When you have these symptoms, it is your kidneys sending you a "help signal"! Check yourself now

The human body has two kidneys, located on both sides of the lumbar spine. They work diligently and non-stop 24 hours a day, filtering harmful waste from our blood and excreting the waste through the production of urine.

The kidneys also maintain the balance of water and electrolytes in the human body, and secrete endocrine hormones to maintain the stability of the internal environment and enable normal metabolism.

However, adverse kidney symptoms are often very hidden, and many patients do not seek medical attention until symptoms appear, by which time most of their kidney function may have been lost, and ultimately their lives can only be maintained by dialysis or kidney transplantation.

So what signals does the kidney send that are worth our attention? Experts from Yiyang Central Hospital will tell you.

1. Early warning signs of kidney disease

1. Edema

Edema of the eyelids, face and lower limbs. Many people experience edema in the morning and think it is caused by drinking too much water or not getting enough rest at night. In fact, many times you need to be alert to whether there is a problem with the kidneys.

2. Abnormal urination

Increased foam in the urine, abnormal urine color, difficulty urinating, increased or decreased urine volume, and increased nocturia.

3. Dizziness and fatigue

May be related to accumulation of toxins in the blood and renal anemia.

2. Warning signs of mid- to late-stage kidney disease

1. Hypertension

Kidney disease is often accompanied by hypertension. Especially when young people with no history of hypertension have high blood pressure, they should be more alert to whether there are abnormalities in renal function.

2. Unexplained loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and back pain

Renal dysfunction causes metabolic waste and toxins produced in the body to be unable to be excreted through the kidneys, often leading to gastrointestinal symptoms. Many patients do not pay attention to symptoms after they appear, thus delaying the early diagnosis and treatment of chronic renal failure.

3. Itchy skin, urine-smelling breath, muscle tremors, and drowsiness

These are the effects on the whole body caused by the accumulation of harmful metabolites in the body when renal function is impaired.

In order to prevent the occurrence and development of chronic kidney disease, we should do the following in our daily life:

1. Control your diet, eat a low-salt, high-quality protein diet, such as milk, eggs, lean meat, etc., and control protein intake so as not to increase the burden on the kidneys.

2. Maintain a regular lifestyle and avoid staying up late and overwork.

3. Do not abuse drugs to avoid drug-induced kidney damage.

4. If you show any warning signs of kidney disease, please go to a regular hospital’s kidney disease department for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.

If the human body is compared to a big tree, then the kidneys are the roots. Only when the absorption and delivery of nutrients are sufficient can the tree flourish. Therefore, we must identify the kidneys' distress signals as early as possible and fight to protect the kidneys.

References

[1] Gao Xiang, Mei Changlin. Interpretation of "Guidelines for Early Screening, Diagnosis and Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease (2022 Edition)"[J]. Chinese Journal of Practical Internal Medicine, 2022, 42(09): 735-739. DOI: 10.19538/j.nk2022090108.

[2] Shanghai Chronic Kidney Disease Early Detection and Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment Demonstration Project Expert Group, Gao Xiang, Mei Changlin. Guidelines for Screening, Diagnosis and Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease[J]. Chinese Journal of Practical Internal Medicine, 2017, 37(01): 28-34. DOI: 10.19538/j.nk2017010108.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Qin Jing from Yiyang Central Hospital

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(Edited by ZS)