High levels of protein in your urine over a period of time may be the first sign that kidney disease or another condition has damaged the filters in your kidneys. A protein in urine test can help you find kidney damage early so you can make changes to protect your kidneys.
Conditions that damage your kidneys can also make you have too much protein in your urine. The two most common are diabetes and high blood pressure. Other serious conditions that can cause proteinuria include: Immune disorders such as lupus.
Is protein in urine serious? Yes, protein in your urine is serious. Proteinuria may increase your risk of death from heart disease and cardiovascular disease. Occasionally, proteinuria is an early sign of chronic kidney disease (CKD), although you can have CKD and have normal levels of protein in your urine.
Temporarily high levels of protein in urine aren't unusual either, particularly in younger people after exercise or during an illness. Persistently high levels of protein in urine may be a sign of kidney disease. Your kidneys filter waste products from your blood while keeping what your body needs — including proteins.
Stage 1 CKD means you have a normal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 90 or greater, but there is protein in your urine (i.e., your pee). The presence of protein alone means you are in Stage 1 CKD. At stage 1 CKD, you may not notice any effects on your health.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are commonly said to be associated with positive results in reagent-strip urinalysis for proteinuria, with some reviews suggesting between 63 and 83% of cases of culture-confirmed UTI having reagent-strip positive tests for protein [ 14 ].
However, you should avoid foods that are high in potassium and magnesium, if you are have been diagnosed with Proteinuria. Foods that are high in potassium include most fresh fruits and vegetables. Some specific examples include: Oranges and orange juice.
If the underlying problem that causes proteinuria is left untreated, a person is at risk for developing more serious kidney problems. The kidneys can loose some of their function or even stop working. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is the last step in the disease process.
To test your urine each day, use a simple test kit that contains a urine testing strip that you dip into a fresh sample of your urine. Follow the instructions on the kit. Find the results by matching the color of the strip to color blocks on the container.
At the Canadian Society of Nephrology annual meeting here, re-searchers from the University of Western Ontario, also in London, presented a study showing a significant correlation between excess urine production—which is usually caused by excess fluid intake—and proteinuria.
Proteinuria: the bottom line
While drinking water alone may not directly reduce proteinuria, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, controlling blood sugar and blood pressure levels, and addressing the underlying condition can help reduce protein in urine levels and protect kidney function.
Water: Water is simply the best drink you can have! Water is a zero-calorie, perfectly hydrating, cheap drink. If you are in the earlier stages of kidney disease, choosing water most of the time to quench your thirst will keep your body and kidneys functioning well.
Other conditions and factors affecting the kidneys that may result in protein in urine include: Amyloidosis (buildup of abnormal proteins in your organs) Certain drugs, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Low levels of protein in urine are typical. Temporarily high levels of protein in urine aren't unusual either, particularly in younger people after exercise or during an illness. Persistently high levels of protein in urine may be a sign of kidney disease.
When this does happen it is known as 'proteinuria'. The presence of protein in the urinecan sometimes be a sign of kidney disease, as well as other health problems.
Sometimes, multiple myeloma is found early when a routine blood test shows an abnormally high amount of protein in the blood. People with MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance) or solitary plasmacytoma are at risk of developing multiple myeloma and have regular bloodwork to monitor for it.
When kidneys are failing, the increased concentration and accumulation of substances in urine lead to a darker color which may be brown, red or purple. The color change is due to abnormal protein or sugar, high levels of red and white blood cells, and high numbers of tube-shaped particles called cellular casts.