High blood pressure/protein in urine at 26 years old

Heart health and blood vessels
1

My husband is 26 years old with high blood pressure, we know a lot of it is due to genetics. (Father passed away from high blood pressure related issues and mother suffers from hbp)

He is now taking 2.5mg meds daily to control it, however it's still quite high 130~

Doctor said due to protein in urine he has to see kidney specialist, but that his kidneys are in good and functioning conditions. However, he could be that something in his kidneys are related to his pressure. So, if his kidneys are functional what could be in his kidneys that may be causing his blood pressure to go up? 

 

2

It could be a prodromal sign of diabetes. Microalbuminuria could precede diabetes or designate a complication of high blood pressure. He should check his family history for diabetes. But first of all rule out any probability that he has an urinary tract infection which also could cause high protein in urine.

3

Thanks for your response!

I thought about uti but, they did a urine analysis and the only thing she said was "you still have protein in your urine so we're sending you to a kidney specialist".. She said his kidneys are in good functional condition but I guess they want to be sure it's not something related to his high blood pressure because he did mentioned that even while taking the pills his blood pressure is still quite high, unless he may have to go up a mg. 

4

What is the name of antihypertensive drug? Maybe he needs to change dosage or medication. However 130 systolic is not too much.

5

He's taking Lisinopril 2.5mg, oh sorry that was a typo I meant to say his high blood pressure was 150. But, this morning it went down to 120 so that's a good, I am going to start writing him a blood pressure log and take his blood pressure every morning/night to see if the 2.5mg are good and his pressure just go high at certain times like maybe after work etc.

The doctor suggested if he's taking the meds and it continues to go high then to take 2.5mg in the morning and 5mg before bed. 

6

That's a good question Candy.  I can only speak from my own experience the first time I saw a nephrrologist for hypertension.  The first thing he did was order a kidney perfusion scan which came back showing good perfustion to the left kidney, but slightlly reduced perfusion to the right kidney.  He said it wasn't severe enough to cause the high readings he was getting, thus he ended up diagnosing me with 

benign hypertension.  He said more people have that rather than malignant hypertension, however if they can fix the problem that causes the malignant variety, you will have no high BP.  I had an aunt and a cousin who both had serious

kidney disease ,(glomerulonephritis)  the aunt died as a result of complications from sepsis due to contaminated infusion product she underwent frequently for very low red blood cell count.  It was an unfortunate occurance, but probably un-

avoidable.  She probably would've lived longer if she hadn't had the kidney disease, but she also never went to the physician, and she had good insurance.  She had a very strong heart, that's the only reason she made it to 79, but her sister, my mother is now 90, never had kidney disease like my aunt, but she has chronic renal insufficiency due to diabetes type 1 late adult onset.  My cousin never went to a doctor, yet as a young child he had to be homeschooled because

of glomerulonephritis , he snolked, and drank beer (with kidney disease he probably shouldn't have) and was always underweight.  When he died as a result of a cardiac arrest, his wife learned that blood labs showed he was in the final stage of kidney failure.  Because he never went to a doctor when he was sick for

any reason, he didn't know this was coming down the pike.  I think some people just don't realize how serious kidney disease can be.  I have serious kidney infections with 2 of my prenancies, but so far my kidney function is normal.  I wil be on guard though, since I have LUPUS.  I wish your husband the best, he is so young.

 

7

If renal function is good and your husband's blood pressure do not exceed 130/80 after 20 minutes of rest ​It seems that there is nothing to worry about so much.

Low levels or occassionaly high levels of protein in urine are considered normal, mostly in younger people after workouts or during an illness.

​Better repeat the urine test 2-3 times after a 2 days of abstinence from intense exercise if he use to wokout.

 

8

Thank you for your response Scotgal!

