Elevated protein in the urine

In healthy people, protein in the urine should be absent or detected in extremely small quantities. Increased protein in the urine is diagnosed as proteinuria: this is a pathological phenomenon that requires a doctor's consultation and a number of additional examinations.

Normally, daily protein in urine should not exceed 150 mg. The severity of proteinuria development can be mild, moderate, or severe.

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Causes of increased protein in urine

Probably everyone knows that protein is the main building block in our body. Muscles, bones, organs are made of it, it participates in many processes that occur inside the human body.

When blood is filtered by the kidneys, then normally all substances unnecessary for the body (toxins, decay products) are excreted with urine. However, if for some reason kidney filtration is impaired, then vital substances such as protein also end up in the urine.

Sometimes a small amount of protein may be considered acceptable, however, its constant presence in the urine is a bad sign.

Among the reasons causing the temporary appearance of proteinuria, the following can be distinguished:

• violation of the water balance in the body (excessive fluid withdrawal, or lack of fluid from the outside);
• febrile conditions;
• sudden hypothermia or overheating of the body;
• vaginal discharge, failure to observe intimate hygiene rules;
• protein diet, excessive consumption of protein in food;
• stress conditions;
• physical overload.

In addition, the presence of protein may be observed against the background of taking certain medications. These include derivatives of salicylic acid, lithium preparations, penicillin, sulfonamides, aminoglycosides, cephalosporin antibiotics.

Persistent detection of protein is based on more serious pathologies that require treatment and additional examinations:

• persistent hypertension;
• inflammatory diseases of the renal and genitourinary systems;
• tuberculosis;
• tumor processes of the urinary system;
• plasmacytoma (malignant blood disease);
• autoimmune diseases ( lupus nephritis );
• metabolic disorders ( manifestations of diabetes mellitus );
• toxic infections, poisoning;
• severe burns;
• kidney injury.

In addition, protein may appear in the urine during chemotherapy, as well as in the presence of congenital anomalies in the development of the kidneys.

Symptoms of Increased Protein in Urine

A small amount of protein in a general urine test may not be accompanied by any symptoms. Moreover, such a slight increase in the amount of protein may be temporary or random, and over time the tests will return to normal.

Only severe and prolonged proteinuria can be represented by some symptoms:

• pain and aches in joints and bones;
• pale skin, weakness, apathy (symptoms of anemia);
• sleep and consciousness disorders;
• swelling, hypertension (signs of developing nephropathy);
• cloudy urine, detection of flakes and white plaque in the urine;
• muscle pain, cramps (especially at night);
• increased temperature, loss of appetite.

If a general urine test shows an increased amount of protein, then a repeat test should be performed within one to two weeks. Repeated laboratory confirmation of proteinuria indicates the need for a thorough examination of the body and, in particular, the urinary system.

Increased protein in urine during pregnancy

If protein is found in the urine of a pregnant woman, this means that the kidneys are having a hard time handling the increased load and their function has begun to malfunction. During pregnancy, the volume of circulating blood increases, normal urine excretion is disrupted due to the growth of the uterus, and chronic diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract are exacerbated.

Inflammation and infectious processes are only some of the causes that provoke proteinuria. If protein is detected, a pregnant woman should undergo a thorough examination without delaying a visit to the doctor, because proteinuria during pregnancy is one of the symptoms of the onset of nephropathy. This condition is a formidable complication of pregnancy: if measures are not taken in time, the disease can provoke a spontaneous abortion and even death.

Edema, hypertension and the detection of protein in the urine of the expectant mother are three signs of developing nephropathy, or gestosis.

Don't complain that your doctor so often gives you directions for a urine test. He is obliged to monitor the possible appearance of protein in your urine in order to take timely measures and save your life and the life of your future child.

Increased protein in child's urine

The presence of protein in children's urine tests is a signal for a more thorough examination of the child's health. Proteinuria accompanies almost any inflammatory reaction in the body, so it is necessary to urgently establish the causes of this condition. There may be many such reasons, and the main thing is to first exclude diseases of the renal system.

The detection of protein in urine should not be ignored under any circumstances. First, it is necessary to exclude a urinary tract disease and the presence of an infection in the baby's body.

In infants, proteinuria may be functional. This can be caused by banal overfeeding of the child, severe fright, cold, diathesis. Such proteinuria should disappear on its own. Simply put, if the result of the amount of protein in the baby's urine is not higher than 0.036 g / l, then there is no need to worry. However, in such a situation, it would not be superfluous to take a repeat urine test of the child in 1.5-2 weeks.

If, in addition to proteinuria, the child has other alarming symptoms, or a repeated urine test indicates a persistent increase in protein levels, it is necessary to immediately consult a pediatrician.

Sometimes protein in urine can be caused by improper collection of material for analysis. Urine should be collected in the morning, while the child's genitals should be thoroughly washed and should not contain traces of detergent. The container for analysis should also be perfectly clean. The collected urine should be brought to the laboratory within three hours after collection.

Foods that increase protein in urine

Unfortunately, nutritional disorders are quite common among people. We consume excessive amounts of protein foods and alcoholic beverages, salty and too sweet products, as well as not very fresh and unhealthy food.

Kidneys do not tolerate excess of anything. Protein diets, which are very fashionable today, involve eating only protein products, which increases the load on the kidneys several times.

Protein does not accumulate in the human body. Where do the excess protein and decay products go? Naturally, they need to leave the body, and this happens through renal filtration. By the way, it is precisely for the removal of protein products and detoxification of the body that it is recommended to at least drink more clean water during such diets. If you do not do this and continue to eat only proteins, you can disrupt protein metabolism, get a failure of renal filtration and the formation of urolithiasis.

Aggressive food for the kidneys is food that irritates the tissues of the kidney parenchyma. This is alcohol, including beer. Everyone knows the diuretic effect of such drinks. The removal of fluid from the body leads to thickening of the blood, which increases the load on the kidneys. It becomes difficult to filter thick blood, so the kidneys cannot cope and pass even the substances necessary for the body into the urine.

Other excesses in nutrition also increase the renal load: food that is too salty, too sweet, too spicy. All this, especially in combination with a disrupted drinking regime, has a detrimental effect on the functionality of the urinary system and provokes the appearance in the urine of those components that should not normally be there. These include protein.

Treatment of elevated protein in urine

Protein in urine is not a disease, but only a symptom. Therefore, before prescribing certain therapeutic measures, the doctor must find the underlying cause of proteinuria. If the cause is diabetes, the doctor will treat diabetes. If the cause is kidney disease, the doctor will specify the disease (glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis) and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

The patient’s task is to seek medical help in a timely manner and not allow the pathological process to worsen.

A balanced, nutritious diet, with the exclusion or limitation of salt, hot spices, sugar, and alcohol, should be a clear positive addition to successful treatment of proteinuria. Protein should never be completely excluded: the main thing is not to abuse it.

Try to maintain a balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats in your diet. Only a balanced diet will make kidney work easier and allow you to restore impaired functions faster.

Avoid hypothermia, injuries, stressful situations. Drink more clean water, herbal teas. Cranberry tea or fruit drink, consumed with honey throughout the day, has a particularly good effect on the urinary system.

Teas based on lingonberry leaf, St. John's wort, and chamomile are good.

Increased protein in urine will cease to be a problem if you take the issue seriously, follow the recommendations of a good doctor and lead a healthy lifestyle. Be attentive to your health!