Chronic Kidney Disease: 10 Symptoms of CKD

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located on either side of the spine in the lower middle of the back. The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste through the blood using millions of tiny filters (called nephrons), and flushing them out of the body via the urine. However, when nephrons get damaged, or worse, a kidney fails completely, waste build ups in the blood and can’t be eliminated from the body—which will result in toxic sickness.
Chronic kidney disease (or CKD) is often an issue for years before damage starts to take a serious toll on the body. However, the following ten symptoms do exist and can indicate chronic kidney disease…

1. Pain

In some patients CKD will cause leg pain—especially in the upper back or where the legs meet the torso (on the same side as the failing kidney). Cysts filled with fluid or kidney stones can also result from kidney disease and cause extreme pain in bursts or spasms that come and go.

2. Breathing Difficulty

Shortness of breath can result from kidney issues due to extra fluid or swelling in the lungs, which put pressure on the chest cavity and makes breathing difficult. Decreased oxygen-rich blood cells in the body (anemia) will also cause oxygen-depravity with movements (i.e., walking up stairs).

3. Metallic Taste in Mouth

Uremia, a condition that causes waste to build-up in the bloodstream due to improperly working kidneys will often result in a metallic taste in your mouth accompanied by weight loss due to a severe loss in appetite.

4. Skin Irritations

Rashes and irritation of the skin often occurs with unhealthy kidney due to the fact that they are suddenly inefficient for removing waste from the bloodstream. As waste builds up; it will surface on the skin with rashes, acne, and itching.

5. Chills

Anemia (or oxygen-starvation) will often cause the internal body temperature to decrease, resulting in chills, particularly in the extremities like the feet, hands, ears, and nose, even in a warm room.

6. Nausea

A loss of appetite can also occur due to extreme nausea and even vomiting due to wastes lingering in the body, and an inability to keep food down (poor digestion).

7. Swelling

If the kidneys are failing excess fluid in the body won’t drain as normal, which results in a build-up of fluid and swelling—legs, ankles, feet, or hands.

8. Fatigue

If your kidneys are healthy they will naturally secrete beneficial levels of a hormone called erythropoietin (EPO), which encourages red blood cell production that carry oxygen to the muscles and brain. If the kidneys are in failure they will produce reduced levels or tire of EPO production completely, leading to fatigue and anemia.

9. Lightheadedness

Trouble concentrating often results from Anemia as well due to the simple fact that the brain is deprived of vital oxygen. Oftentimes, dizziness, lack of focus, poor memory, fainting, and difficulties concentrating will result.

10. Changes in Urination

Kidneys make urine, so when the kidneys are failing, changes in urination may occur with patients needing to use the bathroom more urgently, getting up frequently throughout the night to relieve oneself, you may urinate with greater quantities and with increased pressure, urine may also be foamy or contain traces of blood.