10 Common Symptoms of Kidney Failure

Kidney failure, also known as end-stage kidney disease, occurs when the kidneys perform at less than 15 percent of their normal function and can no longer fulfill their vital role of filtering waste from the blood. If you’ve been diagnosed with kidney disease (or if you’ve simply had any of the symptoms, which you can read about here), then it’s important that you look out for the most common kidney failure symptoms. Read on to learn what those are, and be sure to contact your doctor immediately to receive the proper treatment as soon as possible!

Insomnia – One of the first warning signs of kidney failure is difficulty sleeping. This occurs because those suffering from end-stage kidney disease often feel fatigued during the day (more on that in the next slide), which causes an urge to take naps, leading to trouble falling asleep at nighttime. If you’ve been diagnosed with kidney disease and you consistently experience insomnia, talk to your doctor about medications that can help you get better sleep that are safe for those with kidney failure.

Fatigue – As stated in the last slide, kidney failure can cause the sufferer to feel tired during the day. This is because kidneys losing their normal function can lead to a buildup of toxins and impurities in the blood, in turn causing the patient to feel fatigued. In addition, having trouble sleeping at night can, of course, lead to one feeling more tired during the day. Furthermore, fatigue can also be a symptom of anemia, which often develops as a complication of kidney failure (more on that later).

Urinating Blood – Blood in the urine certainly doesn’t always indicate kidney failure – it can also be a sign of a urinary tract infection or kidney stones –  but it’s important to get it checked out if you’re experiencing it nonetheless. Normal functioning kidneys work to filter waste from the blood, creating urine. However, kidneys that are failing cannot effectively keep red blood cells from getting into the urine.

If you’re suffering from kidney stones, click here to read about remedies you can try at home!

Itchy Skin – Kidney failure may lead to a buildup of phosphates in the blood, causing itchy skin. The itching ranges anywhere from mildly annoying to extremely disruptive. But luckily there are several treatment options to ease the discomfort, including gabapentin (an anticonvulsant and nerve pain medication), sertraline (an antidepressant), or oral antihistamines (which are unfortunately sometimes ineffective due to the fact that the mechanism of allergic itching differs from itching caused by kidney failure). Talk to your doctor first to figure out which one is right for you.

Swollen Ankles – Some may experience swelling of the ankles as a symptom of kidney failure. This happens because of sodium retention, and the fact that compromised kidneys aren’t able to remove excess fluid from the body, leading to swelling in the extremities – especially the ankles and feet. Swelling in the lower extremities could also be a sign of a blood clot, heart failure, liver disease, or side effects from a medication. As such, it’s important to talk to your doctor if you have any swelling.

Loss of Appetite – The early to middle stages of kidney failure sometimes comes with loss of appetite due to the buildup of compounds. This may also affect your sense of taste, meaning foods you normally enjoy will begin to taste metallic. Kidney failure can also lead to nausea which can contribute to loss of appetite, which we’ll touch on more in the next slide. It’s important to try to get enough nutrients into your body as malnourishment can lead to worsening of other kidney failure symptoms.

Nausea – When toxins build up in the blood because the kidneys aren’t filtering waste properly, it can lead to nausea and vomiting. Some medications for kidney disease may also cause nausea. But regardless of the cause, it’s important to try to minimize the nausea so that you can eat an adequate amount of nutritious food. To do this you can try eating smaller yet more frequent meals, drinking ginger ale, and remaining upright for at least 30 minutes after meals.

Anemia – Kidneys that aren’t functioning properly can’t produce an adequate amount of erythropoietin (EPO), which is the hormone that tells your bone marrow to make red blood cells. When your body produces too few red blood cells, less oxygen is delivered to your organs and tissues, causing symptoms of anemia such as increased thirst, fatigue, headaches, and weakness. Acute anemia can manifest as dizziness, loss of consciousness, and confusion. Acute anemia signals an increased mortality risk in those with kidney failure.

Memory Loss – Anemia that’s caused by kidney failure can lead to a decrease in cognitive function, specifically abstract reasoning and verbal memory. Additionally, the buildup of toxins and impurities in the blood can leave a person suffering from acute kidney failure feeling unable to concentrate properly. One study found that up to 15 percent of patients suffering from chronic kidney disease had memory impairment issues. Mild memory impairment can often be a precursor to developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Dizziness – As we already went over earlier, having too few red blood cells in the body can lead to symptoms like fatigue and memory loss. It can also cause a person to suffer from dizziness and fainting because the brain is not receiving enough oxygen. Seeing as dizziness and fainting can lead to serious brain injuries and head trauma, it’s especially important to get to the bottom of why it’s happening and prevent it.