Does Proteinuria always mean kidney disease?

Whatever you eat is digested and metabolised in the body. The digested food enters the blood. The kidneys filter waste substances from the blood and produce urine. The three major steps of urine formation: glomerular filtration, reabsorption, and secretion. These processes ensure the excretion of wastes and excess water only. 

Kidneys are the filtering organs of the human body. Removal of toxins from the body, regulation of blood pressure, osmoregulation etc. are amongst the few roles managed by kidneys. There is a defined range of each of the constituents of the urine. Urine is made up of 95% water and 5% wastes (ions of sodium, potassium, and calcium, and nitrogenous wastes such as creatinine, urea, and ammonia). The difference in the defined constituents of the urine creates an alarming signal. Urine has a defined range of proteins. If the protein concentration is higher than desired in urine, the condition is called “Proteinuria”. It is the state indicative of damage to the kidneys. It is a complication that can be due to some chronic diseases. These chronic diseases were adversely affecting the functioning of the kidneys.

The initial stage of Proteinuria might not be indicative of any signs or symptoms of kidney damage. There can be many other reasons which can be the root cause of Proteinuria. The presence of proteins in urine is diagnosed with the help of a urine test or blood test. Proteinuria is a type of disease that is reversible with lifestyle management and ayurvedic treatment.

Ayurvedic kidney treatment in many diseases has shown positive results. It has been providing effective treatment for kidney diseases for ages. It works in a manner that helps in restoring the overall health of diseased body organs. Ayurvedic medicines for Proteinuria use herbal preparations and help you overcome this problem. Ayurvedic treatment for Proteinuria always suggests a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle along with ayurvedic medicines. 

Does Proteinuria mean kidney disease or something else?

The Kidney’s filters (glomeruli and nephrons) are responsible for sieving waste. There are more than one million nephrons present in each kidney working to filter blood. When these filters are damaged, kidneys are not able to function properly. Proteinuria is a state caused by several health conditions that creates damage to the filters of the kidneys. It is for sure that kidneys are not functioning properly if we find proteins in urine. But what makes the kidney filter more proteins could be due to many reasons. The following are the probable reasons for kidneys leaking proteins in urine:

Over-the-counter (OTC)medicines or antibiotics if used for more than the prescribed timeToxins or heavy metal exposureInflammatory diseases-Pyelonephritis and Glomerulonephritis affecting the output of the kidneysOther conditions include UTIs (urinary tract infections), insufficient blood flow to the kidneys, dehydration, diabetes etc. Effect on kidneys due to blockage in the outflow of urine (e.g., enlarged prostate gland, recurrent kidney stones).Family history of kidney failure or inherited kidney disease.People with CVD, CHD, Heart failure, peripheral arterial diseasePeople with high blood pressure /hypertension.Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) hampering renal filters

Is protein leaking in urine serious?

 Protein in your urine can be serious if it is associated with some other disease. Proteinuria may increase the risk of death if it is associated with heart disease or other cardiovascular diseases.

Proteinuria can be an early sign of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but it is also possible that you may have CKD and have normal protein levels in your urine. This shows that Proteinuria does not always mean kidney diseases. CKD means a gradual loss of kidney functions, which may eventually require a kidney replacement therapy, dialysis, or kidney transplant. Diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension) pressure can also cause damage to your kidneys. These are the commonest causes of kidney disease.

How will you know that you have Proteinuria?

Proteins-building blocks of the human body. Proteins are used to build muscles and bones, regulate the amount of fluid in your blood, fight off infection, and repair damaged tissues.

Normally, kidneys sieve the excess protein from waste through the urine. But when the kidneys are not functioning properly, this leakage is more than the desired amount.

Proteins like albumin and globulin are the main constituents of plasma. Albumin is found to be filtered more easily than globulin. It is thus the major type of protein present in urine. This is why the term albuminuria is often used interchangeably with Proteinuria.

Proteinuria can be assessed by recognizing the following symptoms.

