What Are the First Signs of Kidney Problems?

The five stages of kidney disease include:

1. Stage I
   • The kidneys function normally. There could be a few symptoms of mild kidney disease.
   • Urinalysis or blood work may reveal some abnormalities, such as borderline elevation of blood creatinine levels or presence of protein 1+ in the urine.
   • A high risk of kidney disease can be predicted based on genetic traits.
   • Treatment may include dietary changes and low-dose blood pressure medication.
2. Stage II
   • Kidney function is slightly impaired. There could be a few symptoms of mild kidney disease.
   • The kidneys function between 60 and 89 percent of the time.
   • Other indicators of kidney disease include urinalysis for proteins, casts, blood work, and genetic traits.
3. Stage III
   • Even at stage III, it is possible to feel normal and have no signs of kidney failure. If you do experience symptoms at this stage, you may:
     • Feel tired
     • Have swelling
     • Have appetite changes
     • Have a dull back pain
     • Notice changes in the urine
     • Develop hypertension or digestive issues
   • Stage III is distinguished by moderately reduced kidney function, with kidneys functioning at 40 to 59 percent of their normal capacity.
4. Stage IV
   • Although it is still possible to be asymptomatic at this point, there is a greater chance that you will experience:
     • Fatigue
     • Swelling
     • Changes in appetite
     • Back pain
     • Changes in the urine
     • Hypertension
     • Slowed digestion
   • With 15 to 29 percent kidney function, you will exhibit signs of severe chronic renal insufficiency.
5. Stage V
   • End-stage kidney failure is the fifth stage. The kidneys are only working at 10 to 15 percent capacity, and symptoms may include the following:
     • Itching or rash
     • Muscle cramps
     • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
     • Loss of appetite
     • Mental changes (difficulty concentrating, remembering, etc.)
     • Fatigue, drowsiness, and weakness
     • Swelling in the feet and ankles
     • Too little or much urine
     • Difficulty breathing and recovering from exercise
     • Difficulty sleeping
     • Stomach or back pain
     • Fever
     • Nosebleeds or anemia

If you notice these symptoms, contact your doctor right away because they could indicate kidney disease or be life-threatening signs of kidney failure.

Kidney failure is classified into two types:

1. Acute renal failure: Normal kidneys suddenly cease to function properly. This may be reversible and over time, kidney function improves. However, the kidneys may be left with irreversible chronic scarring and may never fully function again. This may result from:
   • Trauma to the kidneys
   • Extremely low blood pressure due to blood loss or dehydration
   • Infection (sepsis), causing multiple organ dysfunction syndrome
   • Miscellaneous conditions, such as hypertensive emergencies, shock, burns, drug overdose, and poisoning
2. Chronic renal failure:
   • This is a progressive permanent kidney condition that progresses from stage I to stage V and then to end-stage renal disease, which requires dialysis or transplant.
   • Diabetes, high blood pressure, hereditary kidney disease, kidney inflammatory conditions, and other medical conditions can all contribute to it.
   • It usually does not cause symptoms until it has progressed to the advanced stages.

Anyone can develop kidney disease, but some factors cause or increase your risk of developing kidney disease, such as:

• Excessive toxic exposure to environmental pollutants, such as lead, mercury, and arsenic
• Serious medical conditions, such as heart disease, blood clotting disorder, kidney stones, or an enlarged prostate
• Infections, burns, and allergic reactions
• Dehydration
• Diabetes
• Age older than 60 years

If you are at risk of developing kidney disease, consult your doctor about how frequently you should be tested.

Early treatment by a kidney specialist can greatly reduce the severity of kidney disease. Be aware of the daily stress you place on your kidneys to reduce your risk of developing kidney disease.

Follow the directions on over-the-counter medications, and limit your intake of alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, pesticides, chemicals, and other toxins.

The treatment of kidney disease entails attempting to slow or control the disease's underlying cause. The cause and treatment options may differ. Most kidney diseases are caused by another underlying condition, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure.

Kidney diseases are simple to treat when detected early, and the survival rate is high.

Adequate hydration, alkalinization of urine, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, anticholesterol drugs, and a low protein and sodium diet (DASH diet) are necessary to manage kidney disease.

Dialysis is often required in many cases that are in waiting for a renal transplant.

Doctors administer treatments based on the severity of the disease, which the most effective treatments for kidney problems include:

• Antibiotics: The doctor will prescribe antibiotics to fight bacteria based on the results of the blood and urine tests.
• Nephrostomy:
  • It is a procedure used to drain the urine that has clogged in the kidneys, and additional treatment is administered to clear the blockage.
  • This procedure involves inserting a catheter through the skin into the kidneys.
• Nephrectomy:
  • This is a surgery that is performed on patients who have kidney cancer or other severe kidney problems. 
  • During this surgery, the damaged kidney is completely removed.

Dialysis

This technique purifies blood using machines, which is performed when the kidneys are on the verge of failing or are completely damaged. It is a time-consuming process that should be done one time every few days or weeks and is repeated until a donor is found.

There are two types of dialysis:

1. Hemodialysis
   • The impure blood from the body is pumped into a machine, which extracts all the impurities and returns the pure blood to the body.
   • Depending on your preferences, this procedure can be performed at home or in a hospital.
   • The procedure is carried out three times per week.
   • Muscle cramping, low blood pressure, and itching are some of the most common side effects of this dialysis.
2. Peritoneal dialysis
   • This procedure involves inserting a catheter into the abdomen and a large amount of fluid called dialysate.
   • Waste products are passed from the kidneys to the abdominal fluid via the peritoneum (a membrane that covers the abdominal wall).
   • Once the fluid has collected all the waste products, it is extracted from the abdomen and discarded.

Kidney transplant

When both kidneys fail, this procedure is performed. A kidney transplant can restore normalcy in a person's life. This is accomplished by obtaining a healthy kidney from an organ donor, either living or deceased.

Regenerative medication

Some prefer not to receive any treatment for kidney failure, and many hospitals now have a dedicated team of nurses who can provide support and care to these patients and their families.

Patients who refuse treatment are usually managed in the same way as other patients with chronic kidney disease until the kidney fails. At this point, the priority of care is to relieve symptoms of kidney failure and manage its complications.