Blood in the Urine
Blood in the urine is a symptom of many conditions, including kidney stones and bladder cancer. If a person has blood in their urine, it is crucial to see a doctor as soon as possible. Blood in the urine can indicate internal bleeding that requires treatment or may be an early warning sign for other severe conditions such as a urinary tract infection (UTI) or bladder cancer.
Blood in the urine usually appears as red flecks or streaks when a person urinates, but if there are more than just a few specks of blood present, it may look like the toilet water has been mixed with red food coloring.
The color of the urine will also change depending on how much blood is present; small amounts might cause the pee to turn pink, while larger amounts can cause it to appear dark red or brownish-red.
Some common causes of blood in the urine include kidney stones. These hardened mineral crystals block urinary flow and cause pain when they pass through the ureter into the bladder, where they become lodged until they’re passed out at urination time. Sometimes this results in minor bleeding from trauma caused by passing through narrow ureters. This may result in tiny scratches inside them, causing bleeding later when they return around again.
