Symptoms of Kidney Failure

The kidneys are two, bean-shaped organs that are about the size of your fist. They are located on each side of the backbone and play a vital role in making sure the body is functioning properly. If the kidneys become distressed in some way and their function begins to fail, extreme problems can arise. That’s why it’s important to recognize the symptoms of kidney failure so you can catch it early on and decrease your risk of furthering the damage.

In the beginning stages of kidney failure, symptoms are often mild and ignored, and it’s likely to take a while before the problem is detected and treatment started. Mild symptoms may include: lethargy, weakness, shortness of breath or general swelling.

Once the kidney failure is further along, however, symptoms can become more severe. And if not treated, symptoms could become life threatening. Some of the more severe symptoms include:

• Complete organ failure: This is caused by the kidney’s inability to manufacture bicarbonate, an element that prevents blood from becoming too acidic.
• Fatal heart rhythm disturbances: Also known as “arrhythmias”, these heart disturbances are due to the kidney’s inability to regulate potassium excretion which leads to high blood potassium.
• Anemia: Caused by a decrease in red blood cell count, anemia can cause general weakness due to the lack of oxygen carrying cells in the body.
• Loss of mental function: As waste products build in the blood, the symptoms of kidney failure can become intense and even coma can occur.
• Rise in blood pressure: As the kidneys and lungs try to deal with the rise in acidity levels, breathing becomes more rapid and blood pressure may rise due to the extra fluid.

Because the symptoms might take a while to manifest, it’s important to know when to call a specialist. Waiting too long before you seek help could really hurt your chances of bouncing back quickly and making a full recovery. Kidney failure isn’t something to mess with, so start being proactive about your health now rather than later.