Chronic Kidney Disease Symptoms
Our kidneys are a very important organ for us. We will be in big trouble without them, although dialysis can help to keep people alive without them. Transplants are also a possibility in some cases, and we are still working on technologies that can offer artificial alternatives.
It is a good idea to keep our kidneys healthy. This is not always possible, however, even in people that do take good care of themselves. Kidney disease is a problem that can be the result of a number of causes, including various other diseases. It will also likely result in a number of unwelcome symptoms.
1. Difficulty Sleeping
Regardless of how sick you might be, it is always very important that you get as much rest as you can. This is largely because it saves energy so your body can use it to fight against diseases. Some illnesses will make it very hard for some patients to get to sleep at night, however.
A multitude of changes within the body will occur when the kidneys are ailing. This can, in turn, disrupt the systems involved in the sleep cycle making it difficult for the patient to get enough sleep. This can make them feel very tired the following day, and can also contribute to other symptoms that chronic kidney disease can cause.
2. Fatigue
As already mentioned, chronic kidney disease can cause sleepless nights, and this can cause the patient to feel very tired. In addition to sleeplessness, the patient will also sometimes be feeling fatigued for other reasons. One of these is that there are too many toxins flowing through the blood.
Anemia is when there is a lower than usual volume of red blood cells and it is often associated with chronic kidney disease. Fewer red blood cells than usual means that there is less oxygen in the body. The decrease in oxygen can lead to lower energy levels, while the impurities in the blood can also have a direct influence on our bodies.
3. Foamy Urine
When you pour a liquid into another liquid from a height then you will often find that some bubbles will form on the surface. Depending on the type of liquids involved, these bubbles will not usually last for long, and this is usually the case where urine and water are concerned. But not always.
Chronic kidney disease will mean that the patient will have more of a certain protein than usual in their urine, and this will be passed out of the body as usual. The presence of this protein, which is known as albumin, causes bubbles to form in the urine. There will be more than usual bubbles in the toilet bowl, and they will tend to remain for longer.
4. Puffy Eyes
A lot of us will experience puffy eyes when we are tired. Sometimes it is down to an allergic reaction or maybe something has caused us to cry. It is a common condition and is not usually something to be alarmed about, but it can sometimes be a sign that all is not well.
If you are suffering from chronic kidney disease, then high levels of protein will be released into the urine. Lower levels of protein in the body can result in the eyes beginning to puff up. Any unexplained symptoms like this should be looked into by a medical professional.
5. Urinating More Frequently
It is normal for us to need to urinate several times a day. Our bladders can only hold so much urine, meaning that it needs to be emptied from time to time. If you notice that you are urinating more frequently than you usually would then it could be because you have a serious medical condition.
Urinating frequently is a symptom that many people with chronic kidney disease will develop. In some cases, the patient will need to urinate more often at night particularly. The symptom can be a sign of numerous different problems, some of which can be serious, so it is something that should be checked out.
6. Itchy Skin
If there are impurities flowing beneath the skin then this can be quite irritating to our skin tissues, and this can result in itchiness. What’s more is that the skin needs to be well maintained with the right levels of minerals to help keep it in good health.
If the kidneys are not functioning properly then these balances are likely to be sent out of their natural balance. This, in turn, can cause the patient’s skin to become dry and itchy. If you do experience these symptoms then you should arrange to get them checked out regardless of the suspected cause.
7. Appetite Loss
A good appetite is key to keeping healthy, within reason of course. Our body needs a regular supply of nutrients if it is to remain in good health, and a good appetite helps to ensure that our body gets these nutrients. If you were to lose your appetite then you might end up falling ill as a result.
As much as a loss of appetite can cause illness, it is also sometimes the result of an illness. People with chronic kidney disease will often just not feel like eating as a result of the toxins flowing through their bodies. It is important to continue getting all the nutrition you need regardless of how little you might feel like it.
8. Edema
Edema is the name for a condition where fluids have accumulated to at the bottom of the body, resulting in swollen feet and ankles. The condition is not serious in itself, although it can cause some discomfort when it comes to footwear not fitting properly.
There are numerous potential causes of edema, and one of them is chronic kidney disease. Malfunctioning kidneys can cause the body to retain more fluids due to inability of the kidneys to process the fluids and also from sodium retention. Some causes of edema can be quite serious, including chronic kidney disease, so the symptom should be investigated.
9. Muscle Cramps
Messages travel throughout our bodies by way of electrical impulses, and these messages are sent with the help of electrolytes. These are compounds that are conductive to electricity and allow electrical messages to pass from cell to cell. They need to exist in the right balances in order for messages to be transmitted as they should be.
Chronic kidney disease can result in the levels of electrolytes in the body becoming imbalanced. This can lead to issues with the transmission of signals through nerves, and this can lead to cramping. Cramping can be quite a painful condition depending on its severity.
10. Blood In Urine
If there appears to be something unusual about your urine then it is something that you should pay attention to. You should pay extra attention if that something unusual is blood. It is not usual to have blood in your urine and it is something that you should get checked by a doctor as soon as you are able.
Blood in the urine can be a sign of various potentially dangerous conditions. This include tumors, infections, trauma, and chronic kidney disease. In cases of chronic kidney disease, this can occur because blood cells are able to leak out from the kidneys into our urine.