I assume the Kidney Specialist will order to do a scan as well. We are nervous but hanging in there, I just hope if there's anything that it's something manageable and cureable. I honestly didn't know how serious kidney disease is and it is often a topic that isn't talked about as much. My father was just recently diagnosed with Lupus but so far he's just suffering from rash flare ups, he no longer has protein in his urine as of the second urine analysis so the doctor just opt that his kidneys are fine. He's a strong young man, we're just trying to improve his health. He's been drinking nothing but water and will continue to do so, hopefully he's just been real dehydrated.. but we're also skeptical because the first urine analysis was last year and they said he had protein and a little blood in urine,but kidneys were fine (this was said by a pcp not a kidney specialist), so this is the first time we're going to see a specialist.

It's just scary that a lot of these kidney related issues sometimes don't have no symptoms and people end up finding out later on or when it's in a terrible final stage like what unfortunately happen to your cousin.

Wishing you well!

9

His blood pressure this morning was 120, going to take it two more times today after work and before bed.

The only thing that worries me about the protein in urine is that last year he took the urine test and they said the same thing they even added that there was a little bit of blood in it. And this time a different doctor said there's still some protein in his urine and that since he suffers from high blood pressure, they want to be sure it's not something related to his kidneys. I really hope it's not! 

He works in construction, and is usually always active not sure if that has something to do with it. But, so far he's been drinking a lot of water and taking his meds daily. 

10

Your very welcome Candy, and  I hope all goes well with your hubby.

Do keep me updated, and don't forget to take care of yourself as well.

I have a neice with the same name as you.

11

Just a quick update. We got back from the Kidney specialist and his kidneys are good and functional conditions she also mentioned his lungs look normal. So that's great news, they still want to know why there's protein leaking in urine though so repeating some blood work and urine analysis!

12

It seems like your husband is doing all the right things, have any doctors mentioned why he would be seeing blood in his urine?  There can be different reasons for such a finding, including, but not limited to just a ruptured capillary, or worse case scenario, bladder cancer.  I'm sure that isn't the case given his age.  I hope everything works out, and all he will have to do is watch that BP.  Take care.

13

Hi Scotgal! I think bladder cancer is not the case because it  tends to occur more frequently in older people. About 9 out of 10 people with this cancer are over the age of 55 (most of them are diagnosed at age of 75) and are heavy smokers.

Pre diabetes on the other hand is associated with a little albumin in urine. If you have time have a look on this article:

Correlation Between Prediabetes Conditions and Microalbuminuria

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3703132/

 

14

I know all about diabetes, my mother has had it for thirty years, and I'm well aware of microalbuminurias, and I am also aware that bladder cancer is very rare in anyone under 55.  Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule.  There are several physicians in my family, as well as other medical professionals, I've been well informed from a very young age, so there is very little I don't know where medical disciplines are concerned.  I could learn a lot more about computers and smart devices however.

15

Are you taking anything for lupus or BP ? 

16

I personally know of two people that were dxed with bladder cancer in their sixties, and neither one of them ever smoked, but yes, I am aware

that it would be very rare for anyone in their 20's or even 30's to get it.

17

Veewat, I take 2 anti-hyptensive drugs, but one is dual purpose for the

heart failure that I have.  I'm not on any drugs for Lupus, especially since some of the biologics can put you at risk for other illnesses, like

cancer.  I'm just careful not to incite another flare, as the last one took

months before it resolved.  Autoimmune diseases can be kept at bay

for quite a while, if you're aware of what triggers them.  My flares are

triggered by excessive sunlight, or being around flourescent lights too

much.  Also stress can play a part as well.  Do you have Lupus?

18

I will have testing in November to see. Is lupus causing HBP and heart failure or are they separate things.

19

There is a very strong possibility that Lupus played a part in the development of my hypertension, because it started at a younger age, and Lupus can cause endothelial dysfunction in the vascular system.I'm sure it played a part in my heart attacks, because I have no discernable plaque in any of my arteries, however ,I believe as

do my physicians that Lupus may have contributed to the coronary

spasms that ultimately caused the MIs.  My heart failure is a result

of the longstanding uncorrected congenital heart defect, and a result

of the MIs as well.  I wish you luck with your testing.