Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Symptoms

When kidney function has decreased, there is a build-up of toxins and waste products in your blood, which may cause tiredness. Kidney damage also leads to a shortage of oxygen-carrying red blood cells (RBC), leading to anaemia, a condition that can make you feel tired and weak. 

If there is fluid retention in the body due to impaired kidney function, there could be fluid build-up in your lungs, putting pressure on your airways and making it difficult for you to breathe. Anaemia, a complication of CKD, can also result in shortness of breath. 

This can occur due to various underlying causes, including anaemia and the build-up of toxins due to declining kidney function. Anaemia can also stem from kidney damage. Therefore, cognitive issues, such as a decline in reasoning, memory, and concentration, may be associated with CKD. 

Damaged kidneys retain toxins and fluids in the body and can affect the normal functioning of other organs, including the nervous system. And any change in the nervous system can, in turn, affect sleep patterns. Breathlessness at night may also result from fluid build-up in the lungs when you lie down. 

The kidney’s primary function is to flush out toxins and waste from the blood and maintain fluid balance in the body. The excess fluid and flushed-out toxins form urine, which moves down to the bladder. Any dysfunction in the kidneys can impact urination frequency. 

When kidneys fail, the increased concentration of toxins, including blood, can make urine dark-coloured. Impaired kidney function also leads to too much protein leaking into the urine, making it foamy. 

A decline in kidney function leads to an imbalance of minerals in your body along with a build-up of toxins. Elevated levels of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals can lead to issues with your skin and nails. 

A decline in kidney function can lead to fluid build-up in the body due to sodium retention. Leakage of protein into the urine can also cause fluid to move into the tissues resulting in swollen eyes or limbs. 

Impaired kidney function leads to a build-up of toxins in your body. When the toxins that should have been flushed through your urine accumulate in your body, this condition is called uraemia. And it causes side effects such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, an odd taste in your mouth, and even bad breath. 

Loss of kidney function can cause an imbalance in fluids and electrolytes in the body, which can lead to cramping of muscles, especially in the legs. 

Reach out to your doctor about your symptoms. As mentioned earlier, these symptoms can be caused by other health conditions apart from kidney failure. Your doctor can accurately diagnose the cause of your symptoms. 

The progression of symptoms for patients with chronic kidney disease varies between individuals. Your doctor and healthcare team are the only people who can guide you on the progression of kidney disease. 

The early stages of CKD rarely have any symptoms. Therefore, diagnosis is usually made through health screenings: a urine test to measure the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) or protein-creatinine ratio (PCR) and a blood test to determine the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). 

Albumin-to-creatinine ratio, or ACR, is a test for detecting albumin in the urine, an early sign of progressive kidney disease in individuals with or without diabetes. 

Yes. Protein-creatinine ratio, or PCR, is a test that measures elevated protein levels in the urine, a common sign of kidney damage. 

The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is an indication of kidney function and is obtained through a blood test. eGFR below 60 ml/min indicates the onset of chronic kidney disease. An eGFR of less than 15 ml/min indicates stage 5 of chronic kidney disease, also commonly known as end-stage kidney disease or kidney failure. 

The prognosis depends on what stage your CKD is detected at; not all CKD leads to kidney failure. Most people with CKD can manage their condition and slow the progression of CKD with the help of their healthcare team.