What Medical Conditions Are Associated with Blood in Urine?
Introduction:
Blood in urine is more often than not a sign that there is something amiss in the body. It may signal a minor infection that need not worry you, but it could also be pointing to something more serious that is still undetected. Even if you appear to be in reasonably good health, it is best to seek medical advice to rule out serious disorders when you find blood in your urine. The medical name when blood is found in the urine is ‘Hematuria’. A person can experience two types of Hematuria conditions:
Type one:
When the blood in urine is visible through naked eyes, it is called as the ‘Gross Hematuria’.
Type two:
When the blood cannot be seen with the naked eye but blood is found in the urine under the microscopic tests, it is called as the ‘Microscopic Hematuria’
Serious medical conditions associated with blood in urine:
Bleeding due to kidney stones:
Kidney stones is a condition that causes formation of ball-like structures in the urinary system of a person. These stones are made up of minerals and acidic salts. Once a person suffers this condition he/she experiences a lot of pain more especially around the abdomen.
In conditions where one is passing out urine and the stones are coming out at the same time you experience more pain in the bladder and ureter. The stones may appear and lodge themselves inconveniently in the kidney, ureter, or urinary bladder. As stones pass through the urinary tract, they tend to tear the epithelial lining of the walls and obstruct the natural flow of urine. This results in infection and inflammation. The bleeding caused by passing stones is one of the main reasons for the pink discoloration of urine. Curing the kidney stones is the only solution to this problem.
Infection of excretory organs and inflammation of tissues
Sometimes, a person may have an allergic reaction to the antibiotics and the painkillers. So the intake/ over intake of such medicines can lead to a damage to the healthy blood cells and tissues. This is when bacteria and viruses attack healthy tissue, resulting in an infection, and the body’s immune reaction further inflames the tissues in the urinary tract. Destruction of healthy cells and tears in urinary tract walls release red blood cells into the urine as a direct result. Bleeding may continue unabated unless antibiotics and anti-inflammatories are taken to check infection, pain, fever, and inflammation. Leaving such a condition untreated over long periods may create life-threatening complications and obstructions to urine flow. In order to avoid this condition, the person should make tests and ensure about the reaction of his body to such harmful materials.
The veins in the body can rupture due to pressure. If the veins in the abdomen or the veins neighboring the bladder and kidney get damaged, they start to bleed inside. The blood flowing through it then might get accumulated in the bladder and get discharged through the urine. The damaged vessels can get repaired through the repair mechanism of blood clotting. But till it gets repaired naturally, blood will get discharged through the urine.
Breakdown of body’s blood clotting mechanism
The clotting of blood is a crucial function that heals internal body injuries. It ensures that a wound quickly closes following physical trauma.
Defective genes transmitted through succeeding generations can cause hemophilia or von Willebrand disease. In these diseases, specific blood clotting proteins are either absent or weakened. As a result, wounds do not heal and bleeding continues unabated. Some of that blood finds its way into the urine.
Patients can be treated through hormonal therapy that encourages the production of clotting factors. Doctors may also directly infuse healthy blood, which increases the supply of clotting proteins to prevent bleeding. Restoration of the body’s blood clotting mechanism can be a very slow process. Until all the tissues of the injuries are not restored, blood will keep getting accumulated and keep flowing in more or less quantities.
Malfunctioning filtration system in kidneys
Glomeruli are bundles of microscopic blood vessels that become the gateway for the ejection of waste that coagulates in urine. A weakening of the body’s immune system pushes red blood cells and proteins through the base membrane of the glomeruli. If bleeding is extreme, kidney dialysis may be the only solution. If infection is the underlying cause, antibiotics need to be administered.
Tumor growth in the kidney or urinary bladder
Cancer in the kidney or walls of the urinary bladder is marked by slow and deceptive growth that gives little indication of its development. It is only in advanced stages of the tumor that blood is seen in the urine. Cancer is the most devastating medical condition associated with blood in urine. Abdominal palpation and ultrasound probes can help locate the tumor which is either destroyed through chemotherapy, irradiated, or surgically excised.
Cancer of the prostate gland
This important male reproductive gland tends to become dysfunctional in older men. The gland may enlarge and obstruct the normal passage of urine, creating much pain and discomfort in urination. Infection of the gland may also push dribbles of blood into the urine. If the condition is not tackled through chemotherapy or surgery, the chances of tumor cells migrating to other sites cannot be ruled out.
Hereditary pattern of kidney diseases
The causes of Hematuria are not always medical in nature. Sometimes blood in urine can also be a cause of just a hereditary issue. Such hereditary issues can be curable or incurable. So the person whose family background shows the tendency of the kidney diseases, they must make the urines tests in order to identify the microscopic hematuria if it exists and knowing the chances of having this problem in future.
Over exertion of kidneys due to undertaking some strenuous physical exercise
If a person does some abnormally heavy physical activity that gives a pressure on the kidney and bladder, the veins present there which are responsible for the smooth blood and urine flow in the body might get ruptured. A person must not carry on any exercise or gym activities without the proper knowledge or consultation of the expert.
