Renal Disease - Kidney Disease Symptoms

The Kidneys are 2 fist-sized, bean-shaped organs that are found in the rear portion of the abdominal cavity. They perform several important functions for the human body. Chief among these functions include the cleaning of blood and waste products, getting rid of excess fluids in the body through urine and helping in the production of Red Blood Cells.

The Kidneys are normally designed to be long lasting. If the kidney function of one begins to slow down, the other kidney takes up the slack. So if there are any problems with the kidney functions, the symptoms of kidney disease start appearing quite later.

The common causes of renal disease include other diseases such as High Blood Pressure and Diabetes. These diseases put a lot of pressure on to the kidney function and can lead to renal disease. The other causes include low blood pressure, allergic reactions, inflammation of the internal parts of the kidneys, overuse of analgesics, and sickle cell disease.

Kidney Disease Symptoms

Let us look at the various symptoms of Kidney Disease:

• Fluid Build-Up: One of the main Kidney functions is to help the body get rid of the excess fluid. With the onset of kidney disease, the fluid begins to build-up in the extremities of the body. Patients often notice a swelling in their feet which can also lead to gain of water weight in the body.
• Change in Urine: This is confirmed via a urine test. The Urine will show changes in its chemical analysis and will help identify the nature of the problem with the kidneys.
• Anemia Symptoms: Since the Kidneys are involved in the process of creating Red Blood Cells, disruption in their function will lead to a reduction in the production of Red Blood Cells. This will effectively lead on to anemia. Thus, symptoms of anemia will be seen in patients affected by Kidney Disease. However, it is important to note here that anemia can be caused by a variety of other factors as well.
• Discomfort or Pain: There are not many nerves around the Kidneys. Therefore a reduction in their function will not cause pain in the back. However, this pain may manifest in the parts of the body connected to the kidneys, such as the urinary tract, the bladder and the ureters.
• Salt Retention: The kidneys also help keep the level of waste products down in the body. With a loss of kidney function, the retention of salt increases, which can also lead to High Blood Pressure and swelling in the patient.
• Uremia or Blood Poisoning: Kidneys take care of the toxins in the blood. With loss of Kidney function, the blood becomes full of un-removed toxins. Thus, a blood test will be able to identify the problem and help with treatment.

If any of these symptoms appear, it is best to visit your doctor and conduct a blood and urine test.

As mentioned before, the symptoms only begin to manifest at a later stage of the disease. Therefore it is extremely essential to take the tests and begin the treatment process immediately.