Puffy eyes: A patient looks sleepy and has puffy or swollen eyelids. Edema of limbs: Swelling occurs because of fluid retention in the body; proteins maintain the electrolyte balance.Nausea or vomiting: Nausea and vomiting are also commonly observed in kidney-related disorders. General body weakness: Muscles are required for all our movements, which in turn need proteins. Due to excessive loss of proteins, the body gets tired easily.Foamy urine: This is the main distinguishing symptom of Proteinuria. The protein in urine will be evident if the urine turns frothy or foamy.Loss of Appetite or unwillingness to consume food.Continuous Headache for a long time. Change in urine output: The urine output that differs from normal is another common symptom of kidney disease.Change in color of urine: Urine will look yellow or dark yellow is a prominent symptom of Proteinuria.Blurred vision Visionary changes like spots or flashing lights in front of the eyes.Blood in urine: Traces of blood in urine can be identified as a severe symptom of Proteinuria.

What are the possible risks associated with Proteinuria?

The Association of kidneys and Proteinuria means there are certain possible risks associated with it:

Obesity: Obesity or being overweight is risky to live. Kidney infections: If the kidneys lose their capability to filter wastes and toxins, the chances of kidney infections increase rapidly.Increased toxin levels: Impaired kidney activity leads to higher levels of toxins in the body.Impaired immunity: Weaker immune system leads to high susceptibility to infectious diseases.High blood pressure: HBP is one of the most common risks associated with improper functioning of kidneys.Diabetes: Diabetes is both the causative and risk factor of Proteinuria. A person having diabetes is more prone to kidney-related disorders.

How to Diagnose Proteinuria?

Diagnosis of Proteinuria is not difficult. A simple Urine test can help you diagnose proteins in urine.

Urine test: A routine urine analysis can reveal abnormalities in your urine. Blood test: A normal blood sample to quantify protein levels in the blood.

What level of Proteinuria is alarming?

 A normal amount of protein in urine is < 150 milligrams per day. If your urine has more than 150 milligrams of protein daily, you may have Proteinuria. 

What foods to be avoided, if having Proteinuria?

Due to Proteinuria, the levels of protein in the blood/body decrease. So it is always advised to consume more proteins in case of Proteinuria and limit the intake of the following food items:

Foods rich in sodium and potassium.Carbohydrates consumption in high amounts.Consumption of refined sugar rather than natural sweeteners is promoted.Consumption of semi-cooked and canned foods.Saturated fatty acids.Self-medication-allopathic medicines and drugs.

Is Ayurvedic Medicine a cure for Proteinuria?

Ayurvedic medicines for Proteinuria can be helpful for people suffering from Proteinuria. It is a type of treatment that helps eradicate disease/disorder from the root cause. Ayurvedic treatment for fixing Proteinuria uses natural resources. Ayurvedic kidney treatment uses herbal medicines and suggests lifestyle changes.

The modern medicine system (Allopathic system) treats the symptoms and the associated suggestive disease. It could have a bunch of side effects on the organs. 

Proteinuria ayurvedic treatment works on kidney health and rejuvenation. This system of therapy possesses restorative capabilities

Medicines like Dandelion root, Punarnava, Kaasni, triphala, Gokshuradi Guggulu, Shirish, gudmar, musta, cardamom, fenugreek, and coriander, etc. are used to promote normal kidney function. These herbs work towards complete alleviation of the diseases from your life.

Lifestyle management in Proteinuria

 Proteinuria, due for any reason, can be managed by adopting a healthy lifestyle. By including these preventive measures and proteinuria ayurvedic treatment, one can reverse Proteinuria. These routine measures are helpful in selection and rejection of foods. These suggestions include the following:

Walking, swimming, running or yoga. Start exercising regularly.Limit the use of table salt in your diet. The sodium in table salt can further deteriorate the health of your kidney—the self-restraint of preserved foods, pickles etc. Salt is the most common preservative and can be dangerous for kidney patients. Regular dry massage or udvartan with some medicines prescribed in Ayurveda has shown applaudable results for kidney patients.In the case of Proteinuria, protein-rich foods are recommended to compensate for protein loss.Soaking vegetables for 20 minutes beforehand increases the loss of potassium from foods. Keep your increased or low blood pressure near normal.Include pranayama /breathing exercises in your daily routine. Pranayama helps in improving the overall health of all. Include large amounts of fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains, as these help keep your system clean and healthy.Diabetes in the advanced stage affects kidney health. Reducing the amount of sugar in your diet will help in maintaining kidney health. A regular steam bath may help reduce fat in obese diabetics, leading to other kidney problems.

 

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