Haematuria Causes

Hematuria (often spelled haematuria) is literally translated as "blood in the urine." No one wants to see blood in their urine, but understanding what might cause such as condition will encourage individuals to seek medical advice for a diagnosis and treatment.

Definition

Hematuria is the medical name for the presence of blood in the urine. In most cases, blood in the urine may be caused by a variety of factors. However, you should know that generally, two types of blood can be present in the urine: one you can see and one you can't.

Blood in the Urine

The type of blood you can see in the urine is called gross hematuria, but not because it's disgusting. While it may be a little unsettling to see blood in the urine, it isn't necessarily gross looking. The term "gross" in this situation means it is visible. The kind you can't see is only discovered under a microscope and is called microscopic hematuria.

Strenuous Exercise

A variety of factors can contribute to finding blood in the urine, not all of them causes for alarm. One of the most common reasons why blood might show up in the urine is due to overexertion while exercising. The reason for this isn't clear to researchers, but it is believed that blood in the urine may be due to a breakdown of red blood cells, dehydration or even injury or trauma to the bladder caused by impact sports or prolonged exercise routines or events (such as marathon running).

Infections, Stones and Prostate

Blood in the urine may also be caused by kidney or bladder issues, such as infections. Bladder and urinary tract infections often cause brief episodes of bleeding. In many cases, kidney infections cause blood to be leaked from kidney tissues into the urinary tract vessels or bladder. In other cases, blood in the urine may be caused by kidney or bladder stones, which are deposits of minerals or crystallized stones that cause pain when obstructing normal kidney or bladder function. For men, one of the most common causes of blood in the urine is prostate issues, such as an enlarged prostate.

Kidney Disease

Kidney disease can also cause blood to be found in the urine, the most common type being microscopic bleeding. Inflammation and interrupted function of the kidney's ability to filter waste and fluids can result in blood leaking into the urethra (the tubes that lead from the kidneys to the bladder). Other conditions such as cancer cause blood to appear in the urine, one of the most common symptoms of advanced prostate, kidney or bladder cancer.

Treatment

No known treatment is available to specifically treat blood in the urine. Antibiotics are often prescribed to treat any type of urinary tract infection, and other treatments are the relief of symptoms or treatment of the initial cause of how or why blood is leaking into the urinary tract.