People usually fail to recognize the early kidney disease symptoms because they are usually subtle. Some symptoms can even go unnoticed. Any kidney disease can lead to the loss of life if not treated early enough. Learning to recognize the symptoms and signs will enable you to live a healthier life.
The following are the most common kidney disease symptoms:
Changes in urinary function
The first symptom of kidney disease is a change in the urinary function. If you find that you are waking up more frequently at night to go to the bathroom, and this does not usually occur to you, this could be an indicator that there is something wrong with your kidneys. Changes in the color and amount of your urine are also signs of your kidneys not working properly. If you experience pain or difficulty when voiding, it could be a sign of your kidneys experiencing problems. If you realize that you are voiding larger amounts of urine than usual, and your urine is pale or very light in color, or if your urine is very dark and in small amounts, it is important that you visit a doctor for a check-up.
Loss of energy and extreme fatigue
If your kidneys are not working properly, you might feel extremely fatigued. Rashes might develop on your body. These rashes are usually itchy. Your breath might start smelling like ammonia. You might also experience a metallic taste. Weight loss may also result from the diminished appetite. Vomiting and nausea are also kidney disease symptoms that maybe experienced as a result of a build up of waste products in the body.
Pain in the back or abdomen
Some kidney disease cases may cause pain. In case there is a kidney stone in your ureter, you might experience a severe cramping pain spreading from the lower back to the groin area. This pain might be related to an inherited kidney disorder called polycystic kidney disease which usually causes fluid filled cysts in the kidneys. Interstitial cystitis is a chronic bladder wall inflammation that causes pain and discomfort.
Other signs
Other symptoms of kidney disease may include feeling cold all the time, shortness of breath, inability to concentrate over long durations, dizziness and pain in the back area of the affected kidney. Other symptoms include endocrine disturbance from menstrual disturbances to sexual dysfunction and thyroid dysfunction. You might also experience cardiovascular ailments from coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure to occlusive vascular and pericarditis diseases. You chances of having kidney disease are increased if you have a history of the disease in your family. You should therefore know your family and medical history as this will help your doctor to diagnose and determine the most appropriate treatment for you.
In order to reduce your probability of getting more complicated kidney problems, you should visit your health professional or naturopath any time you experience any of these symptoms. If discovered early enough, kidney disease can be treated effectively using natural medicines.
Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease
The rise of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes has greatly increased the rate of kidney failure across the world. Although complications are prevalent in men according to studies, more and more women are also becoming susceptible. The two organs, located on either side of the spine, play a very important role in getting rid of body waste while also balancing the amount of salts, fluids, and minerals in the blood. An injury or damage to kidneys would result to a build-up of waste in the body and a rise in blood pressure among other complications.
The role of the kidneys in the body
- Apart from filtering the waste products course for digestion, kidneys also clean up residues and by-products of medications and chemicals that the body is exposed to.
- The organs produce the enzyme rennin which is responsible for regulating blood pressure.
- Kidneys also regulate the concentration of salts such as sodium, phosphorus, and potassium.
- They help in the growth of healthy bones especially in kids by producing vitamin D.
- They are responsible for the production of erythropoietin which in turn triggers the production of red blood cells.
Causes of kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease refers to the condition where one or both kidneys fail to function properly for more than 3 months. The disease is attributed to a number of factors but the most culpable ones are when the patient suffers diabetes, high blood pressure, or both.
Other causes include:
- Hereditary factors which stimulate the growth of cysts
- Kidney stones.
- The kidney is part of the urinary system, thus multiple urinary tract infections can cause considerable damage.
- Inflammation in the kidneys, sometimes resulting from unknown causes.
- Long term use of drugs. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen and ibuprofen have also been linked to kidney failure.
Kidneys can also fail when one losses blood in a traumatic accident. Some women have been affected after experiencing pregnancy complications known as eclampsia. Enlarged prostate can also cause obstruction to urine thus triggering inflammation in the urinary tract.
Impact of Acute Renal Failure (ARF)
Acute renal failure is a reference to any instance where one or both kidneys stop working. Due to the inability of the body to control blood pressure and eject waste, the patient becomes highly vulnerable to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Studies indicate that people on dialysis are 20 times more likely to suffer heart failure. The patient develops stiff arteries because the kidneys can no longer produce the hormone that regulates calcium which is responsible for stiffening heart valves thus increasing blood pressure. In addition, there is increase of fats and cholesterol which exacerbate CVD. High blood pressure combined with irregular blood clots within the vessels could lead to stroke and death.
Symptoms and diagnosis of kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease develops slowly over a long period and quietly. Common symptoms include frequent and painful urination; the urine has foam and traces of blood, pain in the ankles and the eye area, tiredness, nausea, problems with breathing, vomiting, and pain in the kidney areas.
Diagnosis can be done using urine and blood tests, CT scan of the kidneys, and biopsies.
Finally, if you suspect kidney disease, or have kidney disease, please know that kidney disease does not need to be permanent, nor a life sentence. Kidney disease is highly treatable using natural medicines and techniques to restore the kidneys to perfect health, or to halt the progression and maintain their function.
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