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Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Failure

Chronic kidney failure, also known as renal failure, is usually a gradual process, and it's often due to diabetes or high blood pressure. This is a very serious condition that should be promptly treated as it can progress to end-stage kidney disease, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.

  1. Symptoms

    • There may be very few or no symptoms at the onset of kidney failure; in fact, you may not realize you have kidney problems until you've lost about 25 percent of your kidney function. Once you have reached this stage, some symptoms may include high blood pressure, sudden weight change, anemia, nausea and vomiting, weakness and fatigue or pain in your lower back and side. You may also experience mental decline, persistent itching, muscle twitches and cramps, darker-colored urine and sleep problems.

    Contributing Factors

    • Progressive kidney damage usually occurs in individuals who have had a chronic illness over a period of years. Some conditions that may contribute to kidney failure are diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), gout, ongoing exposure to toxins, such as lead or carbon tetrachloride, and chronic kidney problems. Renal problems may include cysts in the kidneys, an enlarged prostate, kidney stones or tumors; these conditions cause blockage of the renal artery which can block the normal flow of urine.

    Treatment

    • Unfortunately, kidney disease has no cure. Treatment may slow the progression of the disease along with the signs and symptoms. A nephrologist will make the ultimate diagnosis and offer a plan of care to minimize symptoms. The best way to control the progression of renal failure is by controlling the underlying disease. If you have chronic kidney failure due to diabetes, then you should carefully monitor your glucose levels, or if you have hypertension, make sure you are watching your diet and exercise to control your high blood pressure. Treatment for end-stage renal failure involves dialysis then ultimately a kidney transplant. Dialysis is the process of filtering the kidneys artificially. There are many risks associated with dialysis, such as infection, but without any treatment, renal failure can be fatal.

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