Mayo Clinic Q And A: Blood In Urine Should Not Be Ignored
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What could be causing a small amount of blood to show up in urine? I am in my 70s.
ANSWER: Blood in the urine hematuria can be alarming. Although some causes of hematuria can be serious, others are fairly harmless and may clear up with little or no treatment. Either way, it definitely should be evaluated by a health care provider.
Blood in the urine thats clearly visible is called gross hematuria. Blood in the urine that isnt clearly visible is called microscopic hematuria. With gross hematuria, urine may be red or pink, or similar in color to cola, tea or rust. Gross hematuria often occurs without other symptoms. It takes little blood to discolor urine, so youre probably not losing as much blood as it may appear. However, heavier bleeding that involves passing blood clots is an urgent issue that can be painful and puts you at risk of having a blocked bladder outlet and inability to pass urine.
The first step is to determine if the discoloration is blood. Urine can become discolored in other ways, such as by blood proteins from eating beets or taking certain medications, including some used to treat urinary tract infections. Occasionally, vaginal bleeding can be mistaken for hematuria and vice versa. Hematuria in older adults nearly always indicates the need for an evaluation to determine the cause of bleeding.
Treatments For Enlarged Prostate In Dogs
The treatment for enlarged prostate in dogs depends on the cause of the condition.
For benign prostatic hyperplasia, treatment usually includes neutering, which forces the prostate to shrink on its own and reduces symptoms. If cysts have appeared, they may be drained surgically.
Bacterial infections are usually treated with antibiotics. If the infection is chronic, treatment may include injections, enemas, and surgery because medications often cannot penetrate the barrier between the blood and prostate gland. Abscesses will have to be surgically drained.
Prostate cancer is very difficult to treat, and there is no cure. Radiation therapy may help relieve pain and some symptoms, and it is possible for the cancer to go into remission. You should discuss treatment options with your veterinarian and determine what is the best course of action for your dog.
Have you neutered your dog to reduce the risks of prostate conditions? How do you keep your male dog healthy? Let us know in the comments below!
Can Hemorrhoids Affect Your Prostatitis
The blood vessels, nerves and lymph vessels of the prostate and anorectum are linked. Prostate and anorectal arteries are branches of the inferior rectal artery. Prostate vein clump and hemorrhoid venous plexus are consistent with each other, and then feed into the superior rectal vein. Not only that, the lymphatic vessels and nerve of the prostate and anorectum are connected with each other. Therefore, the incidence, etiology, pathogenesis, pathological process and clinical symptoms are very similar. Prostatitis patients also have the symptoms of urinary frequency, urgency, and often accompanied by the anus mouth discomfort, tingling, tenesmus and endless defecate or bleeding symptoms. Although the possibility is not big for man, all these may become the reason that hemorrhoids may causes prostatitis.
Both of hemorrhoids and prostatitis bloods are supplied by the rectal artery, and go into the same note inferior rectal veins. Thus, hemorrhoids and prostatitis might influence each other. Pathogens may spread through the blood and lymph vessels because of the interaction between nerve. Thats why hemorrhoids might cause prostatitis. For the prostatitis, patients can take diuretic and anti-inflammatory pill, which is a kind of pure natural medicine, and has no side effect. By the way, please pay attention that if the hemorrhoids are blooding, please do not eat this pill, for it has the function of activating blood circulation.
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Superfoods For A Healthy Prostate
A balanced diet may reduce your risk for prostate problems.
The prostate, which is part of the male reproductive system, is a gland that surrounds the bladder and urethra. It is about the size of a walnut and grows throughout a mans life. As you age, its important to maintain a healthy prostate. The gland can become enlarged, and prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men.
Theres no definitive evidence that good nutrition can prevent prostate problems, but eating a healthy balanced diet may reduce your risk. Building a meal and snack around veggies and fruit is a smart idea for health in general, and particularly a healthy prostate, says Chris Mohr, PhD, RD, nutrition expert for New York Times bestseller LL Cool Js Platinum Workout and advisory board member for Mens Fitness magazine.
Here are six foods you can eat to boost your prostate health.
The Bioactive Phytochemicals In Ginger
As a food, ginger is a good source of dietary fiber, protein, vitamins A and C as well as phosphorus and potassium. However, ginger is more prized for its medicinal uses than its nutritional benefits.
There are 3 major classes of active phytochemicals in ginger. These include zingerone, shogaols, and gingerols and they are all volatile oils.
Zingerone contributes a little to the aroma of ginger and it is used as a spicy aroma in the perfumery industry. However, fresh ginger contains no zingerone. Instead, the compound is made from gingerols during cooking.
