Should I be worried about high protein in urine?

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.


How serious is too much protein in urine?

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.

Can protein in urine be cured?

Protein in Urine Treatment

You might not need treatment if proteinuria is mild or lasts only a short time. But it's crucial to treat kidney disease before it leads to kidney failure. Your doctor might prescribe medication, especially if you have diabetes and/or high blood pressure.


When should I be worried about protein in my urine?

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.

Can protein in urine be harmless?

Sometimes, almost always in children, proteinuria can be detected later in the day, but not in the morning. This is known as orthostatic Proteinuria and it is usually harmless.


Protein in my urine: Should I Worry?



What is the most common cause of protein in urine?

Strenuous exercise, dehydration, diet, stress, pregnancy, and other conditions can cause a temporary rise in urine protein levels. Your provider may recommend other urinalysis tests to see whether you continue to have a high level of protein in your urine over time.

What stage of kidney disease is protein in urine?

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.

Can protein in urine be temporary?

Transient proteinuria — Transient (intermittent) proteinuria is by far the most common form of proteinuria. Transient proteinuria usually resolves without treatment. Stresses such as fever and heavy exercise may cause transient proteinuria.


What happens if protein in urine is left untreated?

What can proteinuria lead to? 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.

How long can you survive with protein urine?

Life expectancies for women aged 40 years with normal, mild, and heavy proteinuria were 35.7, 25.2, and 18.2 years, respectively.

What are 5 common causes of proteinuria?

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.
  • Heart disease.
  • Heart failure.
  • Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease)
  • Kidney infection (pyelonephritis)


What are the symptoms of too much protein?

Symptoms associated with too much protein include:
  • intestinal discomfort and indigestion.
  • dehydration.
  • unexplained exhaustion.
  • nausea.
  • irritability.
  • headache.
  • diarrhea.


Can stress cause protein in urine?

Emotional Stress and Anxiety - Stress and anxiety can also increase the protein content in the urine. It is because the filtering units of the kidneys get damaged in extreme stress and are unable to reabsorb proteins leading to proteinuria.

What infections cause high protein in urine?

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 ].


What foods help repair kidneys?

The Best Foods for Kidney Health
  • Dark leafy greens. Dark leafy green vegetables such as kale, spinach, chard, and collard greens are loaded with vitamins A and C, calcium, and many other important minerals. ...
  • Berries. ...
  • Cranberries. ...
  • Sweet potatoes. ...
  • Olive oil. ...
  • Fatty fish. ...
  • Cabbage.


What are the three major categories of the causes of the proteinuria?

Proteinuria can be divided into three categories: transient (intermittent), orthostatic (related to sitting/standing or lying down), and persistent (always present).

Can you have proteinuria without kidney disease?

Proteinuria can be caused by diseases not involving the kidneys, such as multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow. In this case, the blood is flooded with too many proteins that are then filtered into the urine. The condition is known as overflow proteinuria.


What are the 3 early warning signs of kidney disease?

Here are three signs that could indicate that you are beginning to experience a decline in kidney function.
  • Dizziness and Fatigue. One of the first possible signs of weakening kidneys is the experience of overall weakness in yourself and your overall health. ...
  • Swelling (Edema) ...
  • Changes in urination.


How do you feel when your kidneys are failing?

Signs and symptoms of acute kidney failure may include: Decreased urine output, although occasionally urine output remains normal. Fluid retention, causing swelling in your legs, ankles or feet. Shortness of breath.

How do you fix protein in the kidneys?

Possible treatment includes:
  1. Changes to your diet. If high levels of protein are caused by kidney disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, your doctor will give you specific diet changes.
  2. Weight loss. ...
  3. Blood pressure medication. ...
  4. Diabetes medication. ...
  5. Dialysis.


How does protein in urine make you feel?

Symptoms of protein in urine

As kidney damage progresses, more protein will pass into your urine. This may cause symptoms such as: frothy, foamy urine. swelling in the hands, feet, face, or abdomen.

Can too much protein cause tiredness?

5. You're Tired All the Time. Even if you're someone who gets those coveted eight hours of sleep every night, eating too much protein can still leave your body tired for several reasons. First, we now know that overconsumption can strain your kidneys, liver and bones-causing them to work overtime.

What home remedy can I use to reduce protein in my urine?

Reduce proteinuria naturally with home remedies
  1. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, grains, and legumes.
  2. Lean meats are better than red meat, as the latter is harder to break down.
  3. Consume more fish.
  4. Restrict salt intake.
  5. Drink plenty of water and avoid soda.
  6. Exercise regularly.
  7. Minimize alcohol intake.


What disease is caused by too much protein?

Amyloidosis is a condition in which too much of a particular protein (amyloid) collects in the organs, so that they are not able to work normally. Amyloidosis can affect the heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, nervous system, stomach or intestines.

What organ causes protein in urine?

When your kidneys are not working as well as they should, protein can leak through your kidney's filters and into your urine (i.e., your pee). Protein in your urine is called proteinuria or albuminuria. It is a sign that your kidneys are damaged.