It must be stressed that the definitive way to know whether your kidneys are functioning properly is to consult a physician. The symptoms are only an indication of when you might need to take that route.
Only 10 per cent of people with kidney disease suspect something is amiss with this vital organ of the body and come to see the doctor. This is because we often ignore some important symptoms until it’s too late.
However, just having these symptoms does not mean kidney disease, it only tells us to go see the doctor.
One of the common signs of kidney problems is a constant feeling of tiredness, weakness and loss of concentration. This is because when the kidneys are not working properly, toxins get accumulated in the blood.
There may be an urge to pass urine frequently, especially at night, which can be a feature of other diseases as well. The urine may be frothy or foamy. Sometimes there may be even blood in the urine.
Kidney disease, like many others, can cause loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting. Certain patients may have a condition called uremia when the breath smells bad and food can taste metallic.
Kidneys are the body’s filters. When they cannot do this properly, fluid builds up. The consequence is a swollen face, feet, ankle, legs etc.
Over a period, when the kidneys fail to balance minerals and nutrients in the body, the skin can become dry and itchy. An imbalance in nutrients can also lead to muscle cramps.
The kidneys make an important hormone called erythropoietin which helps to make red blood cells. In kidney disease, hormone production is hampered, resulting in the loss of red cells which carry oxygen. This may cause breathing difficulties, tiredness and many other problems.
It is best to talk to your physician when we have one or more of these symptoms. But what can we do to keep the kidneys healthy so we can minimise the risk of ever experiencing these issues?
The first thing we can do is eat healthily, cut back on salt and added sugars and add fresh fruits, fresh or frozen vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products to the diet. Salt intake should be less than 2300 milligrams and added sugars should be the source of <10 per cent calories per day.
Drinking plenty of water always helps kidneys function smoothly. One indication is urine colour. If it is straw colour, then the body is getting enough fluid. Anything darker is a sign of dehydration.
Doing exercise for at least half an hour for a minimum of five days a week is good to keep the blood sugar, blood pressure and weight within normal limits. All these contribute to good kidney health. This is especially true for people with diabetes and hypertension, for whom the risk of kidney disease is high.
Managing stress, sleeping soundly for 7-8 hours every night are all recommended. Also, we need to stop using painkillers without prescriptions, since one of the side effects of these drugs is kidney damage. Tobacco and alcohol should also be avoided.
Urinary tract infections, especially common in women, need to be treated properly and urgently. Otherwise, this can lead to kidney disease in the long term.
