If you’re asking for a detailed explanation of the headline “23 Strange Signs Your Kidneys Might Be in Trouble,” the important point is that many kidney problems cause few or no symptoms in their early stages. When symptoms do appear, they can be nonspecific and may have many other causes.
Common signs that can occur with kidney disease include:
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Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, hands, or around the eyes
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Changes in how often you urinate
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Urinating much more or less than usual
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Foamy or unusually bubbly urine
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Blood or pink/red/brown urine
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Dark or unusually cloudy urine
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Pain or pressure when urinating
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Pain in the side or back, particularly with certain kidney conditions
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Persistent fatigue or weakness
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Trouble concentrating or feeling mentally foggy
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Nausea or vomiting
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Reduced appetite
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Unexplained weight changes
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Dry or itchy skin
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Muscle cramps
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Headaches
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Sleep problems
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Shortness of breath, particularly when fluid accumulates
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High blood pressure
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A metallic taste or unusual taste in the mouth
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Bad breath that persists despite normal oral hygiene
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Feeling unusually cold
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Persistent generalized swelling or fluid retention
Important: These symptoms don’t prove that your kidneys are failing. For example, fatigue, itching, frequent urination, swelling, and back pain can have numerous causes.
Kidney function is usually assessed with blood and urine tests, particularly creatinine/eGFR and urine albumin testing. If you have blood in your urine, significant swelling, markedly reduced urination, severe flank pain, or shortness of breath, medical evaluation is particularly important.
