can actually tell what color the beverage was that the patient drank during their preparation for the procedure. Most changes in the color of stool are not cause for concern. The exception is poop that appears black or bloody, which could signal other problems with the digestive system.
- Black and Tarry - The most common cause of black and tarry poop is taking iron supplements or a medication containing bismuth, such as Pepto-Bismol. However, it could mean you're losing blood somewhere in your gastrointestinal tract, such as in the stomach or small intestine.
- Oily or Greasy Stools - If you have poop that appears oily, has a greasy consistency and is difficult to flush, it could be a signal that your body is not able to properly digest fat. The consistency changes could be caused by an infection, nutrients not being digested due to celiac disease or a problem with the pancreas, such as pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis.
- Pencil Thin - Stool that is only occasionally very thin is not a cause for concern. It is likely due to muscle contractions in the large intestine as it helps to concentrate waste. If there is a sudden and consistent change in your stool always being thin, it could mean there is a blockage in your colon, and you should see your doctor.
