10 Symptoms of Kidney Disease Everyone Should Know
Your kidneys play a vital role in your health, but it can be hard to know if something is wrong with them. They are internal organs and it is rare for people to be directly aware of how their kidneys are feeling or functioning. In order to stay on top of kidney health, you have to look for other symptoms, such as:
New Urination Problems
This can include needing to get up during the night, having a strong urge to go combined with the inability to go, and dark, foamy or bloody urine. It can also include pain or burning when urinating.
Edema
Edema is swelling or bloating caused by fluid retention. This is most often seen in the feet and ankles first, but can include the face, hands, and other areas.
Fatigue
If you are tired all the time, no matter how much you rest, you may be anemic. Impaired kidney function promotes anemia. Even without anemia, the inability to properly take out the garbage can leave you with less energy.
Dizziness and Trouble Concentrating
This can be a side effect of anemia and should strongly suggest that you get checked by a doctor.
Back Pain With No Known Cause
If your back hurts and have no idea why, kidney problems may be the culprit. This is especially true of low back pain.
Itching and Other Skin Problems
Itching, unexplained rashes, and other skin problems can be due to kidney disease. The skin is the single largest organ in the body and has important functions for mediating your body’s relationship to the outside world. Take skin symptoms seriously.
RELATED ARTICLE: Detox to Retox™ Kidneys & Liver
Ammonia Breath
Kidney disease causes the body to fail to properly break down wastes, leading to an excess of urea in the blood. This can lead to urea being broken down to ammonia in the mouth by saliva, thus leading to ammonia breath.
Nausea or Vomiting
When the kidneys fail to do their job, harmful wastes begin to build up in the bodily tissues. As the wastes get backlogged, the body becomes desperate to find some way to remove them. One of the outcomes can be vomiting. Unexplained nausea and vomiting are a good reason to get a checkup.
Feeling Cold All the Time
This can be either a symptom of anemia or an indicator of fever. As noted above, kidney disease promotes anemia. If it involves infection, it can also lead to fever.
Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath can be caused by either fluid build up in the lungs or anemia. Kidney disease can cause both of these issues. Lung problems are always a serious problem and should be checked by a doctor.
Don’t let kidney disease sneak up on you. Stay alert for the symptoms and catch it early.