8 symptoms of kidney failure
Renal failure is an acute or chronic impairment of the functioning of the kidneys, leading to a large-scale shift in the water-salt, electrolyte and nitrogen balance in the body. Acute pathology can occur due to severe toxic damage (for example, poisoning with mushrooms, mercury or drugs), an infectious disease, traumatic or burn shock. Chronic insufficiency, as a rule, develops as a result of a prolonged inflammatory process in the organs of the urinary system (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, urolithiasis, etc.), problems with the heart or blood vessels, diabetes mellitus or other endocrine disorders.
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The danger of the disease is associated not only with a large-scale deterioration in health: its first signs are often confused with other pathologies. As a result, the patient does not receive adequate treatment, which aggravates the process, and sometimes makes it irreversible. Today we will acquaint our readers with some of the symptoms of developing renal failure.
Back pain
Stitching pain often occurs in the lumbar region on one or both sides. Unpleasant sensations intensify towards the end of the day or after prolonged load on the legs.
It is important not to confuse such pain with muscle pain that occurs in a healthy person after excessive physical exertion. This symptom must be considered in conjunction with other disorders.
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Chills
One of the functions of the renal tissue is the production of erythropoietin, without which the synthesis of red blood cells is impossible. With renal failure, the number of red blood cells decreases, the blood supply to organs and tissues is disrupted. The patient develops signs of iron deficiency anemia.
People with kidney failure often feel cold (especially their feet and palms). It can chill even on the hottest day.
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Fatigue
A decrease in the number of erythrocytes leads to a deterioration in the supply of oxygen to tissues, it is harmful for the brain. With kidney failure, a person experiences a constant feeling of fatigue. He becomes lethargic, sleepy, and largely loses the ability to concentrate and respond quickly to problems. If left untreated, muscle aches and cramps can occur.
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Changes in the nature of urination
Violations of urination are difficult to miss, therefore they will be the main symptom of problems with the excretory system. With renal failure, there are:
- an increase or decrease in the amount of urine generated per day;
- frequent urge to urinate, especially at night;
- feeling of heaviness or pressure in the bladder;
- the appearance of traces of blood in the urine;
- darkening of urine;
- the appearance of a sharp unpleasant odor in urine;
- urinary incontinence;
- burning sensation during or immediately after urinating;
- the appearance of foam in the urine;
- excretion of urine in very small portions.
A dangerous sign is a sharp decrease in the amount of urine. If the body removes less than 400 ml of fluid per day, the patient needs urgent hospitalization.
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Puffiness
Disorders of the kidneys are manifested by fluid retention in the body. Most often, the legs in the area of the ankles and the upper part of the feet and the face (especially the area around the eyes) swell. Swelling of the hands and abdomen is also possible.
Swelling that occurs against the background of renal failure is easy to distinguish from others. Renal edema is characterized by:
- spreading from top to bottom (first, swelling appears on the face, then on the arms and legs);
- rapid appearance and disappearance;
- pallor of the skin over the edema:
- edema has a flexible and soft structure;
- the mark from pressing the finger on the swelling quickly disappears.
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Rash
With urine, toxic metabolic products are excreted from the body. With renal failure, a significant amount of harmful substances remains in the body, which is bad for the condition of the skin. The patient may have minor hemorrhages or rashes. A characteristic feature is obsessive itching of the skin.
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Taste in the mouth
An increase in the concentration of toxic substances in the blood leads to a loss of appetite. People with kidney failure often complain of a metallic taste or bad breath after eating. In addition, in such patients, taste preferences often change: many products seem tasteless to them, with pungent foreign odors.
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Nausea and vomiting
The increasing intoxication of the body, which develops with renal failure, leads to constant nausea and periodic vomiting. Sometimes patients are tormented by obsessive hiccups.
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Renal failure is a life-threatening condition (especially if the intensity of the symptoms increases). It should be remembered that the kidneys have a huge margin of safety: malaise associated with disruption of their work, often manifests itself only when more than 80% of the kidney tissue is damaged. Therefore, if at least two of the described symptoms occur simultaneously, you should immediately consult a doctor.
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Maria Kulkes Medical journalist About the author
Education: First Moscow State Medical University named after I. M. Sechenov, specialty "General Medicine".
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