Early signs of kidney failure: Kidneys are that part of our body which silently works day and night. They remove toxic elements and excess water from the body, control blood pressure and maintain the balance of minerals. But when the kidneys stop functioning properly, the body gives many signals. If not understood in time, it can take the form of a serious disease. About 10 percent of the world’s population is suffering from some kind of kidney problem and every year lakhs of people die due to this reason. Let us tell you which symptoms are visible.

What symptoms are visible?

Kidney problems often start with very minor symptoms, but ignoring them can prove costly. If there is persistent fatigue in the body, swelling appears in the legs or under the eyes, the color or quantity of urine changes, there is difficulty in breathing or the skin feels dry and itchy, then it may be a sign that your kidneys are becoming weak.

Constant fatigue or weakness can be a sign that toxins are accumulating in the body and the kidneys are not able to remove them properly. If you feel tired even after getting enough sleep, do not take it lightly and get checked by a doctor. Swelling in the body is also a big sign. When the kidneys are unable to remove excess fluid, it starts accumulating in parts of the body. Its effect is first visible on the feet, hands or face. In medical language it is called edema.

Change in urine is the clearest sign of kidney problem. Dark color of urine, appearance of foam or bubbles in it, frequent urination or feeling of burning sensation. These symptoms can indicate that there is something wrong with the kidneys. Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing is also a hidden sign of kidney failure. When the kidneys are unable to remove excess fluid from the body, the same fluid reaches the lungs and makes breathing difficult. Many times people mistake it for heart or lung disease, whereas the real cause is kidney disease. Dry and itchy skin is a sign that the kidneys are not able to filter essential minerals and waste products from the blood. This causes mineral imbalance in the body, which makes the skin dry and itchy. This condition is often seen in advanced stages of kidney disease.

When do you need to contact a doctor?

If you feel any of these symptoms, do not delay and consult a doctor. With early detection, not only the disease can be prevented, but kidney function can also be saved to a great extent. To keep the kidneys healthy, the most important thing is a balanced and healthy diet. Reduce salt in food, because excess sodium increases blood pressure and can damage the kidneys. Eat fruits and vegetables that are low in potassium, such as apples, berries, grapes, cauliflower, cabbage and capsicum. The antioxidants present in them reduce inflammation and reduce pressure on the kidneys. Always choose light sources for protein like fish, pulses or egg whites. Avoid red meat and processed foods because the preservatives present in them force the kidneys to work harder. Along with this, excessive consumption of medicines, especially painkillers, can harm the kidneys. Do not take painkillers frequently without doctor’s advice.

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Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.

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Kidney Disease: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a major health concern worldwide. According to the recent report of Lancet, the cases of kidney disease have doubled in the last three decades. Compared to 1990, now about 80 crore people are affected by this disease.

It has been said in the report that in most of the patients, early stage of the disease i.e. stage 1 to 3 CKD was found, the total rate of which is about 13.9 percent. In the year 2023, CKD became the ninth leading cause of death worldwide, killing about 14.8 lakh people. Not only this, reduced kidney function has been cited as a major risk factor in 11.5 percent of deaths related to heart diseases. The report says that increased blood sugar levels, obesity and high blood pressure are the main causes of kidney disease.

A large number of people are affected in India also

According to the report, India is among the top countries in the world in terms of the number of people affected by kidney disease. In 2023, the highest number of CKD patients were found in China at 15.2 crore and India at 13.8 crore. At the same time, in countries like America, Indonesia, Japan, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and Turkey, more than 1 crore adults are suffering from this disease.

Main causes of kidney disease

The report says that high blood pressure, high body mass index and seasonal temperature imbalance are the biggest reasons for kidney damage. These risks increase with increasing age. All these factors gradually increase between the age of 20 to 69 years, whereas after 70 years, high blood pressure becomes a bigger threat than BMI. At the same time, increased blood sugar levels have been found to be the biggest contributor to CKD at every age.

Symptoms are not visible in the initial stage

The biggest challenge of CKD is that there are no obvious symptoms in its initial stages. As the disease progresses, some common signs start emerging. Some of its main symptoms are as follows-

• fatigue and lack of energy
• swelling in feet, ankles, or hands
• Change in urine volume or color
• loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting
• itchy or dry skin
• muscle cramps or pain
• trouble sleeping or lack of concentration
• unexplained weight loss
• difficulty breathing

Early detection and prevention is the only solution

Most people do not recognize the symptoms until the disease has progressed significantly. In such a situation, it is very important to do urine test from time to time, check blood sugar and blood pressure, and adopt a healthy lifestyle. According to experts, by improving medicines and diet in the initial stage, the pace of the disease can be slowed down to a great extent and serious problems can be avoided.

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Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.

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Kidney is one of the most important organs of our body. It helps in purifying our blood, removing waste from the body and maintaining fluid balance. Apart from this, kidneys produce some hormones in our body which help in controlling blood pressure and producing red blood cells. But many people do not realize that their kidneys are not functioning properly until the situation becomes very serious. This is because kidney problems often do not give any obvious symptoms in the early stages. This is why almost 90 percent of people do not know that they have kidney disease. This is why timely investigation and caution is very important. In such a situation, let us know how to find out if the kidney is getting damaged before it fails and which test helps completely.

How to detect kidney failure before it fails?

1. Change in urine – Decrease in amount of urine, frequent urination, especially at night. Foam or bubbles in urine, which indicate the presence of protein, blood or strange color in urine can be a sign of kidney failure.

2. Swelling in the body – When the kidneys do not function properly, toxins start accumulating in the body. It often appears as swelling around the eyes, legs or hands.

3. Fatigue and weakness – The kidney produces erythropoietin, a hormone necessary for making red blood cells. Due to kidney failure, there is lack of oxygen in the body and the person feels tired.

4. Difficulty in breathing – Due to accumulation of toxins in the body, there may be problems in the lungs, which causes problems in breathing.

5. Vomiting and Nausea – When kidneys fail, toxins accumulate in the body, which can lead to loss of appetite, vomiting or persistent nausea.

6. Headache, dizziness and mental problems – Kidney problems can cause electrolyte imbalance in the body, which makes it difficult to focus and sometimes can even lead to mental problems. If you feel any of these symptoms, get tested immediately.

Which test is most helpful in knowing the condition of kidney?

1. Blood test – Creatinine and BUN to know the condition of kidney. Tests tell how well your kidneys are removing waste from your blood. Apart from eGFR, it shows the glomerular filtration rate. This test tells how well your kidneys are filtering the blood. If eGFR is less than 15, there is a possibility of severe kidney damage or failure.

2. Urine test – This test checks for protein, blood or other abnormal elements in urine. Also monitors quantity and color used.

3. Imaging Test – Ultrasound or CT scan helps in seeing the structure and size of the kidney. Information about stones, tumors or other diseases can be found in it.

4. Other Tests – In some cases, the doctor may also perform other tests, such as a kidney biopsy, which can reveal the structure of the kidney and the level of damage.

Prevention and precautions before kidney damage

By early detection of kidney disease, we can prevent it from progressing. For this, if your family is suffering from kidney disease or your age is more than 60, then get regular checkups done. Keep blood sugar under control. High blood pressure and diabetes can damage the kidneys. Apart from this, healthy lifestyle, balanced diet, drinking more water, regular exercise and avoiding smoking. Correct use of medicines, do not take any medicine or supplement without doctor’s advice.

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