Foamy, frothy or bubbly urine.
Your doctor may have you check the amount of protein in your urine at home. Increased protein is a sign that your kidneys are being damaged. 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.
More than 2 g of protein is considered to be severe and is likely to be caused by a glomerular malfunction.
Protein in the urine is not usually obvious, but can be detected by a simple dip- stick test, or sometimes by more sensitive lab tests. The presence of protein in the urine can act as a warning signal that not all is well with the kidneys.
The only way to know if you have protein in your urine is to have a urine test. The test will measure the levels of protein in your urine. The name of the urine test that measures the level of albumin in your urine is called the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR).
Passing foamy urine now and then is normal, for the speed of urination and other factors can influence this. But you should see your doctor if you have persistently foamy urine that becomes more noticeable over time. This can be a sign of protein in your urine (proteinuria), which requires further evaluation.
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.
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.
A protein in urine test measures protein is in your urine (pee). Normally, you have very little protein in your urine. A large amount of protein in urine (proteinuria) may mean that you have a problem with your kidneys. Kidneys are organs that filter extra water and wastes out of your blood to make urine.
Can drinking water reduce protein in urine? No, drinking more water won't treat proteinuria. Drinking more water will make you pee more, so there may be less protein every time you pee, but it won't stop your kidneys from leaking protein.
If a person releases a lot of urine at once, especially quickly or forcefully, the urine may appear foamy. The speed can cause temporary bubbling. Organic compounds called surfactants can also cause bubbling, some research suggests.
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.
One of the early signs is the appearance of swelling over the ankles, feet or legs: One will start to notice edema at these sites which pits on applying pressure and is termed as pitting edema. As the kidney function begins to fall there is sodium retention which causes swelling in your shin and ankles.
Light-brown or tea-colored urine can be a sign of kidney disease/failure or muscle breakdown.
And some medicines can give urine vivid tones, such as orange or greenish-blue. An unusual urine color also can be a sign of a health problem. For instance, some urinary tract infections can turn urine milky white. Kidney stones, some cancers and other diseases sometimes make urine look red due to blood.
Foam may form if you have high levels of protein, such as albumin, in your urine. Like soap, proteins have certain properties that cause them to react in liquid and create bubbles or foam.
“Bubbles are bigger, clear and flushable,” Dr. Ghossein explains, noting that everyone will have bubbles in the toilet after urinating. Foam, on the other hand, is white, and it stays in the toilet after you flush.
Changes in urine color, transparency, and smell
A pinkish or reddish hue may indicate the presence of blood in the urine, while a greenish tone could be a sign of a bacterial infection. Cloudy non-transparent urine may be another sign of infection, but it may also suggest an abnormal level of salts in the liquid.
Urine Tests
One of the earliest signs of kidney disease is when protein leaks into your urine (called proteinuria). To check for protein in your urine, a doctor will order a urine test.
Clear pee is most often a result of drinking a lot of water. But, in some cases, it can be a sign of an underlying health condition. In addition to overhydration, the most common causes of clear urine include kidney issues, diabetes, diabetes insipidus, medications, and pregnancy.