Finding Protein In Your Urine Is Called Proteinuria Or Microalbuminuria In Medical Terms Once You Have Determined That You Have This Start By Asking Your Doctor To Determine The Diagnosis
Here is what to do about finding protein in urine and how to lower protein in urine. Finding protein in your urine is called proteinuria or microalbuminuria in medical terms. Once you have determined that you have this, start by asking your doctor to determine the diagnosis or the explanation for why protein is present in your urine. Most of the time protein in urine is a sign of kidney disease. Generally, the higher the amount of protein in urine, the worse the kidney disease can be. There are many different causes of kidney disease, and just about any of them can cause protein to be lost in the urine. The most common reasons to find protein in urine is kidney disease resulting from diabetes and hypertension. There were some ways previously reviewed about how to prevent kidney disease and reversing kidney disease after it occurs. There was also information previously published about the diagnosis of different types of kidney disease. To review additional causes of protein in urine, Mayo Clinic has a list available.
Protein In Urine Levels & Types Of Proteinuria
Urine and its composition are important in a number of medical diagnostic procedures. Proteins are found in urine at varying levels. A protein in urine normal range is used as a standard against which all results are compared. The level of proteins in urine may temporarily rise due to diet, physical exertion and disease. Presence of unusually high levels of protein in urine is called Proteinuria or Albuminuria.
Causes Of Protein In The Urine
Your kidneys, when working properly, filter waste products from your blood. They return protein and other materials that your body needs to function.
Some conditions and diseases can cause the level ofprotein in your urine to rise. Short term conditions that cause protein in the urine can include strenuous exercise, fever, heat or cold exposure and emotional distress. Long term conditions and diseases that can lead to protein in the urine include high blood pressure, kidney infection or disease, heart disease, diabetes, lupus and malaria.If a urine test reveals protein in your urine, your doctor may recommendfurther testing to determine the cause. Test may include a 24-hour urine collection to determine whether the protein in your urine is cause for concern. Your doctor may also follow up with an ultrasound or CT scan to look for issues like kidney stones or a biopsy to see what has caused damage to your kidneys.
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Foamy Urine As A Sign Of Proteinuria
While foamy or frothy urine can be a sign of proteinuria, other factors can cause urine to be foamy on occasion. The foaminess should be persistent over time before considering other causes, like decreased kidney function.
Foamy urine is not diagnostic of proteinuria. In fact, some people may have bilirubinuria or retrograde ejaculation .
If the kidneys have sustained only mild damage, proteinuria may be minimal to moderate, depending upon where in the kidney the damage has occurred. On the other hand, if the loss of kidney function is severe, proteinuria may be a contributor to nephrotic syndrome in which fluids and dyslipidemia present a more serious condition.
Symptoms of nephrotic syndrome include:
- Foamy urine
The Main Protein Of Your Blood Is Called Albumin Proteins Have Many Important Functions In The Body Such As Contributing To The Construction Of Bones And Muscles Preventing Infection And Control The Amount Of Liquid In The Blood
Each normal kidney has around one million functioning units called nephrons. Each nephron has a filtering unit called glomerulus, in which the blood gets filtered, and a filtrate is produced. Nephron also has tube like parts called tubules which absorb and secrete urinary components from the filtrate and ultimately urine is produced which is excreted.Protein in the urine called proteinuria is one of the important signs of kidney disease.
Healthy kidneys eliminate excess liquid and waste from your food, but allow proteins and other important nutrients to pass and return to your bloodstream. When the kidneys work as well as they should, they can leave some proteins escape their filters in the urine. When you have protein in your urine, it is called proteinuria . Having a protein in your urine can be a sign of nephrotic syndrome or early development of renal disease.
Anyone can develop proteinuria. You may have a higher risk if you have one or more of the risk factors for renal disease, such as:
- Diabetes
- Family history of renal disease
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How Do Doctors Treat Protein In The Urine
Doctors treat the cause of protein in the urine:
- If you have diabetes, your doctor will help create a treatment plan to keep it under control and slow down damage to your kidneys. They may recommend that you:
- Check your blood sugar often
- Take certain medicines
- Follow a diabetes-friendly eating plan
- Be active most days of the week
Drinking water will not treat the cause of protein in your urine unless you are dehydrated. Drinking water will dilute your urine , but will not stop the cause of your kidneys leaking protein.
If you have protein in your urine, talk with your doctor to choose the best treatment option for you.
When Is It Ordered
A dipstick urine protein is measured frequently as a screening test whenever a urinalysis is performed. This may be done as part of a routine physical, a pregnancy workup, when a urinary tract infection is suspected, as part of a hospital admission, or whenever a healthcare practitioner wants to evaluate kidney function. Repeat testing may also be done when a previous dipstick has been positive for protein to see if the protein persists.
