These symptoms tell me that I have protein in my urine
Protein in urine causes little or no symptoms in principle, rather the protein excretion itself is to be understood as a symptom of other diseases. However, this symptom “protein in urine” can occur together with other complaints. For example, there is often a simultaneous excretion of blood cells in the urine, which can lead to a darker or even red coloration of the urine.
A burning or stinging sensation when urinating can also be noticeable. In more severe kidney diseases, pain in the kidney area can also occur. These are usually felt on the back in the lower part of the thoracic spine.
Infectious causes can also cause additional symptoms such as fever and fatigue. An increased urge to urinate and a larger quantity of urine can also be indications of protein in the urine and associated diseases. Proteinuria can also be indicated by an increased yellow coloration of the urine.
If there are particularly high concentrations of protein in the urine, the urine may even foam when urinating. Since excretion of more than 150mg of protein within 24 hours can be a symptom of many serious kidney diseases, the cause of the disease should always be clarified by a specialist (urologist, nephrologist). Protein in urine is usually not visible.
However, particularly high concentrations can cause the urine to be darker in color. Foaming of the urine during urination can also become visible with increased protein levels. Normally, however, the urine is inconspicuous in appearance. Accompanying symptoms of proteinuria, such as the excretion of blood cells (haematuria), can, however, become visible by a dark or red coloration of the urine.
Diagnosis of protein in urine
The diagnosis of protein in urine must be made by means of a urine sample. This usually involves pouring some urine into a cup. It is important to collect so-called middle stream urine, otherwise high values will be measured by mistake.
To do this, the first portion of the urine is not collected, after which a certain amount of urine should end up in the cup, but the last portion is again not collected. The urine can then be examined. The quick test, the so-called urine stix, can identify within a few minutes whether there is an increased amount of protein in the urine.
The urine is then further examined in the laboratory. A 24-hour collective urine is also part of the diagnostic procedure. The best known urine test is the so-called Urine-Stix, or U-Stix for short.
It is offered by various companies and consists of a thin strip coated with various test fields. This strip can be dipped into the urine and then left to dry. Usually the result can be read after only one minute.
The color of the test fields is compared with the matching fields on the test strip vial. In this way, not only the protein content of the urine can be compared. Blood cells, sugar, density and other values can also be tested in this way and provide the first indications of disease. A detailed urine test is then carried out in the laboratory.
