What is proteinuria?
Proteinuria happens when you have too much protein in your urine. This indicates that you’re suffering from some kind of kidney problem.
Protein regulates the fluid levels in your blood, builds bone and muscle, repairs tissues, and combats infection. When protein enters your urine and too much of it leaves your body, it’s not healthy.
What are the symptoms of proteinuria?
You might not notice any symptoms when you’re in the early stages of kidney problems and proteinuria. However, as your condition gets worse, you can experience:
- Shortness of breath
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Vomiting and nausea
- Facial swelling
- Swelling in your belly, ankles, and/or feet
- Muscle cramping
- Reduced appetite
- Eye puffiness
- Bubbly urine
- Foamy urine
See your Kidney360 specialist at the first sign of proteinuria.
How did protein get into my urine?
When your kidneys don’t work the way they’re supposed to, protein can accumulate in your urine. Normally your kidneys filter out waste, but that shouldn’t include large protein particles. Your body can recapture smaller proteins and keep much of them in your body.
What can cause proteinuria?
Several conditions can cause proteinuria. These include:
- Dehydration
- Inflammation
- Low blood pressure
- Emotional stress
- Intense exercise
- Kidney stones
- Chronic kidney disease
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Immune disorders
- Trauma
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Poisoning
Severe illnesses can also cause proteinuria. Because many serious medical problems can cause proteinuria, seeking treatment right away is essential.
How does my doctor diagnose proteinuria?
Your Kidney360 specialist diagnoses proteinuria using a simple urine test. You provide a urine sample, and your provider uses a thin plastic stick to test it immediately. The stick changes color if you have too much protein in your urine.
Your doctor might order repeat urine tests, blood tests, CT scans, ultrasounds, or, in some cases, a kidney biopsy.
What are the common proteinuria treatments?
How your proteinuria is treated will depend on what’s causing it. Once that cause is known, your Kidney360 specialist will suggest one or more of the following:
- Diet changes
- Medications
- Weight loss
- Exercise
- Watchful waiting
- Further diagnostic testing
- Dialysis
- Kidney transplant
If you have kidney disease, your specialist could suggest that you undergo dialysis. This procedure filters out extra fluids and waste products from your blood when your kidneys don’t work efficiently.
Or, your provider might recommend a kidney transplant if you have a severe form of kidney disease. They personalize each kidney treatment to match your needs and lifestyle.
At the first sign of proteinuria, call the Kidney360 office or schedule an appointment online.
