Blood in Urine for Several Days—Is It Serious? Causes and When to See a Doctor

Question

After drinking heavily the night before, I noticed that my urine was cola-colored the next day. At first, I thought it might be because I had cola, so I didn’t pay much attention. However, since then, my urine has appeared cola-colored to dark red, and sometimes just red.

When I urinate in the morning, the color is very dark, but after drinking a lot of water, it gradually becomes lighter. I have also noticed small clots or particles in my urine. Other than that, I don’t have any unusual symptoms (this has been going on for about 5 days now).

Since March 1st is a holiday, I’m planning to visit the hospital the following day.

When I searched online, I saw information about bladder cancer, which has made me very worried. I am currently 48 years old.

Ryu Kyung-ho · Accepted Answer

Hello, this is Dr. Ryu Kyung-ho from Goldman Urology Clinic, Gangnam Branch.

You may be very concerned about the cola-colored urine and visible blood in your urine after heavy drinking. Visible hematuria (blood in the urine) requires careful evaluation to determine its cause.

In middle-aged men, painless hematuria may raise concern for urinary tract tumors, including bladder cancer. However, there are also various other possible causes, such as temporary inflammation after excessive alcohol intake, severe fatigue, or urinary stones. In particular, when small clots are present in the urine and the color changes depending on fluid intake, it may indicate ongoing bleeding somewhere in the urinary tract.

Although concern about cancer is understandable, there is also a significant possibility that the bleeding is due to inflammation or stones. Therefore, it is important to visit a clinic for proper evaluation. Hematuria itself is an important signal from the body, and even if symptoms seem to improve, the underlying cause should always be identified.

At our urology clinic, each branch is equipped with extensive clinical experience. We carefully evaluate each patient’s symptoms and overall health to provide accurate diagnoses and personalized treatment plans. Identifying the exact cause is the first step toward effective treatment, so if your symptoms persist, we strongly recommend visiting a urology clinic for proper evaluation.

We hope this information is helpful. Thank you.