What does it mean that there is foam in the urine?

Healthy people eliminate between a liter and a half and two liters of urine a day. Every time we go to the bathroom we can take a look, because the appearance can give us some clues about whether we drink enough and about the state of health, especially of the kidneys. How is healthy urine?

Because it is more than 90% water, healthy urine It is usually pale yellow in color and hardly gives off an odor. Several factors, such as the amount of liquid you drink or the composition of your diet, can affect the color and texture of your urine. Light drinkers tend to have darker urine than heavy drinkers. But, What happens with foam in the urine and what should you do if you detect it?

What does the presence of foam in the urine mean?

Depending on the strength of the urine stream, it can sometimes foam more or less. In general, foam is a sign of protein in the urine. The protein is harmless in small amounts and can also appear in the urine of healthy people. If it happens once, there is no need to worry.

However, if foamy urine is detected over a longer period of time, the protein content in the urine may be too high. This problem is called proteinuria. and it can be triggered by a variety of circumstances, including some diseases.

What diseases cause foam in the urine?

A continued excess of protein in the urine it is an indication of kidney damage. These are in charge of filtering the blood and if there is protein (albumin) in the urine it means that they have not filtered what may be in the blood due to a disease (prerenal proteinuria) or that the kidneys themselves are dysfunctional (renal proteinuria). The following kidney diseases, among others, can cause proteinuria:

In addition to disease, various factors, such as prolonged use of pain relievers such as ibuprofen or the wrong dose of high blood pressure medication, they can damage the kidneys and even cause kidney failure. In rare cases, proteinuria can also be triggered by other diseases. Among others, these may be:

Heart failure High blood pressure Malaria Tuberculosis Autoimmune diseases of the liver or lungs Bile stasis

Other causes of increased protein levels in the urine

There is not always a serious disease behind the foam in the urine. Certain drugs, such as antibiotics or drugs used to treat cancer, can cause protein in the urine.

Strong physical strain from work or sport, stress, fever and extreme temperatures can also be the cause.

In children and adolescents, protein may appear in the urine during periods of growth. In men, when ejaculate enters the bladder and mixes with urine, it can also foam.

When is it necessary to see a doctor?

Although there does not always have to be a serious medical condition, as soon as an abnormal volume of foam is observed in the urine, a doctor should be consulted, He will order a urinalysis. In most cases, benign proteinuria does not require treatment. If proteinuria related to a disease is diagnosed, the appropriate specialist will be in charge of carrying out the treatment.

How to take care of the kidneys

To prevent proteinuria and other kidney problems, it is advisable to take care of them. The easiest way is to drink a sufficient amount of fluid, especially water. An average person requires between 1.5 and 2 liters of water, in addition to what they consume as part of their food.

Other measurements are Do not take non-prescription or non-essential medications And don’t eat too much protein.

Maintaining blood pressure and blood glucose levels at optimal levels is essential.

There are many beneficial medicinal plants for the functioning of the kidneys, but it is not convenient to overdo it with those that have diuretic properties.