Decreasing the salt in your diet. To do so, avoid excess table salt on foods prepared at home. Perhaps more importantly, avoid eating out too frequently, or consuming too many processed foods, as these are known to be high in salt (significantly more so, on average, than foods prepared at home). Cutting back on cholesterol. Cholesterol build-up contributes to plaques forming in your arteries, which in turn leads to increased blood pressure. Ask your doctor for blood tests to measure your fat and cholesterol levels to see if this is an area of your diet that could use improvement.
Ask your doctor about receiving a prescription for this medication, if you are not taking it already. You may need more than one blood pressure medication in more severe cases of kidney disease.
Transient proteinuria. This is when a urine test reveals elevated protein on one reading, but the level diminishes on its own and ultimately returns to normal with subsequent readings. [9] X Research source Transient proteinuria is normally related to acute stresses such as an illness causing a fever, or more exercise than usual (such as training for a marathon). Once the stress passes, or your body adapts to it, your protein levels should also return to normal. Orthostatic proteinuria. This is when the abnormal protein levels are related to postural changes (standing versus sitting versus lying down). [10] X Research source It is uncommon, and more likely to be present in adolescents; if present, it does not require treatment, and it almost always resolves itself by adulthood. Persistent proteinuria. This is when the protein levels in your urine remain elevated with repeat testing. [11] X Research source It is indicative of an underlying problem such as kidney disease, diabetes, autoimmune disease, or another medical condition. It will require a series of tests for diagnostic purposes, as well as medical treatment.
Note that if you are experiencing an “acute stressor” (such as fever, exercise, or something else), you should still see your doctor for repeat urine tests to confirm that nothing more serious is going on. [13] X Expert Source Robert Dhir, MDBoard Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon Expert Interview. 23 September 2020.
Your doctor may also order other blood tests such as HbA1c (a diabetes test), or autoimmune antibodies if he or she suspects an underlying autoimmune disease. It will all depend on your medical history and the medical conditions that your doctor thinks you are most at risk of having.
