Symptoms of Kidney Failure

Answer 1

Kidney failure, or End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), is a five stage disease of the kidneys ultimately resulting in death. The only treatment available is dialysis where the blood supply is cleaned by an artificial kidney, or by having a kidney transplant. ESRD is caused by long term Diabetes, high blood pressure, injury, repeated infections, polycystic disease, drug abuse, certain medications and cancer.

There are numerous symptoms for kidney disease. Many are so subtle patients aren't aware of them until they are into stage two or stage three of the disease. The disease is often caught in a routine urine examination when protein is detected in the urine. Most cases of kidney failure are caused by long term diabetes and fortunately doctors routinely order urine tests to check for blood sugar levels and protein levels. The following is a list of kidney failure symptoms:

• Changes in urine and urination patterns. Pale urine, bloody urine, cloudy urine, foamy urine, dark urine, frequent urination during the night, less production of urine but increased urgency.
• Edema. This is swelling of the face, hands, feet or ankles caused by the kidneys not removing enough fluid from the body.
• Fatigue. This is caused by the failure of the kidneys to produce the hormone which signals the bone marrow to make red blood cells which will carry oxygen to various parts of the body. This is called anemia.
• Skin rashes and extreme itching. Toxins are not being removed from the body by the kidneys and are working their way to the skins surface.
• Strange breath and a metallic taste in the mouth.
• Loss of appetite.
• Nausea and vomiting. This is caused by a severe build-up of wastes in the body that would normally be removed by the kidneys if they were fully functioning.
• Shortness of breath caused by fluid build-up and anemia.
• Cold feeling sometimes accompanied by chills.
• Dizziness and inability to concentrate.
• Leg and flank pain generated by non-functioning kidneys.