Do you have any doubts or feelings that your kidneys are failing? Here’s all the information you need to know and the symptoms you should be aware of; they indicate probable kidney failure.
During our daily lives, we tend to take care of certain aspects of our health, however, we overlook many others, not because we intentionally ignore them, but because the signs and symptoms can be confusing.
The kidneys are two of the most important organs in the entire body. Although they are small, they are responsible for filtering “about half a cup of blood per minute, eliminating waste and excess water to produce urine,” according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Without the kidneys, or with kidneys in poor condition, the balance that should exist in the nerves, muscles, and other tissues of the body would not exist. According to the same experts, these organs also have the ability to control blood pressure, produce red blood cells, and strengthen bones.
Now, there are many ways kidney disease can occur, from kidney stones to failure to cancer, and many more, considering that there are risk factors such as diabetes, smoking, obesity, poor diet, etc.
While any disease that can affect our kidneys is very dangerous, today we’ll focus on just one of these: kidney failure. We’ll tell you what it is and what symptoms you should pay attention to.
Experts say that kidney failure occurs when “the kidneys no longer function well enough to perform these functions.”
When you start to experience problems with your kidneys (kidney failure), other diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, anemia, and bone mineral deficiency can develop.
But what are the symptoms? When kidney function begins to decline, quite noticeable symptoms can occur, such as swelling in the legs, feet, or ankles, headaches, fatigue, itching, and stomach upset.
You may also begin to lose your sense of taste, meaning you may no longer find food tasting the same as before. Cramps are also a clear sign, as are pain, numbness, or stiffness.
And the universal symptom of kidney failure is not urinating, or urinating in smaller amounts than you used to or normally would.
So, these are the signs and symptoms you should pay attention to, because if you have three or more and don’t see a doctor, you could be putting your health at greater risk.
Ideally, if you experience the symptom of not urinating, even if you don’t have other symptoms, you should see your primary care doctor as soon as possible. They will refer you to a specialist for a more detailed examination.
The sooner you receive treatment, the better, as this will increase the chances of the disease not progressing as quickly.
