Proteinuria
Proteinuria, also known as albuminuria, typically signals elevated protein levels in the urine stream. It is a condition that may signal other intervening causes, such as dehydration due to an intensive exercise session, or more severe conditions, such as structural kidney failure or other immune disorders.
Proteins are essential to body building blocks as they’re responsible for building bones and muscles and regulating the amount of fluid in the blood. They are also needed to repair damaged tissues and ward off infections. They must continue in the blood because if they seep into the urine, they’ll leave the body, damaging overall health. Protein levels in the urine should only be about 150 milligrams per day.
Elevated protein levels in the urine signify a higher risk of contracting cardiovascular diseases and may also indicate the early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). If proteinuria is a symptom of CKD, it can signify the gradual but consistent loss of kidney functions. If left unchecked, it may necessitate a kidney transplant, replacement therapy, or dialysis. While proteinuria isn’t contagious, people with a family history of the condition are more prone to contracting it.
