What is proteinuria?

Proteinuria is an increased level of urine protein. This condition can be a sign of kidney damage. Protein is a vital nutrient for our muscle and bone development that also helps keep on the fluid content in the blood. It helps repair damaged portions of tissues and helps fight infection within. Protein is necessary, and henceforth should remain in the blood. If the protein enters the urine, it may leave the body ultimately, which is called proteinuria. Having protein in the urine makes it look foamy or frothy.

Proteinuria may occasionally be seen in healthy individuals also in response to temporary conditions. But if it inhibits kidney disease, you may need treatment such as proteinuria treatment in Ayurveda.

How does protein get along with the urine?

Protein gets into the urine when the kidneys are not working properly. Normally, glomeruli, the tiny loops of capillaries in the kidneys, sifts wastes and other compounds from the blood. The filters allow substances to pass through them but not the large molecules of protein and even red blood cells into the urine. Of chance, the smaller protein may steal through the glomeruli, tubules which are other hollow tubes in the kidneys, reabsorb them, and send them back into the body.
In case both the filtering, units are damaged, there is a problem in the re-absorption process, and protein may skip or flow into the urine.

What causes proteinuria?

Proteinuria can be caused by non-harmful or temporary medical conditions, such as:

  • Dehydration
  • Inflammation
  • Low blood pressure
  • Intense exercise or activity
  • Emotional stress
  • A kidney stone in the urinary tract can cause proteinuria
  • Too much consumption of aspirin
  • Exposure to cold can also trigger proteinuria

When proteinuria is an indication of chronic kidney disease, several other causes may become prominent for protein loss. Chronic kidney disease is a gradual loss of kidney function during which you may notice changes in your urination, one being foamy urine due to the presence of albumin. Albumin is a protein type nearly lost on account of albuminuria or proteinuria.
Proteinuria is the first sign that may appear when your kidney function deteriorates.

Diabetes and high blood pressure can damage kidneys in the long run. So the management of them is important to make sure that your kidneys remain functional.

Though there are medical conditions which can lead to proteinuria, and these may include:

  • Immune disorders like lupus and Good pasture’s syndrome
  • Acute inflammation of the kidney’s filters called glomeruli (glomerulonephritis)
  • Cancer of plasma cells (multiple myeloma)
  • Intravascular hemolysis, leading to the destruction of red blood cells and the release of hemoglobin into the bloodstream
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Preeclampsia, which is hypertension and proteinuria in a pregnant woman
  • Poisoning
  • Trauma
  • Kidney cancer
  • Congestive heart failure

It is imperative that you should stick to proteinuria treatment in Ayurveda throughout as this will help in improving the kidney function.

What are the symptoms of proteinuria?

It is not compulsory to experience proteinuria symptoms, especially if you are just about to have problems. However, if proteinuria progresses to later stages, identical signs to some other conditions may include:

  • More frequent urination, especially at night
  • Shortness of breath or severe panting
  • Frequent Tiredness
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Swelling in the face, belly, feet, or ankles
  • Lack of appetite
  • Muscle cramping at night
  • Puffiness around the eyes, especially in the morning
  • Foamy or bubbly urine
  • Sudden weight gain

The signs of proteinuria often resemble chronic kidney disease. In fact, proteinuria is the first sign of chronic kidney disease, due to which your urine may look frothy and smell.

Diagnostic tests

A doctor may suspect you of proteinuria with the help of repeated urine tests. Mostly your doctor would do it three times over three months just to assure that results are authentic. If the samples test positive for albuminuria, you may have kidney disease. The earlier you diagnose, the more are the chances you may slow it down with the help of proteinuria treatment in Ayurveda.

Additional tests might include:

  • Blood test - To measure creatinine levels, a type of chemical product is checked with the help of a blood test. Healthy kidneys remove these substances from the blood, but you may have a high blood creatinine range during proteinuria.
  • Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) - It is done with the help of a blood test to know how well the kidneys are working and how far the kidney disease has advanced. GFR is mainly done to compares a patient’s size, age, sex, and race to levels of creatinine and albumin in the blood.
  • Serum creatinine - It is done to check for all proteins in the serum. The serum is part of the blood-filled with proteins.
  • Imaging tests like CT scans and ultrasounds - Imaging tests help to know the exact cause of proteinuria, be it obstruction in the urinary tract, kidney stones, or any tumors.
  • Urine protein electrophoresis - Doctors search for specific protein types in a urine sample. For instance, a protein called Bence-Jones may show up multiple myeloma.
  • Immunofixation blood test - Immunoglobulins are other proteins that fight against infections. If you have immunoglobulin build-up in the blood, it may indicate even blood cancer.
  • A kidney biopsy - It is a procedure done by removing a tiny portion of the kidneys. Then the sample is tested under a microscope to determine the actual cause of kidney disease and the severity of the damage.

Treatment

To know more about proteinuria treatment in Ayurveda, consult us at www.karmaayurveda.co.uk.

Author's Bio: 

Proteinuria is the loss of protein during urination. When this happens, it usually indicates chronic kidney disease and albuminuria, so you need proteinuria treatment in Ayurveda.