Hematuria refers to the presence of blood in the urine, which can manifest as a brownish or reddish coloration. This condition can occur due to various reasons, ranging from relatively benign causes to potentially serious health issues.
Common causes of hematuria include urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney stones, and strenuous physical activity.
Cystitis with hematuria, for example, involves inflammation of the bladder accompanied by blood in the urine, often caused by a UTI. While some instances of hematuria may not indicate a serious health concern, it’s essential not to disregard this symptom as it could be indicative of underlying health issues.
Natural remedies can often help address the underlying causes of hematuria. For instance, UTIs can sometimes be managed with natural remedies such as increased water intake, cranberry juice, and probiotics.
However, it’s crucial to seek medical evaluation to determine the specific cause of hematuria and appropriate treatment.
What Is Hematuria?
Hematuria is defined as the abnormal presence of red blood cells (RBCs) in the urine. It occurs when the kidneys or another part of the urinary tract allows blood cells to leak into the urine.
There are two main types of hematuria: microscopic and macroscopic (or gross) hematuria. Microscopic hematuria refers to the presence of RBCs in the urine in such small amounts that they can only be detected under a microscope.
This type of hematuria is often discovered incidentally during routine medical check-ups or screenings. Severity is measured by the number of RBCs per high power field (HPF) under the microscope, with values greater than three to five RBCs per HPF considered abnormal.
When the severity exceeds 20 RBCs per HPF, it typically indicates a significant urological or medical issue.
On the other hand, macroscopic hematuria is characterized by visible blood in the urine, which can be observed without the need for microscopic examination. The amount of blood loss can vary greatly, ranging from one milliliter to one liter of blood in the urine. The color of the urine does not necessarily correlate with the degree of blood loss.
Additionally, there is a condition known as loin pain hematuria syndrome (LPHS), which involves chronic or recurrent pain in the loin area (lower back) along with the presence of blood in the urine. Individuals with LPHS may also experience painful urination, nausea, vomiting, and/or a low-grade fever.
Hematuria Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of hematuria vary depending on whether it is microscopic or gross (visible). With microscopic hematuria, the presence of blood in the urine is not visibly apparent and can only be detected through microscopic examination.
Therefore, individuals with microscopic hematuria typically do not exhibit any visible signs.
In contrast, individuals with gross hematuria will notice visible changes in the color of their urine. Common symptoms of gross hematuria include urine that appears orange, pink, red, dark red, or even cola-colored. Even a small amount of blood can cause noticeable discoloration or cloudiness in the urine.
Often, a change in urine color is the primary and sometimes only symptom, as gross hematuria is commonly painless. However, in some cases, individuals may experience pain if they pass blood clots in their urine.
Treatment for Hematuria
If visible blood is present in your urine, your doctor may not require additional tests to confirm hematuria, especially if the color change is evident. However, even if the urine returns to its normal appearance, it’s still advisable to seek evaluation from a urologist.
Upon presentation of hematuria, your doctor will likely perform a physical examination and order further diagnostic tests, which may include urine analysis, imaging studies, and cystoscopy.
Similar to the approach for blood in stool, there isn’t a specific conventional treatment for hematuria. Instead, it’s viewed as a symptom indicating an underlying health issue.
Given the potential for serious conditions to cause hematuria, seeking medical attention is crucial. Your doctor can conduct tests to determine the underlying cause of hematuria and provide appropriate management accordingly.
Hematuria: Natural Remedies
Here are some natural remedies for addressing several potential underlying causes of hematuria:
- Enlarged Prostate Gland
In men, an enlarged prostate gland becomes more common as they age. Because the prostate surrounds part of the urethra, where urine flows, an enlarged prostate can cause problems with urination as well as hematuria.
A study published in Nutrition Research and Practice demonstrated that pumpkin seed oil reduced symptoms of an enlarged prostate over a three-month period.
Maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in regular exercise can also promote prostate health. Individuals facing this issue can, for example, try some yoga poses to help reduce an enlarged prostate. Additionally, limiting the intake of caffeine and alcohol while increasing the consumption of healthy fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids, may be beneficial.
- Bladder Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, hematuria is often the first indication of bladder cancer. However, it’s important to note that not all cases of hematuria indicate cancer.
Nonetheless, bladder cancer frequently presents itself in its early stages with blood in the urine, often without significant pain or additional symptoms.
This underscores the importance of seeking medical attention promptly if any blood is detected in the urine.
Several scientific studies suggest that Frankincense (Boswellia serrata) oil may hold promise as a natural treatment for cancer. One study suggests that “frankincense oil might represent an alternative intravesical agent for bladder cancer treatment.”
- Kidney Stones
If you’re looking to prevent or alleviate kidney stones naturally, there are certain foods you should consider avoiding or reducing in your diet.
These include foods high in oxalic acid such as spinach, rhubarb, tomatoes, and peanuts, as well as caffeinated beverages, grapefruit juice, processed factory farm meats, and conventional dairy products.
Opting for a plant-based diet rich in magnesium-containing foods and consuming high-quality water can help lower the risk of kidney stones. Drinking hot water with lemon juice daily can be beneficial for individuals dealing with kidney stones.
Additionally, choosing sprouted grains over refined grain products can help reduce intake of phytic acid, an anti-nutrient.
- UTI
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common cause of hematuria, or blood in the urine. Fortunately, there are several natural home remedies that can help alleviate UTIs and their associated symptoms.
Frequent urination is one of the primary ways to assist in treating a UTI. Research indicates that holding urine for extended periods allows bacteria to proliferate within the urinary tract, leading to infection.
Staying hydrated is another essential remedy, as it helps flush bacteria out of the urinary tract. Drinking an adequate amount of water and urinating regularly can aid in this process.
Unsweetened cranberry juice is known to be beneficial for UTIs. Studies have shown that consuming cranberry juice can decrease the frequency of UTIs over time, particularly in women prone to recurrent infections.
Incorporating fermented foods rich in probiotics into the diet, such as yogurt and kefir, can also be helpful. Additionally, taking a probiotic supplement can introduce beneficial bacteria into the body, which can help combat the harmful bacteria responsible for UTIs.
Precautions
If you notice blood in your urine, it’s crucial to contact your doctor immediately, regardless of whether it stops. Seeking a medical evaluation is essential in such cases.
It’s worth noting that consuming certain foods like beets can temporarily alter the color of your urine to a pinkish or reddish hue. Other foods that may cause temporary discoloration of urine include blackberries, rhubarb, blueberries, fava beans, paprika, and artificial food colorings.
Additionally, certain medications can induce a red pigmentation in the urine. Some of these medications include rifampin, sulfonamides, nitrofurantoin, metronidazole, prochlorperazine, phenytoin, quinine, phenolphthalein, levodopa, methyldopa, adriamycin, desferoxamine, chloroquine, and phenazopyridine.
For women, seeing blood in the urine during menstruation is also considered normal.
Conclusions
Seeing blood in your urine can indeed be alarming, and it’s crucial not to ignore it. Sometimes, the cause may be as simple as dietary factors or medication side effects. However, there could also be more serious underlying issues.
Regardless of the cause, there are numerous natural remedies available to address the various health concerns associated with hematuria. It’s essential to remember that hematuria is not a condition itself but rather a symptom indicating an underlying issue within your body.
Therefore, seeking medical attention and exploring natural remedies can be beneficial for managing hematuria and addressing its root cause.