Specifically for monitoring people with possible kidney dysfunction, the National Kidney Foundation has established a 5-step plan for chronic kidney disease evaluation and referral using random urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio , rather than random UPCR, to screen for and determine the prognosis of CKD, for urine protein is more difficult to standardize.
A 24-hour urine protein may be ordered as a follow-up test, especially in pregnant women with a high pre-screen risk of preeclampsia, when the dipstick test shows that there is a large quantity of protein present in the urine or when protein is shown to be persistently present.
Since the dipstick primarily measures albumin, the health care practitioner may order a 24-hour urine protein test even when there is little protein detected on the dipstick if the practitioner suspects that there may be proteins other than albumin being released.
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Urine Protein And Urine Protein To Creatinine Ratio
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- Also Known As:
- Urine Protein to Creatinine Ratio
- UPCR
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Foods To Include On A Low Protein Diet
A low protein diet will include a variety of foods. Food groups considered low in protein include
- Fruits
Other components of a low protein diet include items such as
- Herbs
- Coffee and tea
- Sauces and some dips
While its not a guarantee, many with late-stage kidney disease may need to limit potassium. Obviously, this will be something to pay attention to when it comes to increasing your fruits and vegetables.
Remember- there are plenty of low-potassium fruits and vegetables available for you to enjoy. You can also likely still include some high potassium foods as well, but its best to work with a dietitian to know how to do that safely.
You can learn more about a low potassium diet here.
Heart-healthy fats are a must when it comes to a low protein diet. Some of my favorite fat sources include
- Olive oil
- Low sodium olives
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When To See A Healthcare Provider
It can be difficult to know when it’s time to see a healthcare provider about proteinuria because the symptoms are often so vague . Even if you have foamy urine, you might figure that it was “something you ate” if you are otherwise feeling healthy.
And, that can be a problem. Because not only is proteinuria an indication that you may have kidney disease, it is often a sign that kidney disease is advancing and becoming more serious.
To this end, you need to seek immediate medical care if you experience the following:
- Gradually diminishing urine output
- Swelling of the legs, ankles, or feet
- Extreme tiredness or weakness
- Irregular heartbeat
These are common signs of kidney failure, a condition in which the kidney function has dropped so severely that you may require hospitalization to avoid illness or death.
This is especially true if the symptoms develop over the span of several hours or days. Without treatment, kidney failure is associated with a high risk of death.
Who Should Follow A Low Protein Diet
While this type of diet may be helpful for chronic kidney disease, it doesnt mean this is something everyone should try.
Studies have found a low protein diet to be beneficial for those in later stages of kidney disease, like stages 4 and 5. Read our comprehensive guide for stage 4 CKD here.
Research has also shown that those with diabetes and early stages of kidney disease may benefit from a low protein diet. However, the KDIGO guidelines state that those with diabetes be cautious with a low protein diet.
If you have both diabetes and kidney disease, it is important to work with a dietitian to have individualized guidance on the best amount of protein for your body.
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When Should I See My Healthcare Provider
Contact your healthcare provider if:
- You pee more frequently than you usually do, or it hurts to pee.
- Your pee is foamy or bubbly.
- You feel nauseous or vomit.
- You feel dizzy, weak or lightheaded.
- You have any swelling or puffiness around your face, abdomen or lower body.
- Your symptoms dont improve after treatment.
How To Track A Low Protein Diet
Tracking your food can be a great way to give you insight into your nutrition guidelines. A dietitian can help you decode your diet and make sure youre in the guidelines to keep your kidneys safe and healthy.
One of my favorite trackers isCronometer. You can use the free tool, but I think the real info is in the paid version. It will tell you so much more and you can set goals when working with your dietitian.
When tracking, youll want to be as specific as possible. It can get very tedious, but when you use a system like Cronometer you can set up some of your most common meals and re-use them for quick entries.
Be sure to compare your food journal with yourlab test results. The test results can show you more details about your progress.
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Treatment For Nephrotic Syndrome
Minimal change nephrotic syndrome fixes itself in around 40 per cent of cases. Other causes of nephrotic syndrome are also often treatable. It is essential to consult a kidney specialist who can develop a management plan for your condition.
Treatment depends on the severity of the condition, but may include:
- specific medication for some causes this may lead to complete or partial remission of the nephrotic syndrome
- diuretics to control swelling
- medication to control high blood pressure
- dietary changes a diet low in salt, saturated fat and cholesterol may be helpful to reduce swelling and keep cholesterol levels under control. Advice from a renal dietitian may be required to develop an individualised dietary plan.
Testing For Protein In Urine
The only way to diagnose proteinuria is through a urine test, which measures the amount of protein in your urine.
