Kidneys are well-known for doing their job silently. Yet, whenever they face even the slightest inconvenience, your body starts exhibiting those signs of kidney disease, starting softly and getting louder as the problem worsens. Unfortunately, that’s not all there is to it. Many of us do not pay attention to these symptoms of kidney disease until they become serious. Many of us do not even notice these warning signs until the kidney disease is very advanced. For this reason, early detection can mean a lot.
As per the Indian Society of Nephrology, more than 9% of Indians are living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but a lot of these people are unaware of it. So whenever your body seems to be indicating something is wrong, take note and listen. Some signs of kidney disease that may show you have kidney disease and what your body could be saying are mentioned as follows.
Do you wake up feeling almost tired even after spending eight hours asleep? Or do you find yourself trying not to sleep while in virtual meetings? If tiredness is a regular problem for you with no clear reason, it could be caused by failing kidneys. If the kidneys do not work as they should, extra waste in the blood can decrease your energy and your ability to focus. Impaired kidneys might also give you anaemia since they produce less erythropoietin, which leads to the creation of fewer red blood cells. This can be one of the early symptoms of kidney disease.
When kidneys start to function differently, they may cause urine to look different as well, which is not good. Always be careful of signs of kidney disease, such as:
You might have these symptoms of kidney disease if you have an infection, kidney stones or chronic kidney disease. Hence, always be aware of the signs of kidney disease, and if the conditions worsen, consult a specialist.
Having bloated feet or a puffy face isn’t always caused by excessive salt in the body. When the kidneys cannot get rid of excess fluid and sodium, swelling or edema results. Usually, this swelling first affects the feet or appears around the eyes and gets worse over time. See it as a warning sign that your body sends out for help potentially one of the clear signs of kidney disease.
Are you also having a constant itchiness, but not accompanied by a rash? Dry skin and irritation may occur when chronic kidney disease causes changes in your body’s minerals and permits waste to build up in your circulation. This is not only an outward feeling, but it goes all the way down. When the itching isn’t relieved by moisturisers and lotions, make sure to talk to a medical professional, as it may be a symptom of kidney disease.
Does even a small sprint make it difficult for you to breathe? There are two possible situations that could happen here:
In any case, respiratory trouble may also be caused by kidney disease, especially if it’s accompanied by other symptoms of kidney disease.
If your dal chawal is somehow bland or you normally avoid eating, your kidneys might have an explanation. A strange taste in food or breathing that smells like metal or ammonia could be because of high waste in your blood caused by uremia. As kidney disease progresses, many people have trouble enjoying food and lose weight. This may indicate the need for kidney disease treatment.
Damage to the kidneys can occur because of high BP, yet high BP may also develop due to kidney disease. Kidney issues can interrupt the control of blood pressure, which in turn makes things worse for the kidneys. If your hypertension is hard to control through lifestyle changes and drugs, think about getting your kidneys checked. It may point to underlying chronic kidney disease.
If there are calcium, fluid or electrolyte issues caused by the kidneys, you may experience leg cramps more often. Sometimes, people suffer from restless leg syndrome, persistent feelings of needing to move their legs, and this chiefly happens at night. If you seem to be in constant stress mode, your body may be trying to alert you to a kidney disease.
Consistent experience of two or more of these symptoms of kidney disease means you should make an appointment with a specialist. A couple of easy tests, such as blood creatinine, urine analysis and GFR, can give you a good idea about your kidney disease status. Additionally, those living with diabetes, hypertension, obesity or a family history of chronic kidney disease should be tested at regular appointments, even when they have no symptoms.
To sum up, preparing in good time is always better than facing problems in a crisis. Kidney disease usually shows up slowly without making much noise. It sends signals all around your system, like tiredness, some swelling and occasionally bubbles in your pee. If you identify the signs of kidney disease fast, your risk of dealing with chronic kidney disease might decrease. Whenever your body isn’t feeling well, take a break and reflect and don’t overlook this issue. Your kidneys are quiet, but they are important and need attention. For proper diagnosis and kidney disease treatment, book an appointment with Dr. Vipin Tyagi today.