23 Signs Your Kidneys Might Need Attention
The headline is a little sensational because early kidney disease often causes no noticeable symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they can be caused by many other conditions too.
Possible warning signs include:
- Changes in how often you urinate
- Urinating much more at night
- Foamy or unusually bubbly urine
- Blood or tea-colored urine
- Swelling around the ankles, feet, hands, or eyes
- Persistent puffiness or fluid retention
- Fatigue or unusual weakness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Nausea or vomiting
- Reduced appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Dry or itchy skin
- Muscle cramps
- Muscle weakness
- Headaches
- Trouble sleeping
- Shortness of breath, particularly with fluid buildup
- High blood pressure
- Bad or metallic taste in the mouth
- Breath that smells unusually like ammonia
- Persistent dry or itchy skin
- Pain in the side or back, depending on the underlying kidney problem
- Changes in urine color, volume, or appearance
These signs don’t prove that your kidneys are failing. Diabetes, dehydration, urinary infections, medications, and many other conditions can cause similar symptoms.
If you’re concerned about kidney function, a blood test for kidney function (such as creatinine/eGFR) and a urine test for albumin/protein are much more useful than trying to diagnose kidney disease from symptoms alone.
Seek urgent medical care for very little or no urine, severe breathing difficulty, severe swelling, blood in the urine with significant pain, or sudden severe weakness/confusion.
