What Foamy Urine Can Tell You About Your Kidney Health, According To Experts

Experts explain that foamy urine is a classic sign of a high level of protein in your urine. This means that excess protein in your pee can be a warning sign that directly affects your kidneys or a condition called Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) you could have.

Foamy urine has been considered a marker of kidney disease by healthcare providers and patients over the years. It is characterized by an appearance of persistent multiple layers or small to medium bubbles in urine.

What Causes Foamy Urine?

Experiencing foamy urine in our day-to-day life due to several factors is normal. Sometimes it could be due to dehydration, and other times it could be because of toilet cleaners, including the force you put while urinating. However, if you regularly have foamy urine, then it could be indicating that something is wrong with your health.

Experts explain that foamy urine is a classic sign of a high level of protein called proteinuria in your urine. This means that excess protein in your pee can be a warning sign that directly affects your kidneys or a condition called Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) you could have.

"Healthy kidneys remove extra fluid and waste from your blood and transform it into urine. Healthy kidneys do not remove proteins and other important nutrients, which pass through and return to your blood. But when your kidneys are damaged, they may let this protein leak into your urine," the American Kidney Fund (AKF) explains. "This causes high levels of protein in your urine."

Symptoms Of Kidney Disease

The earliest stage of kidney disease usually does not have noticeable symptoms, but if you do, it could be due to a specific type of kidney damage you have, i.e. stage 2 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

When discussing the signs and symptoms of kidney disease, the UK's National Health Service (NHS) states, "Kidney disease does not tend to cause symptoms when it's at an early stage. This is because the body is usually able to cope with a significant reduction in kidney function." Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) that a person may experience in later stages include:

• Weight loss and poor appetite
• Swollen ankles, feet or hands as a result of water retention (oedema)
• Shortness of breath
• Tiredness
• Blood in your pee (urine)
• An increased need to pee particularly at night
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• Itchy skin
• Muscle cramps
• Feeling sick
• Headaches
• Erectile dysfunction in men

Kidney Disease Treatment

"Kidney disease is often only diagnosed at this stage if a routine test for another condition, such as a blood or urine test, detects a possible problem. If it's found at an early stage, medicine and regular tests to monitor it may help stop it from becoming more advanced," The NHS states.

As discussed, foamy urine can be caused by many factors, but if you think that it could be linked to kidney disease, then you must visit a general practitioner to get a proper diagnosis.

Interestingly, as per data available on the National Institute of Health (NIH), only about one-third of people who reported having foamy urine were found to have abnormal proteinuria. Therefore, the US health agency explains that in many cases of "foamy" urine could also be a result of other health factors. Hence, diagnosis is crucial.