Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Failure: A Serious Kidney Problem
Kidney failure is an extremely serious kidney problem. It may even be fatal. At the the very least, it can require a lifetime of kidney dialysis treatments, or the need for a kidney transplant.
Symptoms of kidney failure often go unrecognized until the disease has progressed to a very dangerous stage.
Symptoms tend to appear first in the body’s chemistry as problems arise in regulating electrolyte balances. The kidneys become less efficient at eliminating water and clearing toxins, which are two of the kidneys’ major roles.
As function slips away, the kidneys also do less to help in the production of red blood cells (which is another important role they play).
The longer these problems go untreated, the more the patient is likely to experience the following symptoms of kidney failure:
* a sense of lethargy,
* a general feeling that you don’t have much strength or vitality,
* dyspnea, or shortness of breath,
* generalized swelling.
Failure to recognize the above symptoms can have serious consequences, including:
A lack of red blood cells - As a result muscles and tissues will get an inadequate supply of oxygen. This leads to weakness and a general feeling of fatigue.
Inadequate potassium excretion - When the kidneys do not filter out and dispose of potassium, there can be potentially fatal problems involving heart rhythm.
Metabolic acidosis - Your body isn’t making enough bicarbonate, which means there’s an increase in acid levels in your body. This can alter enzyme and oxygen metabolism, leading to kidney failure.
Uremia - Urea is the major solid component of urine. It’s a waste product that results from the digestion of protein, and it’s filtered from the bloodstream by the kidneys. When urea levels rise, certain muscle, heart and brain functions may be compromised, leading to the following symptoms of kidney failure:
* lack of interest in food
* constant, sometimes profound fatigue,
* decreased cognitive functioning and an inability to think clearly.
By this point, there may be so little kidney function left that the patient may go into a coma.
At advanced stages of kidney failure, the body cannot cope with rising acid levels, which causes rapid breathing an increase in blood pressure due to excess fluid, possibly leading to congestive heart failure.
Without serious medical intervention at this stage, the patient is unlikely to survive.
If you want additional information on subjects related to this article, click on Kidney Failure: What Are the Symptoms?. George McKenzie is a retired TV anchor, medical reporter and radio talk show host. He has a special interest in kidney-related issues, and frequently contributes articles to Kidney Health and You, a resource website about kidney health and wellness.
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