23 Strange Signs Your Kidneys Might Be in Trouble 🫘
The headline is a little misleading because many kidney diseases cause no noticeable symptoms in their early stages. Symptoms that do appear are often nonspecific and can have many other causes. Blood and urine testing is the reliable way to assess kidney function.
Possible warning signs
- Foamy or persistently bubbly urine — can indicate excess protein in the urine.
- Blood in the urine — pink, red, or cola-colored urine should be evaluated.
- Urinating more often, particularly at night.
- Urinating much less than usual.
- Swollen ankles, feet or legs from fluid retention.
- Puffy eyes, especially in the morning.
- Unexplained fatigue or weakness.
- Difficulty concentrating or “brain fog.”
- Poor appetite.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Unintentional weight loss.
- Persistent itching or unusually dry skin.
- Muscle cramps, particularly in the legs.
- Numbness or tingling.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Shortness of breath, particularly with significant fluid buildup.
- Chest discomfort in advanced kidney disease.
- Headaches, sometimes related to associated high blood pressure.
- Changes in taste, including a metallic or unpleasant taste.
- Bad or ammonia-like breath in advanced disease.
- Bone or joint pain associated with complications of advanced kidney disease.
- High blood pressure — both a cause and a consequence of kidney disease.
- General swelling or fluid retention elsewhere in the body
