The title “23 Strange Signs Your Kidneys Might Be in Trouble” is attention-grabbing, but many kidney diseases cause few or no symptoms in their early stages. When symptoms do occur, they are often nonspecific and can have many other causes.
Here are 23 possible signs and symptoms that can be associated with kidney problems:
- Swelling of the feet, ankles, or legs.
- Puffiness around the eyes, especially in the morning.
- Changes in urination (more or less frequent than usual).
- Foamy or frothy urine (may indicate excess protein).
- Blood in the urine (pink, red, or cola-colored urine).
- Pain or burning during urination (more commonly due to a urinary tract infection).
- Difficulty or inability to urinate.
- Persistent fatigue or low energy.
- Weakness.
- Trouble concentrating or mental fog.
- Loss of appetite.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Persistent itching.
- Dry skin.
- Muscle cramps, especially at night.
- Shortness of breath (from fluid buildup or anemia).
- High blood pressure that’s difficult to control.
- Persistent bad breath or a metallic taste.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Pain in the side or lower back (especially if related to kidney stones or infection).
- Fever and chills with back pain (can suggest a kidney infection and needs prompt medical attention).
- Unexplained weight loss (can have many causes, including some kidney diseases).
- Persistent swelling or generalized fluid retention.
