Kidney Disease Symptoms: Passing This Amount Of Urine Can Be A Warning Sign

Kidney diseases are often under-diagnosed. More than 37 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney diseases and about 90% of them aren’t even aware of it. Changes in the way a person urinates can be an indication of this condition.

Excess waste and fluids start to accumulate in a person’s body if the kidneys fail to work efficiently. It can lead to several health complications. Although the condition isn’t entirely curable, the damage to the organ can be slowed if identified at an early stage.

A decrease in urine is encountered by a majority of patients affected by chronic kidney disease. When urine output gets reduced, it results in fluid retention and can even lead to swelling in the feet, legs, and ankles. Since all the wastes that need to be eliminated don’t get removed from the body, people can feel ill.

Low urine output can also happen during decreased blood supply to the kidney which occurs with dehydration or excessive loss of blood. Other reasons including tumors, prostate enlargement or bladder problems can cause a reduction in urine output.

Other symptoms of chronic kidney disease include excessive fatigue, sleeping difficulties, feet or ankle swelling, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, unintentional weight loss, muscle cramps or twitching, and skin itching.

Healthline mentioned that many of these symptoms can also be associated with other health conditions and people tend to overlook them. It is important to address such symptoms and discuss with your doctor especially if you have any risk factors for kidney diseases such as old age, a family history of hypertension and being in poor physical shape.

Lupus, heart diseases, multiple kidney infections, high cholesterol, polycystic kidney disease, obesity, smoking, kidney filter inflammation, alcohol use, drug abuse and overuse of pain killers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen are some of the possible causes of chronic kidney diseases.

The complications of kidney diseases include impotence, osteoporosis, fluid retention, hypertension, anemia, decreased immunity, seizures, electrolyte imbalances and increased risk of infections.

When left untreated, kidney diseases can lead to end-stage kidney failure which can be life-threatening without dialysis or transplantation.