Kidneys are bean shaped organ located near the lower back area. There are two kidneys, one on each side of the body. They are responsible for purifying our blood and removing the toxins from our body in the form of urine1. There are many people who are born with only one kidney, and in some cases, even though a person has two kidneys, only one kidney functions properly. You can be fit and lead a healthy life even with one properly functioning kidney2. However, if both kidneys fail to function well, it can lead to many complications.
Chronic kidney disease is when kidneys lose their function over time causing improper filtration. Nearly 10% of world’s population has chronic kidney disease (CKD) and millions of people die from it each year. More than 1 in 5 men and 1 in 4 women aged 65-74 worldwide have CKD. CKD is the 18th leading cause of death worldwide3.
In this blog, we will discuss the warning signs of kidney disease and how timely diagnosis can avoid several health issues. But before that, let’s understand the causes of kidney disease.
A sudden loss of blood flow to these vital organs can lead to kidney failure. Some conditions which can cause this are4,5:
Medical problems like heart disease, liver disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, severe obesity, lupus, certain cancers like multiple myeloma.
Renal failure occurs in 3 steps, they are as follows1:
Permanent kidney failure can be life-threatening. Unfortunately, poor kidney function or kidney malfunction is not apparent in the initial stages. Therefore, it is important to know the early warning signs so that appropriate treatment can be initiated promptly to avoid further complications6.
Let us now discuss about some of the symptoms that indicate the presence of kidney disease.
One of the noticeable signs of kidney malfunction is increased urine output, especially at night. However, this could also be a symptom of infections or in men it could be because of prostate enlargement7.
Sometimes you may also experience reduced urine output, which is generally a less common symptom of kidney disease8.
You may also notice blood in the urine, which also indicates that your kidney is not functioning properly. Blood in urine can also be the symptom of tumor, infections or stones in the kidney7.
You may also notice bubbles in your urine. This is because of protein that is present in urine. Additionally, this type of urine with bubbles are not easy to flush and need to flush more than once7. This indicates that kidney is not working properly, since its function is to keep the useful nutrients such as proteins and remove away waste from the body through urine.
Kidneys are responsible for producing erythropoietin, which is a hormone that is required to make red blood cells in the body. When the kidneys get affected, they produce less amount of erythropoietin leading to a reduction in RBCs count in the body, which in turn causes anemia10. This affects the amount of oxygen in the body, and one feels tired very quickly.
Anemia is one of the severe complications of kidney malfunction. This may lead to shortness of breath, as there is less amount of red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues11. Also, sometimes when the kidney diseases are left without proper treatment, there may be buildup of fluid in the lungs, causing shortness of breath9.
When kidneys fail to remove toxins from the body, you may feel like vomiting.
This is again due to the brain not getting enough oxygen because of anemia. The person begins to suffer from memory problems and has difficulty concentrating12.
Another sign of poor kidney function or kidney malfunction is the pain, which is because of electrolyte imbalances7.
Those who suffer from kidney damage can have a foul odour from the mouth due to the buildup of wastes in the body. The bad breath is due to the presence of ammonia excreted by bacteria in the gut13.
You may also suffer from loss of appetite. This is because of wastes buildup in the body as kidney fails to remove the toxins7.
When your kidneys are not functioning properly, it may cause dry skin and itchiness. This is because damaged kidneys fail to balance the nutrients and minerals in your body7.
When there is pileup of toxins in your body because of kidney malfunction, you may feel trouble in sleeping. In addition, there is connection seen between obese individuals with CKD and sleep apnea7. Even frequent urinating at night could be a reason for disturbances during sleep.
When the kidneys don’t work properly, it can lead to electrolyte imbalances. Because of these imbalances, there can be very low sodium content in blood and this may lead to seizures14.
When the kidneys get affected, they do not detoxify the system properly. This leads to an extra buildup of fluid in the legs and ankles. Swelling in lower part of the body can also be the symptoms of liver disease, longstanding problems in leg vein and heart disease7.
Your hands and face may also swell up. You may also notice puffiness around the eyes that is due to kidney removing excess amount of protein from the body instead of storing it. Hence, this also shows that your kidney is not working properly7. When you fail to treat kidney problems, they might cause breathing issues by accumulating the fluid in the lungs9.
There are a few things we can do to avoid harm to our kidneys. These include:
Take care of your kidneys by following a healthy lifestyle, drinking enough water and getting immediate treatment if you suspect that something is wrong. Do not overdose on medicines and keep track of any out of ordinary activity concerning urination in your body. Most kidney diseases can be treated, and keeping track of symptoms can aid in proper management and prevention of complications.
Anemia, bone disorders, damage to nerves, high blood pressure, and fluids buildup in the lungs are some complications of kidney disease.
Yes, it may lead to death even though with the proper treatment. Make a note that kidney failure is not reversible by treating it.
Yes, but it depends on person to person and proper treatment.
Yes, it may also be due to uncontrolled blood sugar. But you need to confirm the causes with a healthcare professional.
Lifestyle changes and regular consultations along with follow-up can help you to maintain good health of kidneys.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
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