How to Treat Bloody Urine
Bloody urine can be caused by various diseases. Because it can be caused by various diseases, how to treat bloody urine can vary. Blood urine medication will generally be given after the doctor determines for sure the cause of bloody urine.
Bloody urine, also known as hematuria, is a condition when there is blood in the urine. Peeing blood can make urine appear reddish or brownish in color, resembling tea. However, in some cases blood urine is asymptomatic and makes urine appear normal.
Therefore, to determine whether there is blood in the urine or not, it is necessary to carry out a physical examination and support in the form of a urine test by a doctor.
Causes of Blood Urine
Bloody urine can be caused by harmless conditions, such as menstruation, strenuous exercise, and consuming certain foods or drinks that are bright red in color.
However, bloody urine can also occur when red blood cells enter the urine through the kidneys, bladder, urinary tract due to certain diseases or medical conditions, such as:
1. Infection
Bloody urine can be a sign of an infection in the urinary tract or kidneys. In addition, infection can also trigger other symptoms, such as pain when urinating, feeling like you need to pee constantly, cloudy urine, bad smelling urine and fever.
2. Disorders of the urinary tract
The presence of blood in the urine can be caused by several disorders of the urinary tract, such as inflammation of the urinary tract (urethritis) and prostate gland (prostatitis).
In addition, bloody urine can also be caused by a blockage in the urinary tract, such as urinary stones or bladder stones, benign prostate enlargement, or tumors and cancers in the urinary tract, prostate, and kidneys.
3. Kidney disorders
Bloody urine can also be caused by several disorders or diseases of the kidneys, including kidney stones, glomerulonephritis, kidney failure, nephritic syndrome, polycystic kidney disease, tumors or kidney cancer, to injury or bleeding in the kidneys.
4. Side effects of taking medication
Taking certain medicines, such as chemotherapy medicines, penicillin antibiotics, and blood thinners or anticoagulants, can cause side effects in the form of bloody urine.
In addition to some of the causes above, bloody urine can also be caused by several other conditions, such as blood clotting disorders, sickle cell anemia and Alport's syndrome.
How to Treat Blood Urine
Whatever the cause, the problem of bloody urine is a problem that should not be taken lightly and should immediately be examined by a doctor. After the doctor conducts an examination and determines what the cause is, then the right medicines to treat bloody urine is given.
As for some steps that can be taken by doctors to treat bloody urine are as follows:
1. Using medicine
Basically the medicine given by the doctor is adjusted to the disease that causes bloody urine. For example, to treat bloody urine due to a bacterial infection that occurs in the urinary tract or kidneys, the doctor will give antibiotics.
However, if the cause of bloody urine is due to a benign enlarged prostate, the doctor will prescribe an alpha blocker to relax the muscles in the prostate gland and bladder, and help shrink the enlarged prostate.
2. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)
If the cause of bloody urine is due to large kidney stones, the doctor may treat it with an extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) procedure.
The goal of this procedure is to destroy kidney stones, so that they become smaller and easier to pass with urine.
3. Chemotherapy
If the cause of bloody urine is a tumor or cancer in the kidneys or urinary tract, the doctor will give chemotherapy treatment to treat the bloody urine. The goal of this treatment method is to suppress the growth of cancer cells and prevent them from moving to other organs.
However, chemotherapy treatment must be tailored to the type and stage of cancer, age, and the patient's overall health condition.
4. Surgery
To treat bloody urine caused by kidney stones or serious injury to the kidneys can be done with surgery. However, prior to surgery, it is necessary to do an examination first to determine the severity of the wound or injury.
In certain cases, such as in the case of blood urine caused by kidney failure, the treatment requires dialysis.
How to Prevent Blood Urine
To prevent bloody urine problems, it is recommended that you always maintain the health of your kidneys and urinary tract by doing the following ways:
- Increase the consumption of water.
- Limit consumption of caffeine, sugar and salt.
- Avoid the habit of holding urine for too long.
- Clean the genitals after urinating. For women, it is recommended to clean the genital organs in the right way, namely from front to back.
- Use condoms during intercourse and avoid having multiple partners.
- Quit smoking.
When you feel the problem of bloody urine, then immediately check with a doctor to get the right bloody urine medication according to the cause. How to treat bloody urine properly can prevent dangerous complications, such as severe kidney damage and anemia.