I have foamy urine

My urine has been foamy for the past few weeks. Kindly let me know what is the cause and what to do about it.

Justina (by SMS)

Although foamy urine may be a normal development, it can also be a sign of kidney problem. For example, if you urinate very fast or with a lot of force, it may make your urine more foamy than usual.

The speed and force makes the urine generate a lot of bubbles which tend to almost quickly disappear as it is formed in the toilet bowl. The huge misuse of certain painkillers can cause foamy urine especially if excessively used or for a prolonged period of time.

Painkillers especially the ones called Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs NSAIDs can affect the kidneys and make your urine foam. It is the excessive indiscriminate use that’s wrong. Finally, a foamy urine may mean you have a kidney problem It may mean your kidneys are no longer working as effectively as they should.

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The kidneys filter our blood and removes waste products which comes out in urine, and also filters back things like protein and sugar. So under normal circumstances, the kidneys the kidneys do not allow excess proteins or sugars into the urine, under normal circumstances. However, when there’s a problem with the kidneys like kidney failure or glomerulonephritis (kidney filter inflammation), the kidneys fail to keep proteins back which escape into urine. It is this excess protein in the urine that makes the urine foam. This is why doctors warn about persistent foamy urine. However Foamy Urine is not the only sign of kidney failure, there may be other signs like foot swelling, face swelling, weight gain, tiredness, itching etc. The main take away is that Foamy Urine (especially when it is persistent, continuous and worsening over time) may be a sign of a serious illness. Especially if you have (or you are from a family with) diabetes, hypertension, kidney problems, prostate problems, cancer or autoimmune illnesses, please do not ignore Foamy Urine. Speak with a doctor and have blood tests or urine tests done if deemed necessary.