Signs your kidney might need attention
Kidneys are responsible for the purification of blood and eliminating extra fluid from the body. But when your kidneys do not function properly, there are several signs you need to notice in your body. Here are the signs that signal your risk of suffering from chronic kidney disease.
You're more tired
“You have less energy or are having trouble concentrating is a bad sign. A severe decrease in kidney function can lead to a buildup of toxins and impurities in the blood. This can cause people to feel tired and weak,” says Dr. Puru Dhawan, Ayurvedic Kidney expert and founder of Sai Sanjivani.
You have dry and itchy skin
According to Dr. Puru Dhawan(BAMS), healthy kidneys do many important jobs. They remove wastes and extra fluid from your body, help make red blood cells, help keep bones strong and work to maintain the right amount of minerals in your blood. Dry and itchy skin can be a sign of the mineral and bone disease that often accompanies advanced kidney disease, when the kidneys are no longer able to keep the right balance of minerals and nutrients in your blood.
You see blood in your urine
“Healthy kidneys typically keep the blood cells in the body when filtering wastes from the blood to create urine, but when the kidney's filters have been damaged, these blood cells can start to "leak" out into the urine. In addition to signaling kidney disease, blood in the urine can be indicative of tumors, kidney stones or an infection”, says Dr. Dhawan.
Your urine is foamy
Excessive bubbles in the urine – especially those that require you to flush several times before they go away—indicate protein in the urine. This foam may look like the foam you see when scrambling eggs, as the common protein found in urine, albumin, is the same protein that is found in eggs.
Your muscles are cramping
Dr. Puru Dhawan also added that electrolyte imbalances can result from impaired kidney function. For example, low calcium levels and poorly controlled phosphorus may contribute to muscle cramping.
Your ankles and feet are swollen
Decreased kidney function can lead to sodium retention, causing swelling in your feet and ankles. Swelling in the lower extremities can also be a sign of heart disease, liver disease and chronic leg vein problems.