If you’re referring to a list of warning signs of kidney problems, it’s important not to treat every unusual symptom as evidence of kidney disease. Early kidney disease can cause no symptoms at all, so blood and urine testing is often more useful than a symptom checklist.
23 signs that can occur with kidney problems
- Swelling in the ankles, feet, hands, or around the eyes
- Foamy or unusually bubbly urine
- Blood or pink/red urine
- Urinating much more or much less than usual
- Frequently waking up to urinate
- Dark or unusually cloudy urine
- Persistent fatigue or weakness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Poor appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Muscle cramps
- Muscle weakness
- Itchy or unusually dry skin
- Headaches
- Difficulty concentrating or “brain fog”
- Trouble sleeping
- Shortness of breath
- High blood pressure
- Persistent pain in the side or back
- Bad or ammonia-like breath
- A metallic taste in the mouth
- Pale skin from anemia
- Confusion in severe kidney dysfunction
None of these symptoms alone proves that your kidneys are failing. Many have much more common explanations.
If you’re concerned about kidney health, a clinician can check blood creatinine/eGFR and urine albumin, along with blood pressure. Seek urgent care for severe shortness of breath, confusion, very little or no urine, or rapidly worsening swelling.
People with diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or a family history of kidney disease may benefit from regular kidney screening even when they feel completely well.