Zingerone has an antibacterial property and is believed to be responsible for the efficacy of ginger in the treatment of bacteria-induced diarrhea.
The shogaols are also formed from gingerols due to dehydration during the storage of fresh ginger. Like gingerols, shogaols are also responsible for the pungent aroma of ginger.
Gingerols are the primary phytochemicals in fresh ginger. They are not as pungent as shogaol and but are responsible for most of the therapeutic benefits of ginger.
Gingerol is the ginger phytochemical responsible for relieving nausea and migraine. It has also been shown to be useful in the treatment of arthritic pain and for reducing high body temperature during high fevers.
Also, gingerol is currently a drug candidate in different cancer studies and early results have been positive.
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Symptoms Of Enlarged Prostate In Dogs
The symptoms of enlarged prostate in dogs can vary depending on the cause of the condition or how it affects the surrounding organs.
Some dogs dont experience any pain or symptoms at all. When that is the case, the enlarged prostate may be discovered during routine veterinary check-ups. Other dogs present obvious symptoms and experience severe pain.
If your dog experiences the following symptoms of enlarged prostate, even mildly, you should consult your vet:
- Signs of pain during urination or defecation
- Signs of pain while walking
Vitamin D Deficiency: Health Complications
Additionally, vitamin D deficiency can increase cardiovascular risk factors. Some of them increases the risk of BPH. These parameters are inversely related to prostate volume. In other words, as obesity or hypertension becomes worse, the prostate gland tends to increase.
Another vitamin D deficiency risk that causes prostate enlargement is oxidative stress. In an environment with excess free radicals, the structures of the molecules start to change. The prostate tissue undergoes changes as well and starts to grow in response.
Thats why a recent study evaluated all of these associations, and the authors gave their opinion. They suggest that vitamin D deficiency counts as an independent risk factor for BPH. In other words, you can have normal health, but vitamin D deficiency alone will cause BPH. The authors of this study published in the journal Urology recommend vitamin D as a therapeutic target and a potential marker of BPH .
Similarly, other studies have evaluated the effect of vitamin D levels in the incidence of prostate cancer. The authors report that vitamin D levels are lower in patients with BPH. However, they are still lower in patients with prostate cancer. As vitamin D levels were reduced, the Gleason score and the aggressiveness of cancer increased .
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How Will My Veterinarian Get These Samples
A free-flow urine sample iscollected . Samples of prostatic fluid are obtained by passing a urethral catheter to the level of the prostate and massaging the prostate to milk fluid out of it.
Samples of prostatic cells are obtained by fine needle aspiration or biopsy. If the prostate is greatly enlarged, it may be sampled by through the body wall by FNA or biopsied. FNA involves taking a small needle with a syringe and suctioning a sample of cells directly from the prostate and placing them on a microscope slide. A veterinary pathologist then examines the slide under a microscope. In some cases, results from FNA may not be entirely clear and biopsy may be necessary.
When Should I See A Doctor
Growth of this gland, which is just below the bladder, is typical. But problems when you pee arenât. Even if you donât think itâs a big deal, itâs worth getting checked out if you have common BPH symptoms, such as:
- Dribbling when you finish peeing
- A hard time starting a stream
- Having to pee a lot — 8 or more times a day
- Waking up several times a night to pee
- A weak urine stream or you pee in stops and starts
Some problems with urine flow can be more serious. See your doctor or go to the emergency room right away if you:
- Canât pee at all
- Feel intense pain or discomfort in your lower belly
- Have blood in your pee
- Keep needing to pee right away, it hurts to pee, and you have fever and chills
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Belly Acupressure And Massage
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Soreness In The Groin
When prostate cancer spreads, its common for cancer cells to go to your lymph nodes and then move to more areas of your body. The lymph nodes are a network of glands that help your body filter fluids and fight infections.
There are several lymph nodes in your groin. These are the ones closest to your prostate, so its common for the cancer to spread to them first. Cancer cells prevent your lymph nodes from draining fluid and working properly. When this happens, your lymph nodes swell. As a result, you might experience pain or soreness in the area.
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Diagnosis Of Blood Clots In Urine
A medical expert will order specific tests to determine the cause of the blood clot in the urine. The series of examination procedures may include urinalysis and intravenous pyelogram .
Moreover, cystoscopic examination may be performed which involves the use of a tiny camera in viewing the urethra to detect possible tumors in the urethra. Kidney x-ray may also be used in order to detect kidney abnormalities in patients especially when other tests cannot provide reliable findings.
