What Causes Foamy Urine. Foamy urine is a sign of protein in the urine, which is not normal. “Kidneys filter the protein, but should keep it in the body,” explains Dr. Ghossein. If kidneys are releasing protein into the urine, they are not working properly.
Seeing foam in the toilet bowl on a regular basis may be a warning sign of kidney disease. Your kidneys might be leaking protein into the urine, which causes foamy-looking urine. It's important to let your doctor know how often you're seeing bubbly urine.
The treatment options for foamy urine depend on the underlying cause. If a person is dehydrated, they should drink more clear fluids until the urine is pale yellow or nearly transparent. If diabetes is the underlying cause, a doctor may prescribe oral medications or insulin injections to reduce blood sugar levels.
While bubbles are clear, foam is more of an opaque shade of white. And foamy urine is often a sign that there is protein in your urine, according to Northwestern Medicine. That could indicate that your kidneys are not functioning properly because they're responsible for filtering and keeping protein in your body.
Passing foamy urine now and then is normal, for the speed of urination and other factors can influence this. But you should see your doctor if you have persistently foamy urine that becomes more noticeable over time. This can be a sign of protein in your urine (proteinuria), which requires further evaluation.
When kidneys are failing, the increased concentration and accumulation of substances in urine lead to a darker color which may be brown, red or purple. The color change is due to abnormal protein or sugar, high levels of red and white blood cells, and high numbers of tube-shaped particles called cellular casts.
Drinking water will not treat the cause of protein in your urine unless you are dehydrated. Drinking water will dilute your urine (water down the amount of protein and everything else in your urine), but will not stop the cause of your kidneys leaking protein.
Long-standing diabetes causes diabetes-related nephropathy. Symptoms don't appear until later stages, but they include swelling, peeing more often, foamy pee, nausea and fatigue. Treatment includes managing your diabetes and blood pressure.
However, if you notice foam in your urine frequently, you should take it seriously and contact your doctor. Foamy urine can be a warning sign for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and your doctor can help determine the root cause as well as what treatment is needed.
This could be caused by a number of diseases that directly impact the kidneys, such as lupus or diabetes, but can also be a symptom of a medical issue affecting other systems in your body. If you notice foam in your urine, Dr. Ghossein says you should call your primary care physician.
Foamy urine of temporary causes like dehydration, fever, and exercise goes away on its own with hydration, medication, and rest. If serious issues like kidney diseases are the cause, prompt treatment is required to prevent further damage to the kidney.
kidney problems, which may be caused by excess amounts of paraprotein produced by the myeloma cells. The symptoms of kidney problems may include frothy urine (wee or pee), passing too much or too little urine, nausea (feeling sick), weight loss or fluid retention (puffiness or swelling in the body)
Excess Protein Due to Other Reasons
There are several other factors that may allow excess amount of protein to pass through your kidneys' filters and slip into your pee. These include high fever, stress, anxiety, and intense physical exercise. This effect may also arise even when you are exposed to extreme cold.
A urinary tract infection (UTI) can cause foamy urine when bacteria is also in the bladder. In addition to foamy urine, other symptoms that may arise include pain or burning when urinating, frequent urination, and blood in the urine.
High levels of protein in your urine over a period of time may be the first sign that kidney disease or another condition has damaged the filters in your kidneys. A protein in urine test can help you find kidney damage early so you can make changes to protect your kidneys.
Stage 1 CKD means you have a normal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 90 or greater, but there is protein in your urine (i.e., your pee). The presence of protein alone means you are in Stage 1 CKD. At stage 1 CKD, you may not notice any effects on your health.
However, you should avoid foods that are high in potassium and magnesium, if you are have been diagnosed with Proteinuria. Foods that are high in potassium include most fresh fruits and vegetables. Some specific examples include: Oranges and orange juice.
Conditions that damage your kidneys can also make you have too much protein in your urine. The two most common are diabetes and high blood pressure. Other serious conditions that can cause proteinuria include: Immune disorders such as lupus.