Kidney Diseases are Silent Killers!
The kidney is a vital organ and assays some essential regulatory roles. It is required to get rid of waste accumulated in our body, helps regulate blood pressure and in the reabsorption of water, glucose and amino acids. So kidney-related ailments are particularly dangerous and there’s a startling increase in the number of cases. The dangerous thing about kidney disease is that it’s very asymptomatic in the early phases. Most people experience nothing drastic until it reaches a more advanced stage. Know what the symptoms of kidney diseases are. Image Courtesy: Getty Images
Swollen Limbs and Ankles
Kidneys remove wastes and extra fluid from the body. When they are unable to do so, this extra fluid will build up causing swelling in your hands, feet, ankles and/or your face. Image Courtesy: Getty Images
Fatigue
Your kidneys produce a hormone called erythropoietin which helps make red blood cells that carry oxygen. In kidney disease lower levels of erythropoietin causes decreased red blood cells in your body resulting in anaemia. There is decreased oxygen delivery to cells causing generalised weakness and extreme fatigue. Image Courtesy: Getty Images
Blood in Urine
This is a symptom of kidney disease which is a definite cause for concern. Protein in the urine is more complicated as it can be detected only through a urine test. There may be other reasons, but it is advisable to visit your doctor in case you notice it. Image Courtesy: Getty Images
Shortness of breath
Kidney disease causes fluid to build up in the lungs. And also, anaemia, a common side-effect of kidney disease, starves your body of oxygen. You may have trouble catching your breath due to these factors. Image Courtesy: Getty Images
High blood pressure
Due to shortage in the capacity of the body to carry oxygen, the heart begins to pump blood faster in order to carry out the various nervous functions. Besides, overworking of the heart leads to hypertension due to a high blood pressure in the body. Image Courtesy: Getty Images
Nausea and Dizziness
The build-up of waste products in your blood in kidney disease can also cause nausea and vomiting. Anaemia associated with kidney disease also depletes your brain of oxygen which may cause dizziness, trouble with concentration, etc. Image Courtesy: Getty Images
Pain in the back or sides
Some cases of kidney disease may cause pain. You may feel a severe cramping pain that spreads from the lower back into the groin if there is a kidney stone in the ureter. Pain may also be related to polycystic kidney disease, an inherited kidney disorder, which causes many fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys. Image Courtesy: Getty Images
Frequent Urination
Kidney disease can result in changes in the amount and frequency of urination. There might be an increase in the need to urinate especially at night. There are cases of urination in smaller amounts with dark urine or in larger amounts with pale urine. There also might be difficulty in urinating or constant experience of building pressure without actually passing it. Image Courtesy: Getty Images
Feeling cold all the time
If you have kidney disease you may feel cold even when in a warm surrounding due to anaemia. Pyelonephritis (kidney infection) may cause fever with chills. Image Courtesy: Getty Images