There are other various tests like urine culture, abdominal ultrasound, and MRI, also helpful in identifying the condition of internal organs. See signs of internal bleeding.
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Symptoms Of Benign Prostate Enlargement
The prostate is a small gland, located in the pelvis, between the penis and bladder.
If the prostate becomes enlarged, it can place pressure on the bladder and the urethra, which is the tube that urine passes through.
This can affect how you pee and may cause:
- difficulty starting to pee
- a frequent need to pee
- difficulty fully emptying your bladder
In some men, the symptoms are mild and do not need treatment. In others, they can be very troublesome.
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When Should I Seek Medical Attention
Since some of the causes of blood in the urine are serious, you should seek medical attention the first time you see it. You shouldnt ignore even a small amount of blood in your urine.
Also see your healthcare provider if you dont see blood in your urine but experience frequent, difficult, or painful urination, abdominal pain, or kidney pain. These may all be indications of microscopic hematuria.
Seek emergency help if you cant urinate, see blood clots when you urinate, or have blood in your urine along with one or more of the following:
- nausea
What Causes An Enlarged Prostate
We still dont really know all the things that cause the prostate to grow. But we do know about two risk factors that can increase your risk of having an enlarged prostate.
Age
Your risk of having an enlarged prostate increases as you get older. Many men aged 50 or over have an enlarged prostate, but they dont all get symptoms. And some men have symptoms that don’t bother them.
Hormone levels
The balance of hormones in your body changes as you get older. This may cause your prostate to grow.
Other factors
Some studies show that obese men and men who have diabetes may be more likely to develop an enlarged prostate. Regular exercise may help to reduce your risk of urinary symptoms. But we still need more studies into the causes of enlarged prostate to know for certain if, and how, we can prevent it.
There is also some research that suggests you may be more at risk of developing an enlarged prostate if your father or brother has one. Again, further studies are needed to confirm this.
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Diagnosing Benign Prostate Enlargement
You might have several different tests to find out if you have an enlarged prostate.
A GP may do some of these tests, such as a urine test, but others might need to be done at a hospital.
Some tests may be needed to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms to BPE, such as prostate cancer.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of An Enlarged Prostate
An enlarged prostate is the most common cause of urinary problems in men as they get older. Possible symptoms include:
- a weak flow when you urinate
- a feeling that your bladder hasnt emptied properly
- difficulty starting to urinate
- dribbling urine after you finish urinating
- needing to urinate more often, especially at night
- a sudden urge to urinate you may sometimes leak before you get to the toilet.
You may not get all of these symptoms, and some men with an enlarged prostate dont get any symptoms at all. These symptoms can also be caused by other things, such as cold weather, anxiety, other health problems, lifestyle factors, and some medicines. Blood in your urine may be a symptom of an enlarged prostate. But this is rare and is usually caused by something else.
If you have any of the symptoms above, you should visit your GP to find out what may be causing them.
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Medications For Enlarged Prostate
There are two main classes of pharmaceuticals that work to alleviate enlarged prostate symptoms: alpha blockers and alpha reductase inhibitors
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Alpha Blockers. Alpha blockers relax the smooth muscle around the bladder neck and within the urethra.
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Inhibitors. Inhibitors stop the conversion of the male hormone testosterone to DHT to reduce the prostate’s size, eliminating blockage.
Dont be surprised if your physician prescribes a combination of the two medications, as they have been shown to work more effectively together than alone. The downside is that combination therapy may increase the likelihood of experiencing side effects from the medications. Be sure to work with your doctor to assess the benefits and costs before starting on combination therapy.
So You Have Some Blood In Your Urine
Seeing blood in your urine can be an extremely dramatic and frightening experience that, unfortunately, many people will experience in their lifetime. Blood in the urine, or hematuria, is one of the most common reasons someone will seek the care of a urologist. While it can be scary and seem like youre losing a lot of blood, its important to remember that just a little drop of blood can make a lot of urine look red, just like a small drop of food coloring will turn an entire glass of water any color you like.
In general, there are two ways to classify hematuria, microscopic and gross. Microscopic hematuria means that the blood cant be seen with your own eyes. Oftentimes, your primary care doctor will mention to you that blood was seen on your urine sample. That is called microscopic hematuria. Gross hematuria is more obvious and is when your urine is red in color or you can see blood clots. Both types of hematuria should be evaluated by a trained professional and should not be ignored, even if the bleeding goes away.
In this blog, we will talk about a few of the common causes of hematuria, how your doctor will determine why this is happening, and some treatment options for the various causes.
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