23 Strange Signs Your Kidneys Might Be in Trouble
Kidney problems can be difficult to spot because early chronic kidney disease often causes no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they can be nonspecific and may have many other causes. Blood and urine tests are much more reliable than symptoms alone.
Possible signs include:
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Swelling around the ankles or feet
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Puffiness around the eyes
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Foamy or unusually bubbly urine
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Blood in the urine
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Urinating more frequently
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Waking frequently to urinate
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Producing much less urine than usual
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Persistent fatigue
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Weakness
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Poor appetite
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Nausea
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Vomiting
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Persistent itching
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Dry skin
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Muscle cramps
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Muscle weakness
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Numbness or tingling
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Difficulty concentrating
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Sleep problems
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Headaches
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Shortness of breath
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Changes in taste or a metallic taste
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Confusion, particularly with advanced kidney dysfunction
These symptoms don’t necessarily mean your kidneys are failing. For example, swelling can have heart or liver causes, while fatigue and itching have many possible explanations.
When should you get checked?
Kidney testing is particularly important if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or a family history of kidney failure. Common tests include blood creatinine/eGFR and a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR).
Don’t wait for symptoms if you’re at increased risk. Kidney disease can progress quietly, and finding it early gives you more opportunities to slow its progression.
Seek urgent medical attention for very little or no urine, severe shortness of breath, confusion, chest pain, or rapidly worsening swelling.