The test takes place in a doctors office. During the procedure, you urinate into a specimen cup. The doctor places a dipstick, or a small plastic stick coated with chemicals, into the urine sample. If it has too much protein, the stick will change color.
The rest of the urine will be sent to a lab, where it will be examined under a microscope.
If the doctor thinks you have kidney concerns, theyll repeat the urine test three times in 3 months. This helps them rule out temporary causes of proteinuria.
A doctor might also use the following tests to determine whats causing your proteinuria:
- 24-hour urine protein test. In this test, the doctor collects multiple urine samples over 1 day and sends them to a lab.
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What Can Be Done If The Urinalysis Reveals Proteinuria With Signs Of Bleeding And Inflammation
If the urinalysis reveals inflammation or bleeding, your veterinarian may recommend further testing to look for conditions such as bacterial infection, bladder stones, prostatic disease , vaginitis , and cancer, etc. Following treatment, a repeat urinalysis is recommended to determine if the inflammation, bleeding, and proteinuria have disappeared.
How Can I Know If I Have Protein In My Urine
When your kidneys start having problems and you do not have a lot of protein in your urine, you will not feel symptoms. The only way to know if you have protein in your urine, it is to have a urine analysis. The urine protein test measures the amount of albumin in your urine, compared to the amount of creatinine in your urine.
When renal damage is worsening and large amounts of protein through the urine, the following symptoms may be observed:
- Foaming or sparkling urine when using the bathroom
- Swelling in the hands, feet, abdomen or face
If you have any of these symptoms, the damage caused to your kidneys can be serious. Talk to your doctor immediately on what can cause your symptoms and what treatment is the best for your situation.
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Pycnogenol Added To Ace Inhibitors A Type Of Blood Pressure Medication
A natural treatment added to the ACE inhibitor ramipril improved blood pressure, kidney function, protein in urine, and blood glucose over ramipril alone. What are ACE inhibitors? ACE inhibitors are a group of medicines that are used in the treatment of high blood pressure and heart failure. ACE inhibitor stands for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor which include captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, imidapril, lisinopril, moexipril, perindopril, quinapril, and ramipril. Ace inhibitors work by reducing angiotensin converting enzyme which lowers blood pressure by dilating and relaxing blood vessels.
Cesarone MR et al also reported that adding Pycnogenol found that albumin levels in the urine decreased significantly in the Pycnogenol group compared to ramipril alone . Pycnogenol was noted to improve systolic and diastolic flow by 12% and 8%, respectively.
What Is The Best Cure For High Protein In Urine
Ayurvedic treatment for protein in urine may seem an outdated treatment but let us tell you that its the most effective cure for proteinuria. This holistic medical treatment mainly focusses on the internal body imbalances and correcting them naturally. In short, this natural treatment believes in working on the core of the body to correct any internal imbalance and stimulating bodys overall functionality. As a result, Ayurvedic treatment eradicates the complications of protein loss in urine and by curing the causative factors responsible for the problem. Consequently, Ayurvedic treatment for protein in urine cures your problem effectively by fixing the deep causes. In this program, herbal formulations, ancient therapies, a personalized diet and some lifestyle changes are the main elements of the treatment. Consequently, this natural treatment offers a lasting and risk-free cure to protein in urine and helps a patient live a normal life.
OPT for a reputed Ayurvedic kidney hospital like Kidney and Ayurveda to acquire the best. Overcome protein loss in urine problem with the help of Ayurvedic treatment.
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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Proteinuria
You may not have any symptoms in the early stages of proteinuria. In advanced stages of proteinuria, symptoms may include:
- Swelling in your face, belly, feet or ankles.
- More frequent urination.
- Congestive heart failure.
What level of proteinuria is concerning?
A normal amount of protein in your pee is less than 150 milligrams per day. If you have more than 150 milligrams of protein in your pee per day, you have proteinuria. The upper limit of normal can vary a bit between laboratories.
If you have 3 to 3.5 grams of protein in your pee per day, you have nephrotic-range proteinuria. Nephrotic syndrome is a relatively rare condition that causes your kidneys to release an excessive amount of protein in your pee.
Is There Anything Else I Should Know
The different methods of detecting protein in the urine vary in performance. For example, a positive dipstick protein may be elevated due to other sources of protein, such as blood, semen, or vaginal secretions in the urine. Since it measures primarily albumin, the dipstick may occasionally be normal when significant quantities of other proteins are present in the urine.
A 24-hour urine sample gives the protein elimination rate over 24 hours. It will be accurate only if all of the urine is collected. The protein to creatinine ratio is more of a snapshot of how much protein is in the urine at the time the sample is collected. If it is elevated, then protein is present if it is negative, the amounts or the type of protein released in urine may not be detectable at that time.
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