by jorge » Fri Sep 21, 2007 4:01 am
Yoni,
You are exactly right, blood in the urine is caused by broken red blood cells, not by muscle tissue damage. It is free hemoglobin in the blood that leaks through the kidneys, not the actual broken cells. Probably a few red blood cells break every time you hit the drum, but proteins in the blood bind the released hemoglobin when there is not too much of it. When too much hemoglobin is released from broken red cells, you start to get free hemoglobin in the blood. This free hemoglobin then leaks through the kidneys and turns the urine dark. That is why you don't get dark urine after moderate amounts of hard playing.
Unless you play long religious ceremonies and can't use a mic, play softer, or take breaks, this problem can mostly be prevented. Perfecting your technique, using a mic when you have to be heard over amplified instruments, playing a little softer, taking breaks to play other instruments like chequere, bell, claves, guagua, etc, using slightly thinner skins than you might choose based purely on the sound, and using band-aids on your fingers when playing for long periods will each help a bit. Repeatedly having blood in the urine is not healthy, and should serve as a warning to do one or more of the above to prevent it happening again.
Edited By jorge on 1190347844