Symptoms of Kidney Disease

We bring you a very valuable article telling you about 12 symptoms of kidney disease you shouldn't ignore. Please read, do share with friends and family, maybe you'll save a life!

12 symptoms of kidney disease you shouln’t ignore

Most people are not aware of the fact that kidney diseases can be silent killers. They may not show any symptoms for a long time till the situation becomes critical. It is important to recognize the symptoms of kidney diseases to catch them early. Here is a list of twelve such symptoms you should look out for:

Changes in your urinary function : The first symptom of kidney disease is changes the amount, frequency of your urination. There may be an increase or decrease in amount and/or its frequency, especially at night. It may also look more dark coloured. You may feel the urge to urinate but are unable to do so when you get to the restroom.

Difficulty or pain during voiding : Sometimes you have difficulty or feel pressure or pain while voiding. Urinary tract infections may cause symptoms such as pain or burning during urination. When these infections spread to the kidneys they may cause fever and pain in your back.

Blood in the urine : This is a symptom of kidney disease which is a definite cause for concern. There may be other reasons, but it is advisable to visit your doctor in case you notice it.

Swelling : Kidneys remove wastes and extra fluid from the body. When they are unable to do so, this extra fluid will build up causing swelling in your hands, feet, ankles and/or your face.

Extreme fatigue and generalised weakness : Your kidneys produce a hormone called erythropoietin which helps make red blood cells that carry oxygen. In kidney disease lower levels of erythropoietin causes decreased red blood cells in your body resulting in anaemia. There is decreased oxygen delivery to cells causing generalised weakness and extreme fatigue.

Dizziness & Inability to concentrate : Anaemia associated with kidney disease also depletes your brain of oxygen which may cause dizziness, trouble with concentration, etc.

Feeling cold all the time : If you have kidney disease you may feel cold even when in a warm surrounding due to anaemia. Pyelonephritis (kidney infection) may cause fever with chills.

Skin rashes and itching : Kidney failure causes waste build-up in your blood. This can causes severe itching and skin rashes.

Ammonia breath and metallic taste : Kidney failure increases level of urea in the blood (uraemia). This urea is broken down to ammonia in the saliva causing urine-like bad breath called ammonia breath. It is also usually associated with an unpleasant metallic taste (dysgeusia) in the mouth.

Nausea and vomiting : The build-up of waste products in your blood in kidney disease can also cause nausea and vomiting.

Shortness of breath : Kidney disease causes fluid to build up in the lungs. And also, anaemia, a common side-effect of kidney disease, starves your body of oxygen. You may have trouble catching your breath due to these factors.

Pain in the back or sides
: Some cases of kidney disease may cause pain. You may feel a severe cramping pain that spreads from the lower back into the groin if there is a kidney stone in the ureter. Pain may also be related to polycystic kidney disease, an inherited kidney disorder, which causes many fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys. Interstitial cystitis, a chronic inflammation of the bladder wall, causes chronic pain and discomfort.

It is important to identify kidney disease early because in most cases the damage in the kidneys can’t be undone. To reduce your chances of getting severe kidney problems, see your doctor when you observe one or more of the above symptoms. If caught early, kidney disease can be treated very effectively.

Why Good quality sleep is important

Each person needs a good quality sleep. An Adult needs 7-8 hours of sleep and children need 10 hours of sleep to stay healthy. Sleep may not be sufficient or of good quality if it is disturbed or interuppted. Person may feel sleepy in day time or feel headache with tiredness or burning sensation in eyes in the day hours. He or she may feel sleepy at inappropriate times like during travelling or just after lunch.

One of the causes for not getting a good quality sleep is presence of artificial lights in the bed room. Our biological clock or sleep wake cycle is regulated by sleep hormone or Melatonin which is secreted by pineal gland located in brain. Synthesis or secretion of Melatonin is affected if our eyes are exposed to light during sleep. If artificial lights like Mobile phones or TV, LCD’s, night bulb, Table lamp etc are used or present in our bed room, it may alter melatonin secretion and make our sleep poor quality.

Melatonin is very important as it helps in inducing sleep and regulating biological clock of the body. Melatonin has strong neuro-protective effects. It prevents brain damage, Alzheimers etc. It also supress tumour or Cancer growth as it is a powerful Antioxidant. It also influence Human Growth Hormone or HGH, which is responsible to burn excess fat and repair tissue damage, improve bone density and enhance immunity during sleep. It is now revealed through research and studies that even the tiniest light may lead to insufficient or poor quality sleep by altering Melatonin synthesis. In the day time, sunlight triggers brain to inhibit melatonin making us active and alert. So it is advised to sleep in dark as our body produce melatonin in response to darkness Each day sleep has its own importance. Every time we sacrifice one night sleep it gets added to the sleep debt. One can never pay off sleep debt in a night or weekend to get back on track again.

Sleep deprevation or Poor quality sleep may lead to :

1. Fatigue, Letharginess, Stress, sleepiness in daytime
2. Reduced Immunity
3. Weight Gain
4. Lack of concentration, Anger, Irritability
5. Moodiness
6. Cause prediabetic stage of feeling hungry.
7. Heart diseases
8. Constipation
9. Hypertension, risk of Stroke
10. Psychosis & Depression
11. Liver & Skin ailments

For Optimizing good Sleep :

1. Sleep in complete darkness. tiniest bit of light may disrupt secreation of melatonin in Pineal gland.
2. Keep your bedroom dark, neither too cold or not too warm.
3. Keep electrical devices, alarm clocks far away from bed.
4. Early to bed and early to rise.
5. Avoid Mobile phones and TV before going to bed.
6. Avoid exercise just before sleep.
7. Light massage in the evening, meditation, deep breathing exercises, mild aerobics stimulates good sleep at night.
8. Avoid heavy dinner.
9. Avoid reading anything that stimulates brain at bed time. Also avoid coffee, alchohol, tea or taking food just before sleep.
10. Stick to the same bed routine daily.
11. A light shower in the evening is beneficial.
12. A glass of milk or a banana after dinner is good to promote sleep as it contains sleep inducing hormones.

Sleep is the period when our Brain and Body is at rest. A good quality of sleep helps to maintain physical and mental balance, emotional quotient, creativity, productivity, weight balance and our overall health. Make sure you sleep in a dark room and get benefits of a good quality “Good Night Sleep”. Be Fit & Stay Healthy.