Chronic Kidney Disease Symptoms

 Chronic Kidney Disease Symptoms and How to Identify Them

Chronic kidney failure symptoms often develop long periods of time. In fact chronic kidney disease symptoms may take years or even decades to appear after the kidney problem itself begins. Your kidneys can continue to function with no noticeable deterioration even though half of your issue has been destroyed by kidney disease. There can be even greater damage bordering on kidney failure before chronic kidney disease symptoms begin to appear.

However, when chronic kidney disease symptoms begin to appear, they are likely to include one or more (usually more) of the following.

You'll notice a decrease in urine output. There could be times when you feel the need to urinate, but nothing will come out.

When you are able to urinate, you may notice the presence of blood in the urine stream.

Nausea and vomiting are typical in cases where there are kidney problems.

A reduced desire to eat is common. You also begin to feel extremely tired and weak. Memory lapses occur and it becomes more difficult to concentrate.

Normal sleeping patterns will be disrupted.

Muscle twitches and cramps are common chronic kidney disease symptoms.

There may be some skin problems. Kidney disease itching is common. This may be caused by vasculitis, a visible rash which triggers swelling of blood vessels under the skin.

Swelling of the feet and ankles (known as edema) is another sign of chronic kidney disease. This occurs because your kidneys are not filtering fluids, wastes and toxins from your bloodstream as they normally would. These fluids build up, especially in the area of the feet.

There are also a number of "non-specific" chronic kidney disease symptoms. These are symptoms that are common to a variety of other diseases.

There are a number of ways of diagnosing kidney disease. Discuss having kidney function tests done to determine if there is a kidney problem. This is especially important if you belong to one of the following high risk groups that statistically, are more likely to get chronic kidney disease.

Type I or Type II diabetes are especially hard on the kidneys.

High blood pressure or hypertension makes the heart work harder and forces blood through the kidneys at higher pressure. This tends to damage the tiny blood vessels that help filter out fluids.

Heart disease decreases the efficiency of circulation through the body. Poor circulation means poor filtration of the blood by the kidneys.

High cholesterol causes plaque to build up in the blood vessels, again reducing efficient blood flow and making it harder for the kidneys to perform their functions.

Those who smoke tobacco products are or obese are at greater risk for developing chronic kidney disease symptoms.

If you are an African-American, American Indian or Asian-American, you are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease.

Anyone who has a family history of kidney disease, or is 65 or older is also in a higher risk group.

Chronic kidney disease is especially dangerous because it slowly destroys the kidneys. By the time chronic kidney disease symptoms appear, significant and irreversible damage has usually been done. Once kidney failure has occurred, there are only two options for survival: a kidney transplant or kidney dialysis. 

Learn more about the dangers of kidney disease
by clicking on the book cover below or

The Kidney Disease Solution