Kidney issues bubble up, so watch for signs: doctors - Taipei Times (2023)

FAQs

What kidney disease causes bubbles in urine? ›

However, when your kidneys are damaged, they can allow too much protein to pass through into your urine. This is called proteinuria. As stated above, the high levels of protein in urine can cause it to be foamy.

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. Increased amounts of protein in urine could mean you have a serious kidney problem.

If you feel the need to urinate more often, especially at night, this can be a sign of kidney disease. When the kidneys filters are damaged, it can cause an increase in the urge to urinate. Sometimes this can also be a sign of a urinary infection or enlarged prostate in men. You see blood in your urine.

Glomerular filtration rate is the best overall indicator of kidney function. It is superior to the serum creatinine level, which varies with age, sex, and race and often does not reflect kidney function accurately.

Light-brown or tea-colored urine can be a sign of kidney disease/failure or muscle breakdown.

Often, you can relieve foamy urine simply by drinking more water. But see your doctor if: the foamy urine doesn't go away within a few days. you also have symptoms like swelling, nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, and fatigue.

Pneumaturia can indicate a UTI, as the bacteria create bubbles in your urine stream. Another common cause is a fistula. This is a passage between organs in your body that doesn't belong there. A fistula between your bowel and your bladder can bring bubbles into your urine stream.

Healthy people will see bubbles in the toilet when they urinate with “some applied force,” Su said, but “the frothy bubbles should recede in about 10 to 20 minutes. Urine, when collected in a sample tube, should be in clear liquid form.” “Abnormal frothy bubbles indicate the presence of excessive protein in the urine.

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.

Everyone occasionally has bubbly urine. A full bladder can lead to a forceful urine stream producing bubbles. Residue in a toilet bowl from soaps and cleaning products can also be culprits.

Can dehydration cause bubbles in urine? ›

For example, if you're dehydrated, you might notice a foamy pee situation, Dr. Ghossein says. That's because your urine is more concentrated when you're dehydrated, creating a bigger chance that the protein in it will cause foam, she explains.

Analyzing a sample of your urine (urinalysis) may reveal abnormalities that suggest kidney failure. Blood tests. A sample of your blood may reveal rapidly rising levels of urea and creatinine — two substances used to measure kidney function. Imaging tests.

Your kidneys remove extra fluids and salt from your body. When they can no longer do this, the fluids and salt build up in your body. This build-up causes swelling, which you may notice in your: Legs.

Urine Tests

One of the earliest signs of kidney disease is when protein leaks into your urine (called proteinuria). To check for protein in your urine, a doctor will order a urine test.

An occasional clear pee isn't a big deal. But if it's an ongoing issue you may be lowering salt and electrolyte levels below what your body needs. What if your urine is clear and you're not knocking back glass after glass of water? That may signal an underlying kidney problem or diabetes.

In Stage 1 CKD, the damage to your kidneys is mild. Your kidneys are still working well, but you may have signs of kidney damage or physical damage to 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).

Even if you see your urine turn pink or red one time, you should contact your doctor and get evaluated. Dark brown and foamy urine can indicate the presence of liver disease or possibly old blood and should also prompt you to visit your doctor. “Dark brown doesn't always mean disease.

Can high blood sugar cause bubbles in urine? ›

If your blood glucose levels are too high, the kidneys will have trouble filtering the blood properly. This can allow glucose and protein molecules from the blood to end up in the urine, which can cause foaming.

Proteinuria is high levels of protein in your pee. If you have proteinuria, you may have to pee more often, and your pee may be foamy or bubbly.

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.

Foamy urine can occur if you have high protein levels in your urine, which could result from kidney disease. Other things — such as pregnancy, stress, or a urinary tract infection — may also cause foamy urine.

Nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, loss of appetite, swelling via feet and ankles, dry, itchy skin, shortness of breath, trouble sleeping, urinating either too much or too little.

Itching with kidney disease can be generalized, or it can occur in specific parts of the body. Common areas for this type of itching include the head, arms, back, and abdomen. It also tends to be worse at night, which can disturb your sleep.

Around 90 percent of people who have this condition are unaware they have it. 2 out of 5 adults who have CKD don't know they have severe chronic kidney disease. People with CKD can live for years without knowing, as it doesn't always have the most clearly defined symptoms.