How to Improve Your Urine Red Blood Cells Naturally: Causes, Next Steps, and When to Retest
Hydrate steadily, avoid hard workouts before testing, and treat UTIs fast to lower urine RBCs naturally—then retest with Vitals Vault, no referral needed.
To improve urine red blood cells (RBCs) on a urinalysis, start by ruling out the common, fixable drivers: dehydration, a urinary tract infection, and recent intense exercise or irritation. Your next step is figuring out which one fits your week, because the “right” fix depends on the cause. One abnormal urine result can be a fluke from collection timing or contamination. Vitals Vault and PocketMD can help you interpret your pattern and decide what to change before you retest.
What Pushes Your Urine Red Blood Cells High?
Dehydration and concentrated urine
When you are under-hydrated, urine becomes more concentrated and can irritate the urinary tract. That makes microscopic bleeding more likely and can also make RBCs easier to detect. A simple hydration reset often changes the next test.
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
A bladder or kidney infection can inflame the lining and cause RBCs to leak into urine. You may also notice burning, urgency, odor, or pelvic pain, but not always. If symptoms are present, prompt testing and treatment matters.
Kidney stones or crystals
Stones or sharp crystals can scrape the urinary tract as they move. That mechanical irritation commonly raises urine RBCs, sometimes with flank pain or waves of nausea. Even small stones can cause intermittent bleeding.
Recent hard exercise or trauma
Long runs, heavy lifting, or contact sports can trigger temporary hematuria (blood in urine). Your urine RBCs may normalize within 24–72 hours once you rest and rehydrate. Testing right after a tough session can mislead you.
Sample contamination or timing
Menstrual blood, hemorrhoids, or not using a clean-catch midstream sample can falsely elevate urine RBCs. First-morning urine can be more concentrated, which may amplify borderline findings. A carefully collected repeat sample is often clarifying.
How to Improve Your Urine Red Blood Cells Naturally
Hydrate evenly all day
Aim for pale-yellow urine for 3–5 days by spreading fluids across the day, not chugging at night. Better hydration dilutes irritants and reduces concentration-related urinary tract stress. If you have heart or kidney disease, confirm fluid targets with your clinician.
Use clean-catch technique every time
Wash hands, clean the area, start urinating, then collect midstream in the cup. This lowers contamination that can mimic true hematuria and helps your retest reflect your body, not the collection. If you are menstruating, ask about delaying the test.
Reduce irritation through diet and alcohol cuts
For 2 weeks, limit alcohol and very acidic or bladder-irritating triggers you notice (often energy drinks or high-caffeine days). Less irritation can calm urinary lining inflammation that contributes to RBC leakage. Retest after a steady, typical week.
Rest from intense workouts before retesting
Take 48–72 hours off long endurance sessions and heavy lifting before your next urinalysis. Exercise-related hematuria is usually temporary, and rest helps you see your baseline. If RBCs persist despite rest, look for another driver.
Treat UTIs quickly and completely
If you have burning, urgency, fever, or back pain, get a urine culture and follow treatment instructions exactly. Clearing infection reduces inflammation and should bring urine RBCs down over days to a couple of weeks. Recheck after symptoms resolve.
Tests That Help Explain Urine RBCs
Urine Protein (Albumin/Creatinine Ratio)
This checks whether you are leaking protein along with RBCs, which can point toward kidney filtration stress rather than a bladder-only issue. It is especially useful if urine RBCs keep recurring. Included in many Vitals Vault kidney-focused add-ons.
Learn moreUrine Culture
A culture identifies bacteria and guides the right antibiotic when a UTI is suspected. If urine RBCs are paired with white blood cells or nitrites, this test helps confirm infection as the driver. Available through Vitals Vault lab ordering options.
Learn moreCreatinine With eGFR
Blood creatinine and estimated GFR (eGFR) estimate kidney filtering capacity. If urine RBCs come with protein, casts, or high blood pressure, kidney function context matters. Covered in Vitals Vault Essential-style panels with broad chemistry testing.
Learn moreLab testing
Retest a urinalysis with urine protein and kidney function markers
starting from $99 panel with 100+ tests, one visit
No referral needed
About 1 week
Schedule online — results typically within a week
Clear next steps
Guidance included, with follow-up care available
HSA / FSA
Eligible for pre-tax health spending accounts
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I improve my urine red blood cells naturally?
Sometimes, yes—especially when the cause is dehydration, recent intense exercise, or mild irritation. Hydrate steadily, rest 48–72 hours before retesting, and use clean-catch collection. If RBCs persist, get evaluated for infection, stones, or kidney causes.
How long does it take to improve urine RBCs naturally?
If dehydration or exercise is the driver, urine RBCs often improve within 2–7 days. If infection is involved, improvement usually follows treatment over days to a couple of weeks. Plan a retest after a stable week without heavy workouts.
Should I use first-morning urine for a repeat test?
First-morning urine is more concentrated, which can make borderline findings look worse. For a repeat, many people get a clearer baseline with a well-hydrated, mid-day clean-catch sample. Follow your lab’s instructions and keep conditions consistent.
What urine RBC level is considered high?
On microscopy, many labs flag more than about 3 RBCs per high-power field as abnormal, but cutoffs vary. One result does not diagnose a cause by itself. Confirm with a repeat urinalysis and look at protein, WBCs, and culture.
When should I worry about blood in urine?
Seek urgent care if you have visible blood, clots, fever, severe flank pain, trouble urinating, or you are pregnant. Persistent microscopic RBCs also deserve follow-up, especially with protein, high blood pressure, or reduced eGFR. Book a repeat test and review results promptly.
