Your kidneys help to filter waste products and maintain the correct levels of fluid in your body. Kidneys secrete waste products and excess fluid as urine. The kidneys also play a role in regulating blood pressure, salt, potassium and calcium levels. If the kidneys become damaged, you can experience many symptoms. Kidney disease left untreated can progress to kidney failure. The good news is that there is much you can do to prevent and control kidney disease. Recognizing the signs of kidney disease is essential.
Fatigue
According to the National Kidney Foundation, in many cases, kidney disease does not produce any symptoms until it is in the advanced stages. However, one possible early warning sign is feeling unusually tired. You may find it difficult to focus during the day, and not sleep well at night. Fatigue can occur because the kidneys are not helping to produce enough red blood cells, which deliver oxygen throughout your body. A decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting are other symptoms you may experience. You may also be aware of bad breath, or a metallic taste in your mouth, caused by waste products not being correctly filtered out of the body. Any unexplained fatigue or changes in your general health should be discussed with your physician.
Frequent Urination and Skin Changes
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, you can have kidney disease for years and never feel sick. However, as the kidney's ability to filter is inhibited, you may develop changes in how often you urinate; some people urinate less. In other cases, urination is more frequent, especially at night. Your urine may be foamy, pale, dark yellow or bubbly. In advanced cases, it may be difficult or painful to urinate, and you may pass blood. If you are retaining fluid, you may notice swelling in the ankles or hands, and puffiness in your face. You may also develop dark circles under your eyes and your skin may become itchy.
High Protein Levels in Your Urine
If you have diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, you are at a higher risk of kidney disease. This condition can also run in the family. If you are at risk or showing symptoms, the National Kidney Disease Education Program recommends getting blood and urine tests to help catch it in the early stages. The blood test is called the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which reveals how much blood your kidneys filter each minute. A GFR lower then 60 may indicate that your kidneys are not working as well as they should. A GFR below 15 indicates kidney failure. A urine test looks for the presence of a protein called albumin, which may leak into your urine if your kidneys are not working properly.
Back Pain
If there is a problem with your kidneys, the pain receptors in your back may signal that something is wrong. This can occur if the kidneys start to swell and place pressure on nearby tissues and muscles. The pain may be felt in your side (flank) or lower back. If your back pain is accompanied by any of the aforementioned symptoms, shortness of breath, headaches or other unexplained pain, talk to your doctor right away.
