With the numbers of potential illnesses and diseases that seem to
be threatening our everyday existence, it may be difficult to keep up
with all of the signs that we should be looking out for, especially when
something like kidney failure symptoms can start out so subtly. With
that in mind, this article will highlight five of the things that you
need to be aware of if you think that you may be one of the many
undiagnosed sufferers of chronic kidney disease.
Even if you do
have some form of chronic kidney disease, there is only about a 20%
chance that this will lead to kidney failure; but it's always worth
having a working knowledge of the symptoms so that you can see your
doctor at the first signs of anything out of the ordinary.
Symptom 1: Have You Noticed a Change in Your Urine?
These
changes are some of the easier of the symptoms to lookout for. It could
be a change in the color due to some blood being present in the urine;
however lighter color urine could be an indicator too. You may have to
urinate more at night than you've had to in the past. It's also possible
that you may have difficulty in urinating, even when you desperately
need to. Finally, you may notice that your urine has taken on a bubbly
appearance.
Symptom 2: Are You Suffering from a Constant Feeling of Tiredness?
This
happens because the kidneys have started to struggle to create the
hormone erythropoietin, and it's erythropoietin that tells the body that
it needs to increase the production of blood cells so as to carry more
oxygen around the body. The lack of oxygen circulating in the
bloodstream will be most noticeable because of the tiredness in the
muscles; and this is more commonly known as anemia.
Symptom 3: Are You Having Trouble Concentrating, And Have Started To Feel Dizzy?
Again,
this is a result of anemia. The lack of red blood cells means that you
aren't getting as much oxygen circulating to the brain; this can lead to
the dizziness, lack of concentration, and possible memory problems that
you may have been experiencing.
Symptom 4: Have You Been Suffering From An Unexplained Skin Rash Or Itchiness?
Another
of the key functions of the kidneys is to remove the toxic wastes from
your body. If the toxins are allowed to build up then one of the
symptoms that this can lead to is the skin irritation that you may have
started to notice; and when these toxins are still present in the
bloodstream, it's a good outward indicator that you may need to start
looking for other kidney failure symptoms.
Symptom 5: Have You Noticed A Swelling In The Extremities?
Not
only do the kidneys help in the removal of toxins from the body, they
also help in the removal of excess fluid that can build up and cause
swelling in the face, hands, legs, ankles, or feet.
There are, of
course, other things that could be an indication that you need to look
for other potential kidney failure symptoms; but, if you do notice that
you have a combination of any of the symptoms mentioned above, then it
would be well worth your time making that appointment to see the doctor -
after all, as the old saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a
pound of cure".