10 Signs You’re Not Treating Your Kidneys Right

Do you take your kidneys for granted? Your kidneys are a vital part of your body’s waste filtering system, yet many people don’t pay them much attention until problems arise. It’s important to be aware of kidney warning signs like persistent fatigue, swelling, changes in urination, and back pain, as these could indicate a potential issue. Ignoring these symptoms can lead to more serious kidney problems down the line.

According to the American Kidney Fund, an estimated 10 percent of the adult population has chronic kidney disease, yet most of them don’t even know it.

Are your kidneys as healthy as they should be? Keep reading to find out if you’re missing some warning signs about your kidneys’ health.

10 Warning Signs of Potential Kidney-related Health Issues

It’s easy to overlook kidney warning signs, but your body often provides subtle clues when something’s wrong. Be aware of these signs that may indicate a potential kidney issue.

1. Trouble Sleeping

Everyone has a restless night from time to time. However, you can have difficulty sleeping if toxins build up in your blood. In addition, scientists have linked sleep apnea and chronic kidney disease, which is another reason why you may not be getting a good night’s rest.

2. Dry, Itchy Skin

The kidneys filter and remove wastes from your body. It also helps balance nutrients and minerals in the blood. However, when the skin gets dry and itchy, it may be a sign of bone and mineral disease. This condition may develop because the kidneys can’t remove excess urea and phosphorous from your blood properly, and it’s often a sign of advanced kidney disease.

3. Feeling Lethargic

When your kidneys are not working properly, toxins and impurities can build up in the blood. This buildup can make you feel weak and tired all the time. You may also have problems concentrating on things. Furthermore, anemia is a complication of kidney disease and may cause weakness and fatigue.

4. Foamy Urine

If your urine is foamy and you have to flush the toilet a few times to make it go away, it may be a sign of kidney dysfunction. Excessive bubbles resembling scrambled eggs is an indication that there’s protein in your urine. The protein, albumin, is also commonly found in eggs. Healthy kidneys generally don’t allow so much protein to pass that the urine foams up.

5. Blood in Urine

This may be an obvious indicator, but blood in the urine is another sign that there’s something wrong with your kidneys. When the kidneys filter waste properly, it keeps red blood cells in the body. But when the filters are damaged, blood cells can leak into the urine.

Additionally, blood in the urine can indicate a variety of conditions, including kidney disease, kidney or bladder stones, infection or tumors.

6. Urinate More Often

Needing to take frequent bathroom breaks may mean that you drank more than your bladder can handle. However, under normal circumstances, frequent bathroom breaks aren’t normal. So if you find that you need to urinate more often, it may be a sign that something is going on with your kidneys. Frequent urination, especially at night, can be a sign of kidney disease, urinary infection or an enlarged prostate.

7. Poor Appetite

There are plenty of reasons why you may not be hungry. It can be an indication of different problems, both physical and psychological. However, if your kidneys aren’t working properly, a buildup of toxins can leave you without an appetite.

8. Persistent Puffiness Around the Eyes

Kidney damage may not come to mind if you have puffiness around the eyes. Persistent puffiness, however, may be an indicator that large amounts of protein are leaking through your urine instead of kept in your body.

9. Muscle Cramps

The kidneys help filter and manage waste in the blood, but it also balances it. Electrolyte imbalances can cause muscle cramps. One of the possible causes for this imbalance is impaired kidneys.

10. Swollen Feet and Ankles

Swelling in your lower extremities, like the ankles and feet, can be a sign of liver disease, heart disease, and other conditions. If your kidneys aren’t functioning properly, however, it can cause your body to retain sodium. This retention may also cause your feet and ankles to swell.

Habits That Are Harmful to Kidney Health

Your kidneys work hard to filter waste and maintain balance in your body, but certain habits can put extra strain on them. Being aware of kidney warning signs is crucial in preventing long-term damage. Common habits like excessive salt intake, dehydration, and overuse of painkillers can gradually harm your kidneys. Pay attention to any symptoms like frequent urination, swelling, or fatigue—these could indicate kidney issues. Be proactive in safeguarding your kidney health by recognizing the warning signs early.

Excess Sodium Intake

Too much salt in your diet can harm your kidneys indirectly. The excess sodium can cause high blood pressure | 404 that can increase your risk of developing kidney disease.

Overusing Painkillers

Over-the-counter medications can provide relief for minor aches and pains, but excessive use may signal potential kidney warning signs. If you frequently rely on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), it’s important to reduce how often you take them and stay within the recommended dosages to avoid putting your kidneys at risk.

Not Staying Hydrated

Water helps your kidneys flush waste and toxins from the body. When you’re dehydrated, the kidneys have a harder time flushing waste from your body.

Insufficient Sleep

Getting a good night’s rest is important for many of your bodily functions, including those of your kidneys. The sleep-wake cycle helps coordinate your kidneys’ workload, and insufficient sleep can impair that coordination.

Unhealthy Diet

Eating an unhealthy diet can overtax your kidneys and potentially lead to damage. Consuming large amounts of processed foods high in sodium and phosphorus can stress your kidneys. Additionally, the acid produced from eating excessive animal protein may result in acidosis, where your kidneys struggle to eliminate acid from the body quickly. This can be an early kidney warning sign that something is wrong, and it’s crucial to recognize it before any permanent damage occurs.

In addition, too much sugar can indirectly damage your kidneys by contributing to obesity and increasing the risk of you developing diabetes and high blood pressure. Both conditions are the leading causes of kidney disease.

Smoking

You may have heard of the various risks associated with smoking. However, here’s another one to add to the list: kidney damage. Smokers are more likely to have protein present in the urine. That is one of the signs of kidney damage.

