Common Kidney Problems

How To Know If You Have Kidney Problems

Common kidney problems may affect kidney function in many ways. Certain common kidney problems can be so serious that they lead to a condition called nephrotoxicity. Nephrotoxicity is a word that basically means one or both kidneys are being overwhelmed with toxic substances, causing extensive kidney damage and raising the life-threatening possibility of kidney failure.

Common kidney problems that cause nephrotoxicity generally develop over a period of years. Symptoms of nephrotoxicity don't often present themselves until kidney damage has progressed significantly. But it's also possible for nephrotoxicity to develop quickly due kidney problems caused by certain temporary circumstances, especially dehydration.

Most common kidney problems develop because blood vessels inside the kidneys become damaged. This, in turn, causes damage to the nephrons, the tiny filters which remove toxins, waste products, salt and excess fluids from the blood. Blood electrolytes such as potassium and magnesium become elevated and creatinine levels in the blood will also rise. Toxins and unnecessary fluids normally leave the body in the form of urine, but when they begin to accumulate, they eventually result in kidney disease and cause a number of other kidney problems symptoms.

Typically, these symptoms of nephrotoxicity and other common kidney problems could include one or more of the following.

• You may pass dark or cloudy urine. This may indicate blood in the urinary tract.
• Urinating could become painful. A burning sensation is common.
• You typically feel a need to urinate more often than usual, and may have some bladder control issues.
• Swelling is common in those with nephrotoxicity, especially around the face, eyes, feet and ankles.
• Weight gain is likely because of the swelling and the fact that your body is accumulating fluids.
• Many people with nephrotoxicity and kidney problems develop a fever.

Many of these common kidney problems symptoms are common to other diseases and disorders as well. So it's best to consult your doctor right away when they begin to appear. Your doctor can run kidney tests which will assess the level of kidney damage and the risk of kidney failure.

There are two kidney problem causes which are especially dangerous. There are diabetes and high blood pressure (which is also known as hypertension). While many people are aware of the heart health risks posed by diabetes and high blood pressure, few know of the role they can play in causing kidney disease.

With both high blood pressure and diabetes, kidney problems and nephrotoxicity often develop slowly - generally over a course of years. As a result, symptoms of kidney problems caused by these two conditions don't begin to show up until a lot of kidney damage has already occurred. This is one of the reasons people with high blood pressure or diabetes should also have kidney tests run as part of their check-ups.

When you have diabetes, your body does a poor job of processing glucose. Diabetes interferes with the kidneys' filtering process because high sugar levels make the kidneys work harder. This damages the nephrons and eventually they become more porous. When this happens, waste products get through the filters and stay in the system, in effect, poisoning the bloodstream.

High blood pressure or hypertension is one of the most common causes of kidney failure. Hypertension causes the heart to work harder, forcing blood through the kidneys at higher pressure. This abnormal pressure can eventually damage blood vessels in the kidneys. They may stop filtering wastes, toxins and excess fluids. Excess fluid in the body may then raise blood pressure even more, increasing the risk of eventual nephrotoxicity or kidney failure.

It's often easy to take kidney health for granted because the kidneys continue to function and symptoms of kidney function problems don't appear until kidney damage has progressed to a dangerous stage and kidney failure is possible. So it's important to take care of your kidneys by eating a diet that promotes kidney health, taking steps to prevent diabetes and high blood pressure, and getting regular health check-ups through your medical professional. 

Learn more about the dangers of kidney disease
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The Kidney Disease Solution