23 “Strange” Signs Your Kidneys Might Be in Trouble
The headline is a little misleading because many kidney problems cause no noticeable symptoms in their early stages. Symptoms that do appear are often nonspecific and can have many other causes. The only way to properly assess kidney function is with medical testing.
Possible warning signs include:
- Foamy or unusually bubbly urine
- Blood in the urine
- Urinating much more or less than usual
- Waking frequently at night to urinate
- Swelling around the ankles or feet
- Puffy eyes, especially in the morning
- Unexplained fatigue or weakness
- Difficulty concentrating or feeling mentally foggy
- Poor appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Persistent itching
- Dry or unusually darkened skin
- Muscle cramps, particularly at night
- Sleep problems
- Shortness of breath
- Chest discomfort
- Unexplained weight loss
- Changes in blood pressure or difficult-to-control high blood pressure
- Numbness or tingling
- Changes in urine appearance
- Persistent back, side, or flank pain — particularly when associated with urinary symptoms
- Fever and chills with painful or frequent urination — these can indicate a kidney infection rather than chronic kidney disease.
- Confusion or markedly reduced alertness — more concerning when kidney function is severely impaired
