Kidneys are essential to keep your blood away from impurities. The function of the kidneys is to filter blood and remove any waste from it, which turns into urine. It’s also responsible for balancing your electrolytes. Any blockage between the blood and the kidneys can lead to kidney problems. In a worst-case scenario, it can lead to kidney failure.
Signs of kidney disease
Even if your kidneys aren’t functioning accurately, their symptoms can easily be mistaken for something else. Following are symptoms that you may have a kidney disease:
1. Kidney pain
Usually, kidney pain starts from one kidney but, both kidneys can be painful as well. Kidney pain occurs in your torso between your rib cage and hips and can radiate towards your lower abdomen or inner thigh.
2. Problem with urination
Urine frequency and volume can depend on your kidneys’ health. If you’re urinating more often or less often than usual, it may be due to issues with the kidney. Similarly, a low volume of urine, foamy urine and burning sensation or pain while urinating can also signify a kidney disease.
3. Blood in the urine
Blood in the urine can never be a good thing. When the kidneys are not in good shape, blood may seep through your urine. It can mean that you have a kidney disease such as:
- Kidney stones
- Kidney Infection
- Kidney failure
- Tumor
4. Swollen feet and ankles
Kidneys are responsible for balancing your electrolytes as well and, they can cause an electrolyte imbalance if they aren’t working fine. Retention of sodium due to this imbalance can ankles and feet to swell.
5. Muscle cramping
Electrolyte imbalance such as dangerously low or high levels of phosphorus or low level of calcium may cause muscles to cramp. These can signal kidney disease.
6. Skin issues
The blood can become impure if the kidneys are not doing their job. It can affect your skin by causing acne, rashes, swelling, and itching.
7. Vomiting or Nausea
The declining function of the kidneys can create a waste build-up in your body. It can lead to nausea and vomiting.
8. Fatigue
Fatigue can be due to a busy lifestyle, sleep deprivation, medical issues, or much more. Nonetheless, it’s important to mention here, so you pay attention to it. Kidneys help produce red blood cells. In cases where there is kidney damage, lower red blood cells may cause anemia. Anemia can make you feel tired and tell you that something isn’t right with your body.
9. Not feeling hungry
This symptom is more common in people who are in the later stages of kidney disease. At this point, loss of appetite is possible with a lot of weight loss.
Diagnosis and Treatment Options
Kidney pain may be an indicator that it’s time to go to a Nephrologist in Lahore or a Nephrologist in Karachi at your earliest. Your doctor will diagnose the problem by doing a urine analysis, ultrasound, or CT depending upon your condition.
According to your diagnosis, your doctor will recommend you the treatment. Lifestyle changes can help if the damage to your kidneys is minimal or the disease is in its initial stages. Lifestyle changes to improve kidney health include:
- Quitting smoking
- Balanced diet
- Changing sleep habits
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Control your diabetes
- Take medication
However, if it progresses to the last stages, you may have to undergo dialysis or even a kidney transplant in some cases.
