Your kidneys help remove waste, balance fluids, and keep your body healthy.
Kidney disease often develops without noticeable symptoms until later stages. Recognizing early signs can help prevent serious health issues.
- Fatigue and Weakness If your kidneys aren’t working well, toxins can build up in your blood. This may cause tiredness, weakness, and difficulty concentrating. Kidney disease is often linked to anemia, which can make you feel drained.
- Sleep Problems Waste buildup in the bloodstream can interfere with sleep. Some people with kidney disease also have sleep apnea, a condition that affects breathing at night and leads to poor rest.
- Dry, Itchy Skin Your kidneys help regulate minerals and nutrients in your body. When they struggle, imbalances can cause dry, itchy skin. This may be linked to mineral and bone disorders caused by kidney disease.
- Frequent Urination If you feel the need to urinate more often, especially at night, it could be an early sign of kidney disease. Damaged kidney filters can cause increased urine production.
- Blood in Urine Healthy kidneys filter waste without letting essential blood cells escape. Seeing blood in your urine may indicate kidney disease, infections, or kidney stones.
- Foamy Urine Too many bubbles in your urine can signal protein leakage. This means your kidneys may not be filtering properly, which is an early warning sign of damage.
- Swelling in Feet and Ankles When your kidneys don’t remove excess sodium effectively, fluid can build up. This may cause swelling in your feet, ankles, or even hands.
- Loss of Appetite A reduced appetite might not seem serious, but it can be a sign of kidney disease. This happens when toxins accumulate in the body. Nausea or a change in taste may also occur.
- Muscle Cramps Imbalances in electrolytes can lead to muscle cramps. Low calcium and abnormal phosphorus levels may contribute to this issue.
- Puffiness Around the Eyes Persistent eye puffiness can mean protein is leaking into your urine. This suggests that your kidneys may not be filtering properly.
When to See a Doctor If you notice these symptoms, especially more than one, consult a doctor. Early detection can help prevent complications.
Eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and managing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes can help protect kidney health.