- 1. Presence of blood
- 2. Ingestion of beets or artificial colors
- 3. Use of medicines
- What to do in case of red urine
When the urine is red or slightly red, it usually indicates the presence of blood, however, there are other causes that can cause this color change, such as the ingestion of some foods or medicines.
Thus, if there are no other symptoms, such as fever, pain when urinating or feeling of heavy bladder, for example, it is probably not blood in the urine.
However, if a problem with the urinary tract is suspected or if the change continues for more than 3 days, it is important to consult a general practitioner or specialist, such as the urologist or a nephrologist, to identify if there is a problem and start the procedure. most appropriate treatment.
See what other changes in urine can indicate health problems.
1. Presence of blood
The presence of blood in the urine is a major cause of reddish urine. However, this does not always mean that there is a serious problem in the urinary tract, as it often appears in women who are menstruating or in people who have exercised very intensely.
However, if red urine appears in other situations and is accompanied by other symptoms such as painful urination, fever or strong smell, it can indicate problems such as kidney stones, urinary tract infections or even bladder cancer, for example.
Check out the main causes of blood in the urine and what to do.
2. Ingestion of beets or artificial colors
Sometimes, the urine may become red due to the ingestion of some foods, especially when they contain a large amount of dyes, as in birthday cakes with very intense colors or colorful treats, for example.
But these dyes can also be natural, as in dark-colored vegetables like:
- Beet; Blackberry; Rhubarb.
Thus, if you have eaten larger amounts of these vegetables, it is very possible that the red color is related to your intake.
3. Use of medicines
The continued use of some medicines can also affect the color of the urine, making it more red. Some of the drugs that normally cause this effect are:
- Rifampicin; Phenolphthalein; Daunorubicin; Phenazopyridine; Contrast for exams, as in MRI.
Thus, if a new medication has started before the appearance of red urine, one should consult the doctor who prescribed it and assess the possibility of it being a side effect of the medication. In the same way, it is also possible to consult the package leaflet of the remedy to identify whether something is said about the possible change in color.
Find out what other colors of urine may mean in the following video:
What to do in case of red urine
The only way to confirm what is causing the red color in your urine is to consult a doctor. However, it is possible to know if the urine is being caused by the ingestion of something if it appears within 1 day after the ingestion of any of the foods or medicines mentioned above, for example.
If it appears that the color is being changed by the consumption of a food, you should stop eating that food and wait another 2 or 3 days to see if the red color remains. If there is a suspicion that it is being caused by a medication, you should consult the doctor who prescribed it and evaluate the possibility of starting treatment with another medication, for example.
However, if symptoms appear along with the change in color, such as fever or pain when urinating, it is possible that there is a problem in the urinary tract, and then a doctor should be consulted to identify the correct cause and start the appropriate treatment.
