The kidneys are fist-sized organs, shaped much like beans, located below the rib cage near the middle of the back. Their job is to filter the blood, eliminating toxins and waste products while resorbing important nutrients so that they stay in the body. Many people have the perception that the kidneys' role is to eliminate liquid waste, but water is precious to the body and the kidneys do their best to conserve it. Still, toxins and waste products must be eliminated in at least a certain amount of water, meaning that healthy kidneys must produce a reasonable quantity of urine each day. Symptoms of kidney disorders vary but generally involve inappropriate urine production or symptoms of accumulating waste products.
Fluid Imbalance
The National Kidney Foundation says one of the things that make kidney disorders difficult for physicians to diagnose is that they generally produce very non-specific symptoms until the disorders are quite advanced. Early symptoms can include signs of fluid imbalance, however, owing to the nature of the kidneys as the body’s primary fluid-regulation system. Edema, or puffiness of the extremities and face, is common, as are frequent urination and muscle cramping. Unfortunately, many things besides kidney disorders can cause frequent urination, including urinary tract infections, overconsumption of water and pregnancy. Muscle cramping may be associated with mineral imbalance as easily as with kidney disorder.
Malaise
The Mayo Clinic indicates that kidney disease often leads to fatigue, headache, nausea, weakness and loss of appetite. These symptoms are largely due to the buildup of toxins and metabolic waste products in the bloodstream. This collectively leaves the patient feeling unwell and low in energy. Such generalized symptoms of malaise frequently accompany many other diseases or disorders, further contributing to the difficulty in diagnosing early kidney disease.
Mental and Physical Changes
Changes in mood, difficulty sleeping and loss of mental acuity are also symptoms of kidney disorders, the Mayo Clinic says. Although these symptoms are also non-specific, practitioners may use the combination of symptoms to help them diagnose the problem. Urinalysis and blood testing help to cement the diagnosis. Because kidney disorders affect the body’s ability to balance fluid and clear waste properly, they often lead to other disorders that may assist a practitioner in diagnosing an underlying kidney condition. High blood pressure, anemia and nerve damage frequently result from unchecked kidney disorders, the National Kidney Foundation says.
