Kidney trouble should always be taken seriously because a kidney problem, if not treated properly, can have disastrous long term health consequences. Your kidneys can become so damaged from a kidney infection or kidney cancer that they no longer function. When such kidney failure occurs, the only alternatives for survival are a transplant or dialysis.
These are some of the general symptoms of kidney problems.
Pain in the lower back may come and go, and may be mild or severe. This is often a symptom of kidney stones. It can be on either side of the back.
You may not be urinating as often as usual, and your urine will look darker.
You may detect a reddish tint in your urine, which could be a sign that blood is present.
You may feel a stinging or burning sensation when urinating. This is a classic sign of a bladder infection, but it could also indicate an infection in the kidneys.
You may feel the need to urinate, even an urgency, but little urine will actually flow.
Here are some other possible symptoms: a fever, often accompanied by chills, a rise in blood pressure, unusual fatigue and weakness, and muscle weakness.
You may also experience a bloated feeling. This could be an indication that your kidneys aren't filtering fluids from your bloodstream properly. Swelling in the ankles, feet or hands is common. So is swelling and puffiness in the area around the eyes, especially in the morning,
nausea, vomiting and a loss of normal appetite.
Unusual behavior, along with seizures and convulsions, may also occur. When this takes place, it usually means kidney disease has reached the later stages.
The following types of clinical procedures can be used in diagnosing kidney problem symptoms.
Analysis of a blood sample, blood pressure checks, a thorough health examination, a sonogram of your abdomen, and urinalysis.
Tests that are normally performed done when a woman is pregnant can also assist if kidney disease is developing.
Symptoms of kidney trouble are often difficult to diagnose because they don't appear until the problem is serious. It's possible for you to lose almost all kidney function before the symptoms become evident.
For more information on this topic, click on Got a Kidney Problem? and The Kidney Infection. George McKenzie is a former TV news anchor, medical reporter and radio talk show host.
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