Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Symptoms

When kidney function has decreased, there is a buildup of toxins and waste products in your blood, which may cause tiredness. Kidney damage also leads to a shortage of oxygen-carrying red blood cells (RBCs), leading to anemia, a condition that can make you feel tired and weak.

If there is fluid retention in the body due to impaired kidney function, there could be fluid buildup in your lungs, putting pressure on your airways and making it difficult for you to breathe. Anemia, a complication of CKD, can also result in shortness of breath.

This can occur due to various underlying causes, including anemia and the buildup of toxins due to declining kidney function. Anemia can also stem from kidney damage. Therefore, cognitive issues, such as a decline in reasoning, memory, and concentration, may be associated with CKD.

Damaged kidneys retain toxins and fluids in the body and can affect the normal functioning of other organs, including the nervous system. And any change in the nervous system can, in turn, affect sleep patterns. Breathlessness at night may also result from fluid buildup in the lungs when you lie down.

The kidneys' primary function is to flush out toxins and waste from the blood and maintain fluid balance in the body. The excess fluid and flushed out toxins form urine, which moves down to the bladder. Any dysfunction in the kidneys can impact urination frequency.

When kidneys fail, the increased concentration of toxins can make urine dark-colored. Impaired kidney function also leads to too much protein leaking into the urine, making it foamy.

A decline in kidney function leads to an imbalance of minerals in your body along with a buildup of toxins. Elevated levels of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals can lead to issues with your skin and nails.

A decline in kidney function can lead to fluid buildup in the body due to sodium retention. Leakage of protein into the urine can also cause fluid to move into the tissues resulting, in swollen eyes or limbs.

Impaired kidney function leads to a buildup of toxins in your body. When the toxins that should have been flushed through your urine accumulate in your body, this condition is called uremia. And it causes side effects such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, an odd taste in your mouth, and even bad breath.

Loss of kidney function can cause an imbalance in fluids and electrolytes in the body, which can lead to cramping of muscles, especially in the legs.

Reach out to your doctor about your symptoms. As mentioned earlier, these symptoms can be caused by other health conditions apart from kidney failure. Your doctor can accurately diagnose the cause of your symptoms.

The progression of symptoms for patients with CKD varies between individuals. Your doctor and healthcare team are the only people who can diagnose and guide you on the progression of kidney disease.

The early stages of CKD rarely have any symptoms. Therefore, diagnosis is usually made through health screenings: a urine test to measure the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) or protein-creatinine ratio (PCR) and a blood test to determine the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Protein-creatinine ratio, or PCR, is a test that measures the protein levels in the urine. Leakage of protein into urine is a common sign of kidney damage, so this test is often used to help diagnose CKD.

The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) indicates kidney function and is obtained through a blood test. An eGFR below 60 mL/min indicates the onset of CKD. An eGFR of less than 15 mL/min indicates stage 5 CKD, also known as end-stage kidney disease. This is the start of kidney failure.

The prognosis depends on the stage at which your CKD is detected. Not all CKD leads to end-stage kidney disease or kidney failure. The progression of CKD can be slowed with careful monitoring and management. However, if kidney function continues to decline, treatment options for end-stage kidney disease need to be considered.