Proteinuria, a medical term for the presence of a significant amount of protein in urine, is an often subtle symptom of a few medical conditions. Also known as albuminuria or urine albumin, protein in urine is often the result of something harmless, but it can also be indicative of a medical issue involving the kidneys.
Proteinuria is often difficult to detect from its symptoms. When the amount of protein in urine is only slightly elevated, no symptoms may be displayed at all. With greater amounts of protein in urine, visible symptoms often begin to appear. The Penn State University Medical Center reports a few possible symptoms of proteinuria. Urine may become visibly foamy. Water retention may also occur, causing swelling in the abdomen, hands, face, or feet.
Initial medical testing may reveal abnormalities in urine. A dipstick test can identify whether protein is present in urine. If this is the case, your doctor may then examine the contents of a full day collection of urine. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, as a general rule, urine should contain less than 150 milligrams of protein over the course of a full day. Protein levels above 150 milligrams per day are abnormal and may be a sign of a medical condition.
Once proteinuria has been discovered, its cause should be ascertained. Proteinuria is not so much a medical condition as it is a symptom of another condition. In treating the condition, you are not specifically treating the proteinuria; what needs to be treated is the underlying cause of proteinuria.
There are a few main causes of proteinuria, some of which are minor or nothing to worry about; others can be far more severe. Among the benign causes of protein in urine are strenuous exercise, high levels of stress and anxiety, and certain prescription drugs. Protein can also be found in urine during pregnancy and fever or other illnesses. In most of these cases, protein in urine will dissipate over time.
Proteinuria in people who have diabetes is usually associated with the effect of diabetes on the kidneys. According to the National Institutes of Health, for patients of both diabetes and hypertension with proteinuria, the first course of action is regulating blood glucose. Maintaining a healthy diet (under the advice of your doctor regarding what to eat and what to avoid) and regular exercise can be your most effective course of action in combating proteinuria and diabetes.
Whenever you believe you may be afflicted with proteinuria or any of its associated conditions, consult your doctor for a plan of action. While protein in urine can be a temporary side-effect of a benign cause, it can also indicate a serious condition like kidney disease or diabetes.
