How to Reduce Protein in Urine
Take steps to reduce your blood pressure.Elevated blood pressure puts a lot of strain on the kidneys, and since persistent proteinuria (elevated protein in the urine) is almost always linked to a problem in the kidneys, reducing your blood pressure...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Take steps to reduce your blood pressure.Elevated blood pressure puts a lot of strain on the kidneys
Lifestyle strategies to reduce your blood pressure include:
Decreasing the salt in your diet.
To do so, avoid excess table salt on foods prepared at home.
Perhaps more importantly, avoid eating out too frequently, or consuming too many processed foods, as these are known to be high in salt (significantly more so, on average, than foods prepared at home).
Cutting back on cholesterol.
Cholesterol build-up contributes to plaques forming in your arteries, which in turn leads to an increased blood pressure.
Ask your doctor for blood tests to measure your fat and cholesterol levels to see if this is an area of your diet that could use improvement. -
Step 2: and since persistent proteinuria (elevated protein in the urine) is almost always linked to a problem in the kidneys
Specifically, the ideal one for doctors to prescribe is an "ACE inhibitor" (an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor).
Examples include Ramipril, Captopril, and Lisinopril.
The benefit of this specific class of blood pressure medication is that it has additional benefit (and a "protective effect") for your kidneys.
Ask your doctor about receiving a prescription for this medication, if you are not taking it already.
You may need more than one blood pressure medication in more severe cases of kidney disease. , If your kidney troubles (and proteinuria) are a complications of diabetes, you may need medications such as Metformin or Insulin to obtain better daily control of your blood sugar levels.
There are many potential diagnoses that could lead to kidney trouble and resulting proteinuria, so speak with your doctor to come up with the best medical management for your specific case. , It is important to understand that they only way to reduce (or treat) protein in your urine is by diagnosing the underlying cause.This is because protein in the urine is not a diagnosis in itself; rather, it is a symptom indicating that something else is going on.
It is only in the diagnosing and treating of that "something else" that the elevated protein level itself can be best addressed and dealt with. , The third type, however, requires a more comprehensive medical examination to determine the underlying cause.
The three types are:
Transient proteinuria.
This is when a urine test reveals elevated protein on one reading, but the level diminishes on its own and ultimately returns to normal with subsequent readings.Transient proteinuria is normally related to acute stresses such as an illness causing a fever, or more exercise than usual (such as training for a marathon).
Once the stress passes, or your body adapts to it, your protein levels should also return to normal.
Orthostatic proteinuria.
This is when the abnormal protein levels are related to postural changes (standing versus sitting versus lying down).It is uncommon, and more likely to be present in adolescents; if present, it does not require treatment, and it almost always resolves itself by adulthood.
Persistent proteinuria.
This is when the protein levels in your urine remain elevated with repeat testing.It is indicative of an underlying problem such as kidney disease, diabetes, autoimmune disease, or another medical condition.
It will require a series of tests for diagnostic purposes, as well as medical treatment. , The key here is to see your doctor again a few days later for a repeat urine test (and a repeat measurement), at which point he or she can confirm that your protein levels have diminished and/or hopefully returned to normal.
If you are experiencing "transient proteinuria," the great news is that there is nothing you need to do to treat it, and your levels will return to normal on their own within a few days to a couple weeks.
Note that if you are experiencing an "acute stressor" (such as fever, exercise, or something else), you should still see your doctor for repeat urine tests to confirm that nothing more serious is going on. , This is because it is important to obtain a series of measurements of the protein in your urine, to see how it is progressing and whether or not it is improving on its own.
Your doctor may offer you a urine test to do in the washroom in his or her clinic, or he or she may ask you to take it home and to return it to the lab once you have collected the urine sample.
Note that if you store your urine at home, it needs to be kept cool in the refrigerator until you are able to deliver it to the lab for formal analysis. , If your doctor orders blood tests, he or she will likely be measuring the BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and the Creatinine.Both of these are kidney function tests, providing your doctor with valuable information about the health of your kidneys.
Your doctor may also order other blood tests such as HbA1c (a diabetes test), or autoimmune antibodies if he or she suspects an underlying autoimmune disease.
It will all depend on your medical history, and the medical conditions that your doctor thinks you are most at risk of having. , In some cases, a kidney biopsy is also required as a further investigation to determine the cause of the protein in your urine.This is more rare; however, it may be needed if your doctor cannot otherwise determine the cause. , If you are currently pregnant and have elevated protein levels, it may be due to a condition called preeclampsia.
Check out How to Deal With Pre-Eclampsia for more information on preeclampsia and elevated protein levels in your urine during pregnancy. -
Step 3: reducing your blood pressure can help the problem significantly.
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Step 4: Opt for a blood pressure medication.Essentially everyone who is diagnosed with a level of kidney disease or kidney disfunction (which are the primary reasons for persistently elevated protein in the urine) receives a blood pressure medication from their doctor.
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Step 5: Ask your doctor about other medical treatments.For instance
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Step 6: if you have an underlying autoimmune disease causing kidney problems (and hence protein in your urine)
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Step 7: you may need medications to suppress your immune system.
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Step 8: Diagnose the cause.
