10 Signs of Kidney Diseases

According to a recent study 1 out of 10 individuals around the globe suffers from some form of kidney disease. The scarier part is millions of people are suffering from some kidney disease but not many of them know. People with diabetes and hypertension are more vulnerable to developing kidney disease at some stage of their life. Unfortunately, India has a huge burden of diabetes and hypertension in the world, which means a large proportion of our population is under the threat of having a kidney disorder or problem.

The main issue with kidney disease is that its symptoms are often attributed to other disorders and problems, and usually they appear late when both kidneys have failed.

Kidney diseases are categorized into two types. Acute kidney disease is a condition that appears suddenly and is reversible. However, many people are diagnosed with chronic kidney diseases, irreversible damage caused to both of the kidneys. 

Being aware of the signs and symptoms of potential kidney disease can help you take steps in the right direction and get proper time for treatment.

Symptoms that suggest kidney disease - 

Tiredness and fatigue - If your kidneys do not work at 100 percent, it will lead to the accumulation of harmful toxins in your blood. That reflects on people’s body in the form of tiredness, weakness, and fatigue.

It is also noticed that people with kidney diseases often suffer from anemia or lack of hemoglobin in their blood which is a cause of their weakness and tiredness.

Swelling of their feet and ankles - Poor function of the kidney can result in water and sodium retention in your blood, leading to swelling of feet and ankles.

A sudden weight gain despite a loss of appetite can also be a sign of excess water retention in your body. And swelling of feet can also be a sign of various other health problems such as liver disease, heart disease, and chronic leg vein problems.

Constant puffiness around the eyes - Because of kidney diseases or kidney damage, your kidney cannot filter the protein from urine which leads to the leaking of protein, causing puffiness around the eyes.

Difficult breathing or shortness of breath - Patients with kidney disease may experience shortness of breath while walking or doing their daily routine. They may also have difficulty sleeping at night due to chest congestion or inability to breathe while lying down.

Kidneys of a kidney disease patient do not work properly resulting in removing excess of water along with urine. Earlier, we discussed the fluid retention leads to feet and ankle swelling; the same fluid can also collect in patient’s lungs and affect the normal breathing ability of lungs especially on doing some sort of physical activity.

Frequent Urination - The need to urinate frequently, especially at night can be a sign of kidney disease. The urge to urinate frequently can also be a sign of urinary tract infections, it causes frequent urination accompanied by pain and a burning sensation. Frequent urination can also be seen in men suffering from enlarged prostate glands, they don’t have a feeling of empty bladder even after urinating. 

Therefore, anyone having an experience with this symptom should meet their healthcare provider to explain the symptoms and get a diagnostic test to detect the root cause of the problem.

Presence of blood in the urine - Normal urine does not contain any red blood cells in urine. But when your kidney gets damaged, it affects the kidney’s ability to filter the blood efficiently resulting in the leaking of red blood cells into your urine. Along with kidney disease, the presence of blood in urine can also be an indication of a tumor, kidney stone, or infection. 

Frothing in urine or foamy urine - Excessive formation of bubbles in urine especially the ones that need several flushes to go away, indicates the presence of protein in your urine.

The foam may look similar to the foam of a scrambling egg, as the protein found in the urine is Albumin, the same protein found in eggs.
 

Nausea and loss of appetite - Malnourishment is one of the signs of patients, suffering from kidney failure. Build up harmful toxins in your body due to the poor functioning of your kidney can result in loss of appetite and feeling of nausea.

Nausea, vomiting, along fever can be a sign of urinary tract infection.

Itchy and dry skin - A healthy and proper kidney can remove waste and extra fluid along with urine and maintain the balance of electrolytes and minerals in the blood. Itchy and dry skin can be a sign of mineral and bone disease that later develops as kidney disease when your kidneys are incapable of maintaining the right balance of nutrients and minerals in your blood.

Difficulties controlling blood pressure - If you have kidney disease, controlling your blood pressure will become a daunting task. High blood pressure or sudden rise in your blood pressure, which was previously maintained by medications, can be a sign of developing kidney disease.