Detecting chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be tricky because the signs and symptoms of kidney disease occur late, after the condition has progressed and kidney damage has occurred. In fact, CKD is sometimes known as a “silent” condition because it’s hard to detect—and most people with early stage CKD are completely unaware of it.
While watching for late-stage symptoms won’t help with early detection, it’s still important to be aware of the signs. Remember, you shouldn’t wait for symptoms before you take action. If you are at risk for CKD, especially if you have high blood pressure or diabetes, it’s recommended that you get screened at least once a year for any evidence of kidney disease and to learn your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Your doctor can give you a blood test that will measure your creatinine levels and help determine your level of kidney function. The earlier CKD is detected, the greater the benefit of early treatment.
Talk to your doctor immediately if you notice any of these potential CKD signs and symptoms:
Healthy kidneys help filter blood to create urine. When the kidneys don’t function well, urination issues may occur such as needing to urinate more often or seeing blood in your urine. You may also experience urine that’s foamy or bubbly—which could be an early sign that protein is getting into your urine due to damaged kidneys.
Reduced kidney function can lead to a buildup of toxins in the blood that causes you to have a lack of energy or feel overwhelmingly tired. CKD may also cause anemia, which can make you feel tired or weak due to having too few red blood cells.
Dry and itchy skin may be a sign that you have an imbalance of minerals and nutrients in your blood due to kidney disease. Itching is often caused by high blood levels of phosphorus.
When your kidneys aren’t removing excess fluid and sodium from your body, swelling (also known as edema) may occur in your feet or other lower extremities.
Extra fluid can build up in your lungs when your kidneys aren’t removing enough fluid, which may cause you to be short of breath. CKD-induced anemia, which is a shortage of oxygen carrying red blood cells, may also cause breathlessness. You may experience localized pain near your kidneys that doesn’t change or that becomes worse when you move or stretch.
