Kidney disease can develop quietly, and many people do not realize they have it until significant damage has already occurred.
This is especially important for older adults because some warning signs can look like ordinary changes associated with aging.
The kidneys are two small, bean-shaped organs located toward the back of the body.
Although small, they perform several essential jobs, including removing waste and extra water from the blood and helping keep the body’s fluids and minerals in balance.
The kidneys also help control blood pressure and produce hormones involved in making red blood cells. When kidney function declines, these important systems can gradually become disrupted.
Age itself can bring some decline in kidney function, but certain health conditions greatly increase the risk of chronic kidney disease. Diabetes and high blood pressure are among the most important because both can slowly damage the tiny blood vessels inside the kidneys.
One reason kidney disease is difficult to detect is that people may feel normal during its early stages. The kidneys can continue working even after some function has been lost, so obvious symptoms may not appear immediately.
Changes in urination can sometimes provide a clue. A person may urinate more or less often than usual, notice unusually foamy or dark urine, or see blood in the urine.
Swelling can also occur, particularly in the feet, ankles, legs, hands, or around the eyes. When damaged kidneys cannot remove enough salt and fluid, extra fluid can collect in the body’s tissues.
Unusual tiredness and weakness are other possible symptoms. Healthy kidneys help produce a hormone that tells the body to make red blood cells, so declining kidney function can contribute to anemia and leave a person feeling exhausted.
Some people with kidney problems may also have difficulty sleeping. As kidney function becomes poorer, waste products that would normally leave the body can remain in the blood and contribute to discomfort and other symptoms.
Dry or itchy skin can sometimes occur as well. The kidneys help maintain the right balance of minerals in the blood, and advanced kidney disease can disturb this balance and affect the skin.
As the disease progresses, symptoms may become more noticeable. People can develop muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, or an unpleasant taste in the mouth as waste products and mineral imbalances increase.
Problems with concentration or confusion can occur in more advanced illness. Anemia may also make people feel unusually cold, particularly in their hands and feet.
However, these symptoms do not automatically mean that someone has kidney disease. Many can be caused by other health problems, which is why symptoms alone are not a reliable way to diagnose kidney damage.
Doctors can check kidney health with relatively simple laboratory tests. A blood test measures creatinine and is used to estimate how well the kidneys filter blood, while a urine test can look for albumin, a protein that may leak into urine when the kidneys are damaged.
These tests can be particularly important for people at higher risk, including those with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or a family history of kidney problems. Regular testing can reveal declining kidney function before a person feels seriously unwell.
If chronic kidney disease is discovered, treatment usually focuses on protecting the kidney function that remains. Managing blood pressure and diabetes, using appropriate medicines, eating a kidney-friendly diet when advised, staying active, and avoiding substances that can harm the kidneys may help slow further damage.
People with severe kidney failure may eventually need dialysis or a kidney transplant, but many people with earlier disease never reach that stage. Detecting the problem sooner gives doctors more opportunities to slow its progression and reduce complications.
Anyone who notices persistent swelling, major changes in urination, unexplained tiredness, blood in the urine, or ongoing loss of appetite should discuss these changes with a health professional. Kidney disease can be easy to miss, but a simple blood and urine test can provide important answers.
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