Learn 10 Warning Signs of Kidney Disease

2. Swelling

Kidneys that aren’t working well have a hard time getting rid of extra fluids from the body. So, this fluid builds up, which causes edema or swelling. Even though edema can happen anywhere in the body, it generally shows up in the legs, ankles, feet, face, and hands.

3. Fatigue

A hormone called erythropoietin (EPO) is made by healthy kidneys. It tells the body to make red blood cells that carry oxygen. As the kidneys get worse, they make less EPO, so the body doesn’t have enough red blood cells. This disease is called anemia, and it makes your muscles weak and makes you feel tired all over.

4. Feeling Cold

A person with anemia may also feel cold all the time, even when they are in a warm room. When there aren’t enough red blood cells, oxygen can’t get to all parts of the body, especially the limbs. So, anemia can cause a general feeling of cold or a constant feeling of cold in the hands and feet.

5. Feeling dizzy and having a hard time focusing

If you have kidney failure and anemia, it could mean that your brain isn’t getting enough oxygen. This can cause problems with your memory, make it hard to focus, and make you feel dizzy.

6. Trouble Getting Air

When a person has kidney disease, extra fluid can build up in the lungs. This is called pulmonary edema, and it makes it hard to get enough air. Anemia can make this problem even worse because there aren’t enough red blood cells to take in and carry the small amount of oxygen a person takes in.

7. Back Pain

People who have problems with their kidneys may feel pain in their back or on one side near the damaged kidney. Polycystic kidney disease is an inherited condition that causes big, fluid-filled cysts to form in the kidneys and sometimes the liver. These cysts can also cause localized pain.

8. Bumps

When the kidneys stop working, wastes build up in the blood. This is called uremia, and it can cause rashes and skin that is very itchy.

9. Taste of metal in the mouth

Uremia can also change the way food tastes and give you bad breath. If a person has problems with their kidneys, they may even get a strange chemical taste in their mouth. They might stop liking meat all of a sudden, or they might lose weight because they don’t want to eat.