Kidney failure and early symptoms that you should be aware of

Kidney failure is a condition when the kidneys can no longer function properly to remove fluids and waste from the blood. If kidney disease is allowed, it can certainly cause complications that can endanger lives. Therefore, you need to recognize what are the symptoms of kidney failure to get treatment as soon as possible.

Early kidney failure symptoms to watch out for

Generally, the symptoms of the cause of kidney failure are difficult to detect. The reason is, this one kidney disease starts from signs that are quite mild and vague. Over time, kidney damage will get worse, especially when not handled properly.

Most patients with kidney failure usually have had kidney problems for a long time, before signs of kidney failure appear.

If the kidneys are not able to adapt to the damage, you may experience several things, as reported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.

1. Fatigue

One of the symptoms of kidney failure that people may often ignore is fatigue. This condition is caused by kidney damage which causes a buildup of fluid and waste in the blood. As a result, many kidney failure patients feel tired, weak, and have difficulty concentrating.

This fatigue can also be caused by one of the complications of kidney failure, namely anemia. Anemia is a condition that often occurs in patients with chronic kidney failure (CKD) and those who are undergoing dialysis or dialysis.

The reason is that kidney damage actually slows down the production of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) which helps the bone marrow to make red blood cells.

If the kidneys are deficient in EPO, the body has red blood cells that can cause anemia. If you feel tired recently and your body feels weak, it's best to see a doctor.

2. Dry and itchy skin

Apart from feeling tired, dry and itchy skin can also be a symptom of kidney failure. This skin problem is even a sign of mineral and bone problems accompanied by kidney failure. Why is that?

Dry and itchy skin often occurs in people on dialysis, especially on the back, chest and head. The itching will get worse during until after dialysis because of the waste products that are not removed from the blood.

In addition, this condition can also occur due to kidney function that cannot balance the levels of mineral calcium and phosphorus in the blood.

As a result, a low blood calcium level triggers four pea-sized glands in the neck (parathyroid) to release parathyroid hormone. This hormone then pulls calcium from the spine into the blood.

If the parathyroid hormone level is too high, itching can develop. Kidney damage that causes a buildup of phosphorus in the blood can cause itching and dry skin, which is a sign of kidney failure.

3. Bloody urine

Have you ever experienced bloody urine or what is known in medical terms as hematuria? If so, you should immediately consult a doctor because there is a possibility that this condition can be a symptom of kidney failure.

Blood comes out along with urine.This indicates that the filter in the kidneys is not functioning properly and causes blood to leak into the urine. Apart from indicating kidney failure, blood in the urine can also be a sign of other diseases, such as infection or kidney stones.

4. Swelling

Damage to the kidneys that decreases their function can actually cause sodium retention. Sodium retention can cause swelling in several parts of the body, especially in the arms and legs.

Therefore, one of the signs and symptoms of kidney failure that people often encounter is swollen arms and legs. The swelling occurs due to excess fluid in the body.

5. Foamy pee

If you often find bubbles or froth when you urinate, it means that your urine contains protein. This condition, called proteinuria, is often a symptom of kidney failure that needs to be watched out for.

In fact, occasionally finding foam in the urine is normal. If this continues to happen to you, it can certainly be a sign that your body is in trouble. The reason is, foam in urine is a sign of protein in the urine that appears when it reacts in the air.

This condition should not be underestimated because there is a possibility that the kidneys do not filter protein in the blood properly before it is excreted in the urine. Immediately consult a doctor when the urine is often foamy or foamy.

6. Difficulty sleeping

People with kidney failure usually feel tired during the day, but have trouble sleeping at night. In fact, not a few also feel the syndromesleep apnea which may be related to the effects of advanced renal failure on respiration.

Sleep apnea is a condition when a person occasionally stops breathing during sleep. Over time, this sleep disorder can make sufferers have trouble sleeping at night and feel tired during the day.

Meanwhile, symptoms of kidney failure that interfere with daily life can occur due to feeling pain in the legs, restlessness, and discomfort at night.

They may also feel a strong urge to kick or move their legs. This habit during sleep often makes them wake up in the middle of the night.

7. Bone damage

Damage to bones is not visible, but it can be one of the signs and symptoms when a person has kidney failure. This is because kidney failure can weaken bone strength due to loss of calcium and phosphorus balance in the blood.

As a result, the parathyroid glands produce too much parathyroid hormone which keeps the bones from getting enough calcium. In fact, this condition affects 90% of dialysis patients, both children and adults, causing the bones to become weaker, thinner and deformed.

8. Joint problems

Not only does it cause bone problems, kidney failure can also cause pain, stiffness, and fluid in the joints. A joint is a point where two or more bones meet.

This symptom of kidney failure is the result of amyloidysis, which is a condition when abnormal proteins in the blood (amyloid) are deposited in tissues and organs. This also applies to joints and tendons, the hard tissues that connect muscles to bones.

Generally, healthy kidneys can filter amyloid protein out of the blood. However, the way the kidneys work this cannot be done by dialysis tools. Dialysis related to amyloidosis is usually performed on patients with kidney failure who have undergone 5 years of treatment.

9. No appetite

Kidney failure not only causes visible symptoms in the limbs, but also affects the sufferer's appetite. This condition apparently arises because the patient has uremia. Uremia is a situation when urea levels increase dramatically because the function of the kidneys to filter urea is reduced.

As a result, the buildup of urea in the blood occurs and causes neurotransmitter (natural chemical compounds) to disrupt the brain.

Some people claim that the food they eat tastes different. In fact, not a few lose their appetite and feel stomachaches when they think of food.