The presence of protein in the urine, known as proteinuria, is not a disease in itself. It’s evidence that something is damaging the kidney’s structure. It can be compared to an ultra-fine sieve that begins to crack: what it was supposed to retain starts to leak out.
The worrying thing is not only that proteinuria exists, but how common it is, especially in people with risk factors. In those with high blood pressure, up to one in three may experience some degree of protein loss in their urine. In people with diabetes, between 30% and 40% will develop kidney damage during their lifetime. Furthermore, in people with obesity, metabolic disorders, or those over 50, the prevalence increases silently.
The big problem: it doesn’t hurt and it doesn’t give any warning. Initial kidney damage doesn’t cause pain or obvious symptoms. That’s why many people only find out when the disease is already advanced. Proteinuria is just the tip of the iceberg: the real damage may be progressing without the patient noticing.
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