Let’s be honest — most of us don’t really think about our kidneys, right? Here are the 10 Early Signs of Kidney Disease you should never overlook.
We think our Kidneys are working fine. Quietly doing their job inside. But when something goes wrong, your kidneys won’t shout. They’ll give small signs. And if we ignore those, it can become serious later.
In India, kidney problems are becoming more common now. High blood sugar, BP, dehydration. All of these hurt the kidneys slowly. It’s good if we catch it at an early stage of diagnosis. We can stop it from getting worse.
10 Early Signs of Kidney Disease :
1. You feel tired all the time
If you sleep well but still feel very tired every day, don’t ignore it. Your kidneys may not be cleaning the blood properly. When waste stays in the blood, it affects your energy. It’s not just tiredness from work — it’s something deeper.
2. Swelling in your legs, feet or hands
Do your shoes feel tight in the evening? Or do your rings not fit like before? This puffiness — especially in your feet, ankles or hands — can happen when the kidneys can’t remove extra fluid. It builds up in the body.
3. Urine looks different or habits change
Our urine says a lot about kidney health. If you feel the need to go more often, especially at night, or if the colour has changed — like very dark, very pale, or even red — get it checked. Foamy urine or pain while passing urine are also not good signs.
4. Food tastes strange or you don’t feel like eating
Some people feel a bitter or metallic taste in their mouth. Food they once enjoyed now tastes different. Appetite goes down. You may even lose weight without trying. This happens when waste starts building up in the blood.
5. Leg cramps or sudden muscle pain
Do you feel at night, your legs cramp a lot? It may be a mineral imbalance. Your kidney controls calcium, potassium, and other salts in your body to stay hydrated. If they are not working well, you may get cramps often.
6. Dry and Itchy skin all time
Healthy kidneys hydrates you all time. If your skin becomes dry, rough, and very itchy even after using the cream then it might be a problem with your kidneys. But when they stop doing their job it needs attention.
7. Feeling breathless even with little activity
When you climb stairs or a short distance of walk, makes you breatheless? It may not be usual, It can be a sign of Kidney disease. It’s due to the fluid that can collect in your lungs. Or it might be due to low blood count (anaemia), also caused by kidney issues.
8. Feeling often dizziness and focus with concentration
Don’t take this lightly if you are confused often! Feeling dizziness, and not sharp your mind to be focused. It might be due to waste in the blood that can affect brain function. Low oxygen in the brain (because of anemia) can also cause this.
9. Blood pressure is high and not coming down
High BP can damage the kidneys — and damaged kidneys can raise your BP. If your BP is high for no reason, or if your medicines are not working like before, you should get your kidneys tested.
10. Morning puffy face will be the early signs of Kidney disease
Do you ever feel when you wake up in the morning, your eyes look swollen? It’s due to Protein in your body leaking in your urine. It’s also a sign of Kidney disease. If this keeps happening often, speak to your doctor.
For global kidney disease facts – https://www.kidney.org/global-facts-about-kidney-disease
FAQ's (Frequently Asked Question)
Women may get swelling in their legs or face, feel very tired, urinate more, have back pain or changes in periods. Some may feel colder or have dry skin.
Many times, people feel tired or start going to the bathroom more at night. That’s one of the earliest signs.
- Feeling tired without reason
- Swelling in feet, hands, or face
- Changes in urine colour or how often you pass it
Focus on controlling your blood sugar level and Blood Pressure. Always stay active. Choose better and healthy food. Avoid Junk foods. Quit smoking and alcohol consumption. Choose a perfect bed time to sleep. Stress management is crucial to control.
A low-fat yogurt is a good source of foods that helps Kidney functions. Some of the daily uses of foods like garlic, onions does help the kidney to function better. Fruits like apples, blueberries and vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower and root vegetables are also good. Fish and egg whites are also low in fat and good for kidneys. Kidney Beans and Olive oils are also highly recommendable.
The treatment options depend on individual conditions. At the first stage of conditions to maintain a healthy diet and regular walking will be the Doctor’s suggestions. In the later stage some people may need dialysis or in the worst case Kidney Transplant will be the better option to choose.
If your BP is okay, urine is clear, no swelling, and you feel active — things are probably fine. But do a blood and urine test once a year just to be sure.
Conclusion: Please don’t ignore the signs
I tell my patients one thing always — the body gives small signs before things get worse. Kidney problems usually start slowly. But if we act early, we can manage it well.
Many people in India delay going to the doctor. Either because they think it’s nothing, or they’re scared. But honestly, just a simple blood and urine test can show how your kidneys are doing. If there’s a problem, early treatment can protect you from big health issues later.
So please — listen to your body. Take care now, before it becomes serious.