Hematuria is the medical term for blood in the urine. This condition can indicate a serious health issue. Anyone who has hematuria, whether mild or severe, should contact a health care provider or a trusted medical professional for an evaluation.
There are several reasons why someone could have hematuria, including these common causes:
- Kidney infection
- Urinary tract infection
- Kidney stone
- Prostatitis
- Sickle cell anemia
- Cancer treatments
That last item on the list is a lesser known reason for hematuria, but may be the reason you're suffering from the condition.
Are you a cancer survivor who has undergone radiation therapy? Delayed radiation injury could lead to hematuria.
Symptoms of delayed radiation injury can appear as early as six months after a normal course of radiation therapy, to decades later.
Making the connection between hematuria and delayed radiation injury can be very difficult because the symptoms can occur such a long time after the treatment.
If your doctor cannot pinpoint what is causing your hematuria, you may want to inquire more about radiation therapy as the cause.
Can hematuria caused by delayed radiation injury be healed?
Yes. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can treat hematuria caused by delayed radiation injury.
Here's why: Radiation therapy can deplete body tissue and reduce blood supply. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy super-oxygenates the body, helping to restore the blood, rejuvenate the vessels and renew body tissue.
Here's how it works: A typical hyperbaric oxygen therapy session involves you lying or sitting in a hyperbaric chamber. In this chamber, the hyperbaric environment allows you to breathe in pure oxygen, up to 1,200 percent more than you normally would.
Super-saturating the body with oxygen promotes the regeneration of damaged tissue, including radiation damage caused by cancer treatments. This treatment can address your symptoms, alleviate your discomfort, and make you feel like new again.
Learn more about radiation damage.
Originally published: February 28, 2017 | Updated: January 14, 2018
Written by Alan Katz, MD, FUHM, FACEP, FAAEM
Dr. Alan Katz, National Medical Director of Hyperbaric Medical Solutions (HMS), is double board certified in Emergency Medicine and Hyperbaric Medicine. He directs clinical operations, as well as education and research initiatives for HMS, particularly in exploring the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy....
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