Being Sedentary

Sitting for long periods of time seems to be the new norm, but it’s far from healthy for you. If you’re a couch potato, you may need to change your habits. Sedentary lifestyles can impact your health negatively | 404 in a number of ways, including your kidney function.

Drinking Alcohol

It’s OK to imbibe every once in a while, but heavy drinkers take note: too much alcohol can double the risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Four drinks a day is the magic number to double your risks, but heavy drinkers who also smoke increase their chances of developing chronic kidney disease by up to five times.

It’s not all up to your habits, though. Some conditions may give you a higher risk for kidney problems, such as:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Family history
• Age
• Race
• Obesity
• Heart disease
• History of acute kidney injury

Natural Ways to Prevent Kidney Damage

It’s not too late to prevent potential kidney damage. Changing your habits and living a healthy lifestyle can lower your risk for potential kidney conditions.

Get Regular Exercise

Sitting for long periods can negatively affect your health, including impairing kidney function. If you notice kidney warning signs, such as changes in urination or swelling, it could be a sign that your kidneys are under strain. Incorporating regular exercise into your routine can not only improve cardiovascular health but also help regulate kidney function and overall body processes. Stretching and walking frequently throughout the day can help counteract the negative effects of sitting too long.

Regular physical activity can help keep your weight under control and ward off high blood pressure, both contributing factors to kidney disease risks. Be careful about overdoing it, however. If you aren’t fit and healthy, overexertion can put a strain on your kidneys. Especially if it’s rigorous enough to break down muscle tissue.

Eat a Balanced Diet

Your kidneys are relatively durable and able to withstand a wide variety of eating habits. However, some foods are worse for your kidneys than others. Try to minimize your intake of salt, processed food, red meat, and sugar. Instead, try for a balanced diet consisting of healthy options.

Not only does a healthy diet give you much-needed nutrients and minerals. However, it can also help lower the risks of other conditions associated with kidney disease like high blood pressure and diabetes.

Control Your Weight

Controlling your weight is another way to keep your kidneys healthy. Obesity can increase the risks of other health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure. These diseases also increase the risk of developing kidney disease.

Drink Plenty of Water

Drinking lots of water may be a no-brainer. You need to stay hydrated for your body to function. Your kidneys work as a purification system for your body and, without sufficient liquid, your body can’t expel waste as it should.

There are many natural ways to cleanse your system. Water is one of the most common and inexpensive ways to do it. Drinking enough liquids can lower the concentration of minerals and waste products in the urine. High concentrations of minerals in the urine can lead to crystal formations and kidney stones, which you can minimize by drinking water.

Moderate Alcohol Consumption

Can you drink alcohol and still have healthy kidneys? Sure ― just make sure not to overdo it. One or two drinks won’t have lasting adverse effects. However, too much can lessen your kidneys’ ability to function properly.

Too much alcohol dehydrates the body, and that drying effect includes the kidneys. Chronic drinkers are also more likely to have high blood pressure, and that’s a common cause of kidney disease. Furthermore, heavy drinkers may also develop liver disease, which may also overtax the kidneys.

Get a Checkup

Another way to keep your kidneys healthy is to go to your annual checkups. Your doctor can inspect your overall health and catch any symptoms before they become serious problems. That may include diseases that affect the kidneys or increase the risks of kidney disease.

If you have signs that your kidneys aren’t working properly, your doctor can perform tests that identify potential problems. Receiving early treatment for kidney problems can decrease the likelihood of them developing into serious problems. Additionally, it may also help doctors manage and monitor any conditions you develop in the future.

Monitor Cholesterol Levels

Keeping track of your cholesterol levels is a good idea for your overall health. However, people who have high cholesterol problems are also twice as likely to develop chronic kidney disease as well. So, if you want to slow the progression of chronic kidney disease or prevent it from happening, controlling your cholesterol levels is one option.

Know Your Family History

Lastly, a family history of kidney problems may be a good indicator of your own potential risks. Kidney disease runs in the family. However, that’s not the only thing you should watch for.

Diabetes and high blood pressure also run in the family. If a sibling, parent or grandparent has been diagnosed with these diseases, you are at a higher risk of developing them too. These two diseases are also common causes of kidney disease.

Therefore, knowing your family’s medical history can help you watch for signs of kidney disease as well as diabetes and high blood pressure. In addition, it may also help your doctor monitor your body and check for these diseases.

Final Thoughts

Your kidneys play a vital part in purifying your body. It’s a thankless job, however. You may not think about all the work your kidneys do to flush impurities from your system.

It’s easy to overlook kidney warning signs, especially since kidney problems can develop gradually and without obvious symptoms. Unfortunately, this lack of awareness is why many people don’t realize they have kidney disease until it’s more advanced. However, recognizing these signs early can help you take action before the condition worsens. By staying alert to symptoms such as changes in urination, swelling, or persistent fatigue, you can seek medical advice and potentially slow down the progression of kidney disease.

In addition, there are measures you can take to keep your kidneys in top health. Adjusting your lifestyle and adopting healthy habits can go a long way to making sure that your kidneys function the way they should.

Finally, don’t skip out on your yearly checkups. Your doctor can perform tests to make sure that your kidneys are functioning properly and check for signs of other diseases that may cause kidney disease.

Author Bio:

Tim is the lead editor at AzulTea.com. Established in 2015, Azul Tea is a supplier of rare teas from around the world. They look to spice up your life with a collection of exotic teas. In his free time, Tim enjoys sailing and hiking with his black lab mix.

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