WHEN YOU SEE RED

“Red blood in the urine, particularly with clots, should never be ignored,” warns Dr Tim Mathew, a medical director at Kidney Health Australia. “The most serious cause is cancer of the urinary tract or kidney, but other causes include kidney stones and urinary tract infection. Dark red or cola-coloured urine can be a sign of nephritis [kidney inflammation].”

If you experience blood in your urine together with intense back pain, fever, nausea or a burning sensation when you urinate, it may need further investigation and you should ideally see your doctor without delay.