How to distinguish “foamy urine” in daily life to find risk factors as early as possible?

Foamy urine means that there is a layer of fine foam in the excreted urine, which cannot be dissipated for a long time. The formation of foamy urine is related to the surface tension of the liquid. It can be caused by physiological reasons such as insufficient drinking water, urgency, strenuous exercise, sexual excitement, etc., or by pathological reasons such as liver and kidney diseases, urinary system infection, and diabetes. How to distinguish “foamy urine” in daily life to find risk factors as early as possible?

First of all, look at the duration of the bubble. Normal foamy urine disappears within 1-2 minutes of appearance. Foam in urine does not disappear for a long time, suggesting that it may be proteinuria. If there is a large amount of protein in the urine, the surface tension will increase, which will make the foam in the urine difficult to disappear.

Secondly, look at the transparency of foamy urine. Normal urine is clear and transparent. If the discharged urine is turbid, the uniform precipitation after resting is mostly saline urine. Except for diet, pay attention to whether it is accompanied by sand grains. If so, it can be judged as stones. If the urine is pus-like turbid, often accompanied by flocs, it is called pyuria, which is a sign of urinary system infection.

Note, if the bubbles in the urine are cloudy and do not disappear for a long time, even like beer, it is likely to be caused by proteinuria Yes, it may be related to glomerulonephritis (acute and chronic), nephrotic syndrome, diabetic nephropathy, immune system diseases (such as systemic lupus erythematosus, etc.), hypertensive nephropathy and other diseases, it is recommended to go to the hospital for examination as soon as possible. Urine routine testing, urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio, and 24-hour urine protein quantification are the most effective and accurate means to determine whether foamy urine is pathological.

Finally, smell the urine. Normal fresh urine has no specific smell. If the urine is still for a period of time, the urine decomposes and releases ammonia, so the smell of ammonia is the manifestation of chronic cystitis and urinary retention. In diabetic ketoacidosis, it may smell like apples. In addition, some foods and medicines, such as garlic and onions, can also make urine have a special smell.

In short, there is foamy urine, You don’t have to panic too much. Timely discovery, correct identification, and early medical treatment are the best choices.

The above content is excerpted from Dr. Pang Xinxin’s medical theory, and I would like to express my gratitude to the original author!