Understanding Red Urine: Causes and When to Worry

Reddish pee can happen for many reasons, some benign, some more concerning than others. Possible causes include:

Beets or other foods. Did you eat beets, blueberries, rhubarb or another food that can dye your urine red? If this is the case, your pee will likely return to its normal color within a day.

Excessive exercise. Sometimes strenuous activity can damage your muscles, causing them to release substances into your bloodstream that turn your urine red or cola-colored. This typically clears up on its own within days.

Medications. Certain drugs can potentially discolor your urine.

Medical conditions. Red or pinkish urine can occasionally signal a more serious underlying medical problem. Possible causes include:

- Urinary tract infection (UTI)

- Kidney disease

- Kidney stones

- Prostate issues

- Sickle cell anemia

- Cancer

- Other illnesses