27/07/2026
HOW TO KNOW IF YOU'VE
KIDNEY FAILURE??
Kidney failure is a serious condition where your kidneys lose their ability to filter waste and excess fluid from your blood. The challenging part is that early stages often have no symptoms at all. By the time you notice something, significant damage may have already occurred.
That said, as kidney function declines, your body does send signals. One of the earliest and most common is changes in your urine. You might notice you are urinating less often than usual, or your urine looks foamy, dark, or contains blood. Some people feel pressure or difficulty when passing urine.
Swelling is another major clue. Because your kidneys cannot remove extra fluid, it builds up in your tissues. You may see puffiness around your eyes in the morning, or swelling in your feet, ankles, and legs by the end of the day.
You may also feel unusually tired or have trouble concentrating. Your kidneys produce a hormone that helps make red blood cells, so when they slow down, anaemia can set in, leaving you drained and foggy.
Other signs include persistent nausea, loss of appetite, and a metallic taste in your mouth. Some people experience muscle cramps, especially in the legs, or itchy, dry skin that does not seem to improve with lotion.
Shortness of breath can occur, either from fluid building up in your lungs or from anaemia making it harder for your blood to carry oxygen.
It is important to understand that these symptoms overlap with many other conditions, so they are not proof on their own. The only way to know for certain is through blood and urine tests. A blood test measures creatinine and calculates your GFR, which tells your doctor how well your kidneys are filtering. A urine test checks for protein or blood that should not be there.
If you have risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or a family history of kidney problems, regular check-ups are essential even without symptoms.
- Northflex
