Bloody urine after exercise is caused by bleeding somewhere along the urinary tract. The kidneys are responsible for removing waste from the blood and converting it to urine. Urine then travels down the ureters to the bladder where it is stored until it's relieved though the urethra. Blood in the urine is usually not exercise-related. Always consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Identification
Blood in the urine can be your only symptom or it can be accompanied by other complaints. If your exercising involves a lot of bouncing, such as jogging, you may have jogger's hematuria. A urinary tract infection will also cause burning while you urinate, strong-smelling, cloudy urine and a frequent urge to urinate with only a small amount of urine leaving the body. Kidney or bladder stones can also cause severe pain in your lower back, nausea or vomiting. Tumors in the urinary tract can also cause blood in the urine.
Causes
The cause of jogger's hematuria is unknown, but it may be caused by dehydration or repeated jarring of parts of the bladder. Joggers and runners seem to have jogger's hematuria more frequently than other athletes. A urinary tract infection is caused by bacteria entering the urethra and multiplying in the bladder. This can be caused by sexual activity, wiping front-to-back after defecation, or invasive devices such as a catheter.
Kidney or bladder stones are caused by crystals being formed in the bladder or kidneys. These crystals are usually broken down by the body's natural chemistry, but if they're not broken down, they can grow large enough to block urine. Tumors along the urinary tract can be cancerous or benign.
Treatment
Treatment will depend on your doctor's diagnosis. You will give your doctor a urine sample so tests can diagnose the cause of blood in your urine. If jogger's hematuria is suspected, the condition usually clears on its own within 48 hours. Urinary tract infections are usually treated with antibiotics, such as amoxicillin. Urinary tract infections will often feel better within a few days; however, it's important to finish your antibiotics since stopping your prescription early can result in the infection returning and becoming more difficult to treat. Kidney and bladder stones can be broken down into smaller fragments with high energy shockwave lithotripsy. This allows the stones to be passed out in the urine. In some cases, surgery may be needed for stone removal. If cancer is causing the blood in your urine, there are several options available, such as surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Prevention
A healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent blood in your urine. You're already exercising, which is one way to reduce the more serious causes of blood in your urine. Start a less-intense exercise program to avoid blood in your urine after exercising. Stay hydrated by drinking at least 12 glasses of water per day and drink even more while you exercise. Avoid smoking, since smoking is linked to urinary tract cancers. Limit the amount of salt, sugar, fat and cholesterol in your diet. Women should always wipe front-to-back to prevent the spread of bacteria into the urethra. Limit your number of sex partners and always urinate shortly after having sex.
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