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Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Blood in the Urine

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Blood in the urine can be visible, or it may only be noticed when the urine is tested.

What is going on in the body?

Not all cases of dark or red urine are due to blood in the urine. Muscle breakdown, eating a large amount of beets, or taking the antibiotic rifampin can all turn the urine dark or red. True blood in the urine can only be confirmed when red blood cells are seen in the urine with a microscope. There are many possible causes of blood in the urine.

What are the causes and risks of the condition?

There are many possible causes of blood in the urine, including:

benign prostatic hyperplasia, or an enlarged prostate, a common condition in men over age 40

bladder infections such as acute cystitis or recurrent cystitis

bleeding or blood-clotting disorders, such as hemophilia A or hemophilia B. Clotting problems may also be seen in a person who is taking too much of the blood-thinning drug warfarin.

infection in the urethra, known as urethritis. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.

kidney damage, such as from the condition called glomerulonephritis. In children, this damage is commonly due to an infection with Group A streptococcus, commonly known as a strep infection.

kidney infection, known as pyelonephritis

a kidney stone, which is usually quite painful

sickle cell disease, an inherited condition usually seen in African American people. It results in abnormally shaped red blood cells, which can damage the kidney.

a tumor or cancer, most commonly in the kidney, bladder, or prostate

Other causes are also possible. Sometimes, no cause can be found.

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