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Step 9: Determine which type of "proteinuria" (elevated protein in the urine) you are experiencing.There are three types of proteinuria
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Step 10: and the good news is that two out of the three require no treatment and usually resolve all on their own
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Step 11: with time.
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Step 12: Evaluate any transient stresses you may be experiencing.As previously mentioned
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Step 13: if you are currently ill with a fever
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Step 14: exercising more than usual
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Step 15: or suffering from other acute stressors in your life
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Step 16: the protein levels in your urine may be elevated transiently as a result of this stress.
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Step 17: Request repeat urine tests.It is key to obtain repeat urine tests.
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Step 18: Get blood tests.Additional diagnostic testing that your doctor may perform includes blood tests
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Step 19: particularly if he or she suspects that you may have underlying kidney disease or other health problems.
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Step 20: Get a kidney biopsy.
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Step 21: Be aware that protein in the urine during pregnancy is another matter.
Detailed Guide
Lifestyle strategies to reduce your blood pressure include:
Decreasing the salt in your diet.
To do so, avoid excess table salt on foods prepared at home.
Perhaps more importantly, avoid eating out too frequently, or consuming too many processed foods, as these are known to be high in salt (significantly more so, on average, than foods prepared at home).
Cutting back on cholesterol.
Cholesterol build-up contributes to plaques forming in your arteries, which in turn leads to an increased blood pressure.
Ask your doctor for blood tests to measure your fat and cholesterol levels to see if this is an area of your diet that could use improvement.
Specifically, the ideal one for doctors to prescribe is an "ACE inhibitor" (an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor).
Examples include Ramipril, Captopril, and Lisinopril.
The benefit of this specific class of blood pressure medication is that it has additional benefit (and a "protective effect") for your kidneys.
Ask your doctor about receiving a prescription for this medication, if you are not taking it already.
You may need more than one blood pressure medication in more severe cases of kidney disease. , If your kidney troubles (and proteinuria) are a complications of diabetes, you may need medications such as Metformin or Insulin to obtain better daily control of your blood sugar levels.
There are many potential diagnoses that could lead to kidney trouble and resulting proteinuria, so speak with your doctor to come up with the best medical management for your specific case. , It is important to understand that they only way to reduce (or treat) protein in your urine is by diagnosing the underlying cause.This is because protein in the urine is not a diagnosis in itself; rather, it is a symptom indicating that something else is going on.
It is only in the diagnosing and treating of that "something else" that the elevated protein level itself can be best addressed and dealt with. , The third type, however, requires a more comprehensive medical examination to determine the underlying cause.
The three types are:
Transient proteinuria.
This is when a urine test reveals elevated protein on one reading, but the level diminishes on its own and ultimately returns to normal with subsequent readings.Transient proteinuria is normally related to acute stresses such as an illness causing a fever, or more exercise than usual (such as training for a marathon).
Once the stress passes, or your body adapts to it, your protein levels should also return to normal.
Orthostatic proteinuria.
This is when the abnormal protein levels are related to postural changes (standing versus sitting versus lying down).It is uncommon, and more likely to be present in adolescents; if present, it does not require treatment, and it almost always resolves itself by adulthood.
Persistent proteinuria.
This is when the protein levels in your urine remain elevated with repeat testing.It is indicative of an underlying problem such as kidney disease, diabetes, autoimmune disease, or another medical condition.
It will require a series of tests for diagnostic purposes, as well as medical treatment. , The key here is to see your doctor again a few days later for a repeat urine test (and a repeat measurement), at which point he or she can confirm that your protein levels have diminished and/or hopefully returned to normal.
If you are experiencing "transient proteinuria," the great news is that there is nothing you need to do to treat it, and your levels will return to normal on their own within a few days to a couple weeks.
Note that if you are experiencing an "acute stressor" (such as fever, exercise, or something else), you should still see your doctor for repeat urine tests to confirm that nothing more serious is going on. , This is because it is important to obtain a series of measurements of the protein in your urine, to see how it is progressing and whether or not it is improving on its own.
Your doctor may offer you a urine test to do in the washroom in his or her clinic, or he or she may ask you to take it home and to return it to the lab once you have collected the urine sample.
Note that if you store your urine at home, it needs to be kept cool in the refrigerator until you are able to deliver it to the lab for formal analysis. , If your doctor orders blood tests, he or she will likely be measuring the BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and the Creatinine.Both of these are kidney function tests, providing your doctor with valuable information about the health of your kidneys.
Your doctor may also order other blood tests such as HbA1c (a diabetes test), or autoimmune antibodies if he or she suspects an underlying autoimmune disease.
It will all depend on your medical history, and the medical conditions that your doctor thinks you are most at risk of having. , In some cases, a kidney biopsy is also required as a further investigation to determine the cause of the protein in your urine.This is more rare; however, it may be needed if your doctor cannot otherwise determine the cause. , If you are currently pregnant and have elevated protein levels, it may be due to a condition called preeclampsia.
Check out How to Deal With Pre-Eclampsia for more information on preeclampsia and elevated protein levels in your urine during pregnancy.
About the Author
Marilyn Howard
Writer and educator with a focus on practical hobbies knowledge.
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