Kidneys play an essential role in maintaining your overall health. These organs work by filtering blood through millions of tiny units known as nephrons that help remove waste and excess fluid – often excreted as urine.
They also perform other vital functions, such as regulating blood pressure, balancing electrolytes, and producing hormones that stimulate red blood cell production and activate vitamin D.
Studies say early identification and management of any kind of kidney issue is crucial for those who are at high risk. According to experts, it is important to go for annual check-ups, which can help in early diagnosis and detection of kidney diseases and help improve management.
Early detection not only helps slow the progression of the disease but also improves your long-term health outcomes. With timely treatment, kidney disease can often be managed effectively, and in some cases, its progression can be halted. A few early red flags include:
Fatigue and tiredness
If there is a problem in your kidney function, it can result in a collection of toxins in the body, which makes you fatigued and tired all the time. Also, doctors say kidney issues can also lead to anemia, which further contributes to feelings of tiredness.
Extremely dry skin
Doctors say skin dryness tops the list of kidney disease signs. In patients of chronic kidney disease, more than 70 per cent undergo xerosis – a condition which makes skin rough, scaly, and tight. Since the kidneys control sweat and oil glands, poor function begins to dry them out, worsening the disease stage.
The itch from dryness leads to cracks and infections.
Changes in urination
Alterations in patterns of urination are one of the most noticeable early signs of kidney disease. You should be worried if you have:
- Increased urination, especially at night
- Dark, rusty, or brown-coloured urine
- Foamy or bubbly urine, indicating the presence of protein
- Blood in the urine, also known as hematuria.
Swelling and inflammation
If you experience swelling around the eyes, ankles, or hands, it can signal fluid retention, which means your kidneys are failing. Doctors say when kidneys fail to function properly, water and salt accumulate in tissues, causing puffiness that usually starts in the legs or face. Periorbital swelling, around your eyes, is an early warning sign, sometimes accompanied by foamy urine in chronic kidney disease patients.
Swelling in hands and feet occurs from mineral imbalances, and calcium deposits can form hard lumps near joints, causing fingertip pain. To manage this, elevate legs above heart level daily, reduce salt intake, and monitor weight for sudden fluid-related gains.
Loss of appetite
Doctors say a loss of appetite can be a sign of kidney disease, especially if it is progressing fast. It happens often due to a buildup of waste products in the blood – a condition known as uremia – which causes nausea, vomiting, and a metallic taste in the mouth, leading to a decreased desire to eat.