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Suggest Treatment For Blood In Urine

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Posted on Tue, 3 Oct 2017
Question: I noticed a heavy blood in the urine today. I have unrinated quite frequetantly today and it gets redder each time I urinate. I am a male, 86 years old otherwise in good health. IS THIS CAUSE FOR CONCERN?
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Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Painless gross hematuria

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

Yes, I would take prompt action to have this evaluated.

Painless hematuria (blood in the urine without any pain) is usually caused by something that causes inflammation such as infection, or by a growth somewhere in the urinary tract or by an autoimmune process (which I think is less likely here).

Infections in the bladder, kidneys, or prostate can cause bleeding. Sometimes in older folks, there are fewer symptoms such as pain. This is the most common cause of bleeding. Untreated, they can cause more problems such as bacteria getting into the blood stream.

A stone in the tract can cause bleeding but there is typically a lot of pain.

A malformation of a blood vessel in the kidneys can do this but is relatively rare.

Autoimmune problems can cause bleeding too, but typically people feel poorly and have a low grade fever with this, so I think this is less likely to be the cause.

Growths, including cancer, can cause bleeding and must be checked out. If you can get in to see your own doctor today, do so. Tell the receptionist when you call that you are having heavy bleeding in your urine.

If you cannot get in to see your doctor or one of his/her partners today, go in to an ER. If you can't get to an ER, go to an urgent care clinic - today. Some urgent care clinics are mostly staffed by PA (physicians assistants) or NP (nurse practitioners) - this is for financial reasons to save the clinic money as they are cheaper than physicians. You need a physician. If the urgent care clinic has a physician, request to be seen by them specifically. It would be best to use an urgent care clinic that is part of a hospital so that if you need to have further testing or be admitted, it can be done easily.

What the doctor will do is have you give a urine sample there. It will be tested while you wait with a quick "dip stick" test. Then it should be sent to the lab for full urinalysis and possibly a culture. The doctor will also likely order an X-ray of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder (KUB X-ray) which can sometimes show if there is a stone. He/she may also order an ultrasound or an MRI or CT scan. The ER can do this but an urgent care clinic typically does not have immediate access to doing so.

So do go in now so that an evaluation can be started promptly.



Note: Consult a Urologist online for consultation about prostate and bladder problems, sexual dysfunction, kidney stones, prostate enlargement, urinary incontinence, impotence and erectile dysfunction - Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3134 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Blood In Urine

Brief Answer: Painless gross hematuria Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome, Yes, I would take prompt action to have this evaluated. Painless hematuria (blood in the urine without any pain) is usually caused by something that causes inflammation such as infection, or by a growth somewhere in the urinary tract or by an autoimmune process (which I think is less likely here). Infections in the bladder, kidneys, or prostate can cause bleeding. Sometimes in older folks, there are fewer symptoms such as pain. This is the most common cause of bleeding. Untreated, they can cause more problems such as bacteria getting into the blood stream. A stone in the tract can cause bleeding but there is typically a lot of pain. A malformation of a blood vessel in the kidneys can do this but is relatively rare. Autoimmune problems can cause bleeding too, but typically people feel poorly and have a low grade fever with this, so I think this is less likely to be the cause. Growths, including cancer, can cause bleeding and must be checked out. If you can get in to see your own doctor today, do so. Tell the receptionist when you call that you are having heavy bleeding in your urine. If you cannot get in to see your doctor or one of his/her partners today, go in to an ER. If you can't get to an ER, go to an urgent care clinic - today. Some urgent care clinics are mostly staffed by PA (physicians assistants) or NP (nurse practitioners) - this is for financial reasons to save the clinic money as they are cheaper than physicians. You need a physician. If the urgent care clinic has a physician, request to be seen by them specifically. It would be best to use an urgent care clinic that is part of a hospital so that if you need to have further testing or be admitted, it can be done easily. What the doctor will do is have you give a urine sample there. It will be tested while you wait with a quick "dip stick" test. Then it should be sent to the lab for full urinalysis and possibly a culture. The doctor will also likely order an X-ray of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder (KUB X-ray) which can sometimes show if there is a stone. He/she may also order an ultrasound or an MRI or CT scan. The ER can do this but an urgent care clinic typically does not have immediate access to doing so. So do go in now so that an evaluation can be started promptly.