Alarming Signs That Your Kidney Might Be At Risk

More than 37 million American adults have kidney disease, and most don't know it. According to Hiranandani Hospital Powai News, people with kidney disease tend to show symptoms only in the later stages, when the kidneys fail or when there are large amounts of protein in the urine. 

While the only way to know for sure if you have kidney disease is to get tested. If you are at risk for kidney disease because of high blood pressure, diabetes, or a family history of kidney failure, or if you are over 60 years old, it is important to have an annual kidney disease test. 

Severely impaired kidney function can lead to a buildup of toxins and impurities in the blood. This can make people feel tired and weak and have difficulty concentrating. You have trouble sleeping. If the kidneys are not working properly, toxins remain in the blood instead of being excreted in the urine. 

Dry, itchy skin can be a sign of bone and mineral disease, often associated with advanced kidney disease, when the kidneys can no longer maintain the proper balance of minerals and nutrients in the blood. You can get the best treatment at Hiranandani Hospital's kidney transplant center. 

It would be best if you urinated more often. If you must urinate more often, especially at night, this can indicate kidney disease. If the kidney filters are damaged, this can increase the urge to urinate. 

You see blood in your urine. 

Healthy kidneys normally keep blood cells in the body as they filter waste from the blood to create urine, but if the kidney's filters become damaged, these blood cells can begin to "leak" into the urine. In addition to being a sign of kidney disease, blood in the urine can indicate tumors, kidney stones, or an infection.

1. Urine is foamy. The foam can be similar to the foam you see with scrambled eggs because albumin, the protein commonly found in urine, is the same protein found in eggs.

2. Persistent swelling around the eyes occurs. Protein in the urine is an early sign that the kidney filters have been damaged, allowing the protein to leak into the urine. This swelling around the eyes may be due to the kidneys filtering a large amount of protein into the urine instead of retaining it in the body.

3. Ankles and feet are swollen. Decreased kidney function can lead to sodium retention, which causes swelling in the feet and ankles. 

4. You have a loss of appetite. This is a very common symptom, but one cause may be toxin buildup due to poor kidney function.

5. Your muscles cramp. Electrolyte disturbances can be the result of impaired renal function. Muscle cramps can be caused by low calcium levels and poorly controlled phosphorus levels.

6. Changes in urination. Healthy kidneys help filter blood to produce urine. When the kidneys are not working well, you may experience urinary problems, e.g., you need to urinate more often or see blood in your urine. You may also notice foamy or bubbly urine, which could be an early sign of protein leaking into the urine due to kidney damage.

7. Fatigue. Reduced kidney function can cause toxins to build up in the blood. You lack energy, or you feel overwhelmingly tired. CKD can also cause anemia, making you tired or weak because you don't have enough red blood cells.

8. Itching. Dry, itchy skin can signify an imbalance of minerals and nutrients in your blood due to kidney disease. High levels of phosphorus in the blood often cause itching.

9. Swelling of the hands, legs, or feet (also known as edema). It happens when the kidneys fail to remove excess fluid and sodium from the body can occur in the feet or other lower extremities.

10. Shortness of breath. Extra fluid can build up in the lungs when the kidneys don't remove enough fluid, which can cause difficulty breathing. CKD-induced anemia, a lack of oxygen-carrying red blood cells, can cause shortness of breath.

11. Low Back Pain. You may have localized pain near your kidney disease that doesn't change or worsen as you move or stretch. The kidneys are located on either side of the spine in the lower back, and kidney problems can cause pain in this area. Back pain can also be caused by an infection or kidney blockage, leading to kidney damage. Contact the experts at the Hiranandani hospital kidney transplant centre for the best results.