Nephrotic syndrome causes heavy protein loss in urine, severe swelling, and high cholesterol. Learn the causes, diagnosis, and proven treatments - from steroids to new drugs - and how to manage symptoms at home.
When your urine contains more protein than it should, that’s called proteinuria, an abnormal amount of protein leaking into the urine, often signaling kidney damage. Also known as protein in urine, it’s not a disease itself—but it’s one of the clearest early warning signs your kidneys aren’t filtering right. Healthy kidneys keep protein in your blood where it belongs. When they’re damaged—by high blood pressure, diabetes, or inflammation—they start letting protein slip through. That’s when a simple urine test picks it up.
Proteinuria often shows up quietly. You might not feel anything at first. But if it sticks around, it can mean your kidneys are slowly losing function. It’s linked to conditions like kidney disease, a long-term condition where the kidneys can’t remove waste and extra fluid from the body, and high blood pressure, a condition that strains blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to leakage. Even pregnancy can trigger temporary proteinuria, which is why doctors check it routinely. The key is catching it early—before it leads to more serious problems like kidney failure.
What you’ll find in these articles isn’t just theory. It’s real-world guidance on how proteinuria connects to medications, lifestyle, and other health issues. You’ll see how drugs like warfarin or NSAIDs can affect kidney function, how herbal supplements like Dong Quai might worsen underlying conditions, and why managing something as simple as blood pressure can make a big difference. Some posts dive into how lab results like INR or kidney function tests are interpreted together. Others show how conditions like lupus or drug-induced TTP can trigger protein leakage. This isn’t about scary diagnoses—it’s about understanding what your body is telling you through a simple urine test, and what steps actually help.
If you’ve been told you have proteinuria—or you’re worried you might—it’s not the end of the road. It’s a signal. And this collection gives you the clear, practical info you need to ask the right questions, track changes, and work with your doctor to protect your kidneys before it’s too late.
Nephrotic syndrome causes heavy protein loss in urine, severe swelling, and high cholesterol. Learn the causes, diagnosis, and proven treatments - from steroids to new drugs - and how to manage symptoms at home.