Seeing dark or reddish urine can be alarming, especially if you know you haven’t been drinking enough water. You may wonder if dehydration could be causing blood in your urine or if something else is wrong.
So, can dehydration cause blood in urine? Dehydration usually doesn’t cause bleeding on its own. But it can make your urine darker, which may look like blood. Not drinking enough water can also raise your risk of kidney stones, which can cause blood in the urine.
If you see blood in your urine, don’t assume dehydration is the cause. A urologist can determine whether blood is present and what may be causing it.
Is Dark Urine the Same as Blood in Urine?
No. When you’re dehydrated, your kidneys try to conserve water. You make less urine, and your urine becomes more concentrated. Instead of pale yellow, it may look dark yellow or amber.
Blood in the urine is called hematuria. Sometimes there’s enough blood to make your urine look pink, red, or brown. Other times, there’s so little blood that it can only be found with a urine test.
Urine color alone can’t tell you whether blood is present. If you’re unsure, a urine test can check for red blood cells.
How Can Dehydration Contribute to Blood in Urine?
Dehydration usually isn’t the direct cause of blood in your urine. But not drinking enough water can contribute to problems that may cause hematuria.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are one of the clearest links between dehydration and blood in the urine.
When you don’t drink enough water, you make less urine. This allows minerals and salts in your urine to build up and form stones. Drinking enough water can lower your risk.
A kidney stone can irritate the urinary tract as it moves, which may cause bleeding. You may also have sharp pain in your:
- Side
- Back
- Lower abdomen
- Groin
Some kidney stones cause little or no pain, so blood in the urine may be one of the first signs you notice.
Urinary Tract Infections
A urinary tract infection (UTI) can also cause blood in the urine. Other symptoms may include:
- Burning when you urinate
- Needing to urinate more often
- A strong or sudden urge to go
- Cloudy urine
- Lower abdominal discomfort
If the infection spreads to your kidneys, you may also have fever, chills, back or side pain, nausea, or vomiting.
Drinking enough water is good for your urinary health, but water alone won’t treat a UTI. If you think you have an infection, talk with your doctor about whether you need treatment.
Strenuous Exercise
Intense exercise can sometimes cause temporary blood in the urine. This is more common after strenuous or long-lasting exercise, such as distance running.
Dark brown or reddish urine after intense exercise doesn’t always mean there’s blood in your urine. Rarely, severe muscle damage can also make urine look dark. Seek medical care if you have dark urine along with severe muscle pain, weakness, or swelling after intense exercise.
Seek medical care if you have dark urine along with severe muscle pain, weakness, or swelling after intense exercise.
When Should You See a Urologist for Blood in Your Urine?
Dark yellow urine caused by dehydration should become lighter once you start drinking enough fluids again. Visible blood in your urine is different.
If your urine looks pink, red, or reddish brown and you think it may contain blood, schedule an evaluation. You should still get checked even if you don’t have pain or the blood only appears once.
Kidney stones and UTIs are common causes of hematuria, but they aren’t the only ones. Blood in the urine can also be related to an enlarged prostate, kidney problems, or conditions affecting the bladder and other parts of the urinary tract.
A urologist can confirm whether there is blood in your urine and determine what may be causing it.
Can Dehydration Cause Blood in Urine? Talk With a San Antonio Urologist
Dehydration can make your urine dark, but it usually doesn’t directly cause blood in the urine. But not drinking enough water can raise your risk of kidney stones and contribute to other urinary problems.
If you notice blood in your urine, don’t assume drinking more water will make it go away. Contact Urology San Antonio to schedule an evaluation and find out what’s causing your symptoms.