Frequent urination, foamy urine, and swelling are all signs of proteinuria or excess protein in the urine. The condition may be from a strenuous exercise session or drinking too little water throughout the day – or it may be from kidney damage.
Proteinuria is a genuine concern, especially if you already have kidney issues. When you reach proteinuria, you're at risk for more than kidney damage – it also affects your heart.
At Metro Renal Associates, our team takes proteinuria and other kidney problems seriously. Our nephrologists Dr. Cosette Jamieson, Dr. Kevin Griffiths, and Dr. Oyije Susannah Iheagwara lead our team and help you navigate proteinuria.
Proteinuria is a medical condition in which there is too much protein in the urine. While it may not seem like a serious problem, protein should stay in your blood, not in your urine.
The proteins in the blood have many essential functions in the body, including helping to build strong muscles, preventing infection, and regulating fluid in the bloodstream. When urine leaves the bloodstream and enters the urine, it causes serious health issues.
Proteinuria is a serious health issue that could lead to severe problems with your heart, possibly leading to cardiovascular disease. It may also be a sign of chronic kidney disease, although you can have CKD without having proteinuria.
Anyone can get proteinuria, but you're more likely to have it when you're over the age of 65, or you have diabetes or high blood pressure, both of which affect the kidneys. You may also have it if you have a family member with kidney disease.
Proteinuria happens when the tiny blood vessels in your kidney (glomeruli) aren't working correctly. This allows proteins to get through the kidney and into the urine. Normal glomeruli block larger particles like blood or protein from entering the body in urine.
Protein in your urine is a problem because it may be a sign of kidney damage. It can be either short-term or chronic and happens from various conditions, including:
The above conditions are the chronic reasons for proteinuria. However, the condition may also be short-term and happen due to the following:
The primary issue with proteinuria is damage to the kidneys. If you have long-term proteinuria, it may be a sign of more significant problems with the kidneys and how they filter waste and other products.
You can reverse mild or temporary forms of proteinuria, but not all types are as easy to treat. Our team gets to the bottom of the problem to determine if you can eliminate proteinuria.
Mild or temporary proteinuria usually doesn't require treatment and often clears up independently. For example, temporary dehydration causes proteinuria but disappears once your body rehydrates.
You can also reverse proteinuria after you eliminate a fever or reduce significant stress. Taking yourself out of frigid temperatures may also reverse the protein in your urine.
Unfortunately, reversing proteinuria from chronic conditions or kidney disease is not as easy. We can help you by treating the underlying cause of the problem, which may include:
It may seem like simply drinking more water would reverse proteinuria, but that's not true. Treating the underlying issue is the only way to address protein in the urine to prevent dangerous health problems.
To discuss your treatment options for proteinuria, call Metro Renal Associates today for an appointment or request a consultation using the online booking tool.
