Knowing the symptoms of kidney disease can help people detect it early enough to get treatment. Symptoms can include:
Changes in urination — making more or less urine than usual, feeling pressure when urinating, changes in the color of urine, foamy or bubbly urine, or having to get up at night to urinate.
Swelling of the feet, ankles, hands, or face — fluid the kidneys can't remove may stay in the tissues.
Fatigue or weakness — a build-up of wastes or a shortage of red blood cells (anemia) can cause these problems when the kidneys begin to fail.
Shortness of breath — kidney failure is sometimes confused with asthma or heart failure, because fluid can build up in the lungs.
Ammonia breath or an ammonia or metal taste in the mouth — waste build-up in the body can cause bad breath, changes in taste, or an aversion to protein foods like meat.
Back or flank pain — the kidneys are located on either side of the spine in the back.
Itching — waste build-up in the body can cause severe itching, especially of the legs.
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
More hypoglycemic episodes, if diabetic
If you believe you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor about your concerns. This is especially important if you have a close family member who has kidney disease, or if you have diabetes or high blood pressure, which are the main causes of kidney failure.
How can I find out if I have kidney disease?
Kidney disease can be found through lab tests or by symptoms. High blood levels of creatinine and urea nitrogen (BUN) or high levels of protein in your urine suggest kidney disease. Diabetics should have a yearly urine test for microalbumin, small amounts of protein that don't show up on standard urine protein test.
Changes in urination — making more or less urine than usual, feeling pressure when urinating, changes in the color of urine, foamy or bubbly urine, or having to get up at night to urinate.
Swelling of the feet, ankles, hands, or face — fluid the kidneys can't remove may stay in the tissues.
Fatigue or weakness — a build-up of wastes or a shortage of red blood cells (anemia) can cause these problems when the kidneys begin to fail.
Shortness of breath — kidney failure is sometimes confused with asthma or heart failure, because fluid can build up in the lungs.
Ammonia breath or an ammonia or metal taste in the mouth — waste build-up in the body can cause bad breath, changes in taste, or an aversion to protein foods like meat.
Back or flank pain — the kidneys are located on either side of the spine in the back.
Itching — waste build-up in the body can cause severe itching, especially of the legs.
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
More hypoglycemic episodes, if diabetic
If you believe you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor about your concerns. This is especially important if you have a close family member who has kidney disease, or if you have diabetes or high blood pressure, which are the main causes of kidney failure.
How can I find out if I have kidney disease?
Kidney disease can be found through lab tests or by symptoms. High blood levels of creatinine and urea nitrogen (BUN) or high levels of protein in your urine suggest kidney disease. Diabetics should have a yearly urine test for microalbumin, small amounts of protein that don't show up on standard urine protein test.
