Proteins in the Kidneys

What Happens If You Have Excess Proteins in the Kidneys? By NaDica | Articles You are here: HomeArticlesWhat Happens If You Have Excess Proteins in the Kidneys? Apr 10 The protein you consume has amino acids. Your body needs these acids in order to build tissues; this includes hair, bones, nails, and muscles. In addition, the protein helps protect the body from infections, regulates fluid present in the body, and makes hormones. You should know that your kidneys have many functions, one of them is to get rid of waste products from the blood and leave protein for the body to use. Therefore the excess amount of protein is seen as a danger sign. This is known as proteinuria. Read on to find out more about excess proteins in the kidneys. Excess Proteins in the Kidneys- What You Should Know People who have proteinuria actually have urine which contains an abnormal amount of protein. This is a condition which is seen as a symptom of kidney disease. The healthy kidneys don’t permit a notable amount of protein to pass through the filters. However, filters which are damaged by kidney disease might allow proteins like albumin leak from the blood in the urine. Also, proteinuria might occur due to overproduction of proteins. Often, kidney disease has no early signs. As a matter of fact, one of its early symptoms might be proteinuria which is usually discovered thanks to a urine test during a routine physical exam. Next, a blood test is done to check the working on the kidneys. Signs of Proteinuria You should know that most people don’t suspect of having kidney disease until they test their urine. Potential indicators are swelling of the face, hands, feet, and abdomen and also foamy urine. The presence of protein in the urine impacts the ability of the body to balance fluids, and it leads to a build-up of fluids, known by the name edema. Risk Factors for Proteinuria You should know that the most common risk factors are hypertension – high blood pressure and diabetes. Both conditions can lead to kidney damage which can cause proteinuria. Other kinds of kidney disease which are unrelated to high blood pressure and diabetes can also make protein leak in the urine. Such examples are: Immune system disorders Drugs Infections Trauma Toxins Moreover, increased production of proteins can cause proteinuria. Such cases are amyloidosis and multiple myeloma. Other risk factors are: Ethnicity and race: Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, African-Americans and Native Americans are more likely to have proteinuria, kidney disease, and blood pressure. Also, some individuals get more protein in their urine while standing. This is in comparison to while they are lying down. This is known by the name orthostatic proteinuria. Diagnosis of This Condition In order to diagnose kidney disease, you should do urine and blood tests. A physician is able to determine a glomerular filtration rate according to age, blood creatinine, gender, and race to evaluate the degree of the progression of the disease. You should know that creatinine is actually a waste product of the activity of the muscle which can build up in your bloodstream in case your kidneys aren’t working correctly. Moreover, blood urea nitrogen is a waste material which occurs from the failure of protein by metabolism or in foods. This might be impacted by diet. However, usually, it increases due to the lowered function of the kidney. Many drugs, this includes antibiotics might interfere with the test results. Also, urinary tract infection and dehydration might interfere with test results. Treatment of This Condition Bear in mind that when it comes to proteinuria, the severity of the damage dictates the treatment plan. Drug therapies would be started right away. Also, diet might be changed to have less protein. There may be additional restrictions on minerals such as phosphorus, potassium, and sodium in order to put less damage on the filtering process of the kidneys. And, when it comes to the end stage of kidney disease, dialysis on a regular basis or organ transplant might be needed in order for the kidney to function normally.