“Those with kidney disease tend not to experience symptoms until the very late stages, when the kidneys are failing or when there are large amounts of protein in the urine. This is one of the reasons why only 10% of people with chronic kidney disease know that they have it.”
While the only way to know if you have kidney disease is to get tested, there are signs to watch for.
You might think symptoms of kidney problems would be obvious. After all, the kidneys are among the most important organs in the body, carrying out crucial functions that enable us to live each day.
But symptoms of kidney problems can be subtle – which is why these conditions can be so dangerous
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS of chronic kidney disease
These are all typical signs you might notice once your kidneys have some significant damage. But it’s important to bear in mind they can all be symptoms of other conditions.
1. Persistent puffiness around eyes
Protein in the urine is an early sign that the kidneys’ filters have been damaged, allowing protein to leak into the urine. This puffiness around your eyes can be due to the fact that your kidneys are leaking a large amount of protein in the urine, rather than keeping it in the body.
2. Swollen ankles and feet
Decreased kidney function can lead to sodium (salt) retention, causing swelling in your feet and ankles. Swelling in the lower extremities can also be a sign of heart disease, liver disease and chronic leg vein problems.
3. Blood in urine
Healthy kidneys typically keep the blood cells in the body when filtering wastes from the blood to create urine, but when the kidney’s filters have been damaged, these blood cells can start to “leak” out into the urine. In addition to signaling kidney disease, blood in the urine can be indicative of tumors, kidney stones, or an infected.
4. Foamy urine
Excessive bubbles in the urine – especially those that require you to flush several times before they go away—indicate protein in the urine. This foam may look like the foam you see when scrambling eggs, as the common protein found in urine, albumin, is the same protein that is found in eggs.
5. Urinating more frequently
If you feel the need to urinate more often, especially at night, this can be a sign of kidney disease. When the kidney’s filters are damaged, it can cause an increase in the urge to urinate. Sometimes this can also be a sign of a urinary infection or enlarged prostate in men.
6. Less Energy or Trouble Concentrating
A severe decrease in kidney function can lead to a buildup of toxins and impurities in the blood. This can cause people to feel tired or weak and can make it hard to concentrate. Another complication of kidney disease is anemia, which can cause weakness and fatigue.
7. Tiredness and brain fog
When your kidney function dips, toxins build up in your blood, which can make you feel tired and struggle to concentrate.
8. Poor appetite
A common symptom of everything from stress to a range of serious illnesses, poor appetite can happen in CKD because of a build-up of toxins.
9. Nausea
CKD can cause feelings of sickness because your kidneys are not removing toxins from your body properly.
10. Dry, itchy skin
Experts don’t know exactly why kidney disease leads to very dry, itchy skin. But it may be connected to a few different factors including toxins in the blood and an imbalance in levels of minerals in your body.
11. Muscle cramps
Occasional cramps are normal, but poor kidney function can cause more muscle cramping.
12. Sleep problems
There are a few reasons CKD can affect your sleep. Toxins can build up and circulate in your blood, which can keep you awake.
13.URINE OUTPUT REDUCE – Making less urine than usual , When the kidney’s filters are damaged, it can cause an Decrease in the urge to urinate.
Risk Factors for Kidney Disease
Major risk factors for chronic kidney disease include:
- Diabetes.
- High blood pressure.
- Obesity.
- Age.
drmayurikokare.com 10 Jul 2025
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