6 EARLY SYMPTOMS OF KIDNEY FAILURE

Kidneys are a pair of organs located toward your lower back. They filter your blood and remove toxins from your body. Kidneys send toxins to your bladder, which your body later removes toxins during urination. Kidney failure occurs when your kidneys lose the ability to filter waste from your blood. People with kidney failure tend not to experience symptoms until the very late stages, when the kidneys are failing or when there are large amounts of protein coming out in the urine.

DRY AND ITCHY SKIN

Dry and itchy skin can be a sign of the mineral and bone disease that often accompanies advanced kidney failure, when the kidneys are no longer able to keep the right balance of minerals and nutrients in your blood.

BLOOD IN URINE

When the kidney’s filters have been damaged, these blood cells will 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 infection too.

URGE TO URINATE MORE

If you feel the need to urinate more often, especially at night, this can be a sign of early stage towards kidney failure. When the kidneys filters are damaged, it can cause an increase in the urge to urinate. Sometimes this can also be a sign of a urinary infection.

FOAMY URINE

Excessive bubbles in the urine especially require you to flush several times before they go away indicates 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.

SWOLLEN FEET

Decreased kidney function can lead to sodium 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.