Your kidneys work quietly around the clock. They filter waste from your blood, help control fluid and mineral balance, contribute to blood-pressure regulation, and support the production of red blood cells.
The surprising part is that kidney disease often causes few or no symptoms in its early stages. By the time noticeable symptoms appear, kidney problems may already be more advanced. That is why symptoms alone cannot tell you whether your kidneys are healthy—blood and urine testing is often necessary.
Here are seven signs worth paying attention to.
1. Your Urine Becomes Persistently Foamy
Occasional bubbles in the toilet are usually not a reason to panic. But urine that repeatedly looks unusually foamy or bubbly can sometimes indicate that protein is leaking into the urine.
Healthy kidney filters normally keep important proteins in the bloodstream. Damage to those filters can allow protein to pass into urine.
Persistent foamy urine deserves medical evaluation, especially if it keeps happening. A urine test can check for albumin or other signs of kidney problems.
2. You Need to Urinate More Often—Especially at Night
Changes in urination can have many causes, but needing to urinate more frequently, particularly during the night, can sometimes occur with kidney disease.
It is important not to automatically assume that frequent urination means your kidneys are failing. Urinary infections, diabetes, prostate problems, medications, and drinking large amounts of fluid can also cause this symptom.
If the change is persistent or unexplained, mention it to a healthcare professional.
3. Your Feet, Ankles, or Face Become Swollen
Swelling, known medically as edema, can occur when the body retains excess fluid.
Kidney disease can contribute to swelling in the feet, ankles, legs, hands, or sometimes around the eyes because damaged kidneys may have difficulty removing excess fluid and salt.
But swelling does not automatically mean kidney disease. Heart, liver, vein, medication, and other problems can also cause edema.
Unexplained or worsening swelling should be evaluated rather than diagnosed at home.
4. You Feel Unusually Tired
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