Of Kidney Disease Symptoms
Pain Is The Most Common

Of all the kidney disease symptoms pain is the most common, but some kidney diseases have no symptoms or pain at all, until your kidneys begin to fail.

Pain can be one of the first symptoms of kidney problems but in some cases the first kidney disease symptoms are symptoms of kidney failure.

"filter water and waste products out of your blood"

The most basic function of your kidneys is to filter water and waste products out of your blood. The most basic unit of the kidney is the nephron. Within each nephron is a glomerulus and associated tubules that filter the blood and then reabsorb the necessary elements while directing excess water and waste products into the urine.

Other important functions of your kidneys:

Regulate your fluid balance, by controlling how much water you retain or excrete as urine.

Regulate your all excellent balance. Potassium and sodium are important electrolytes that are maintained within a narrow range by your kidneys.

Produce erythropoietin, this important hormone stimulates your bone marrow to produce red blood cells.

Produce renin, which is a hormone that works to regulate blood pressure.

Common Kidney Disease Symptoms

Pain in the back or flank may occur from chronic or acute kidney disease. Your kidneys are each contained within a tough fibrous covering called the renal capsule. The renal capsule is composed of connective tissue that is covered with nerve endings. Any disease or infection within the kidney that causes inflammation or swelling will stretch the renal capsule causing pain in your back where your kidney is located.

Kidney stones may cause kidney disease symptoms and pain that starts in the back, and then gradually migrates around to the flank, and then on to the abdomen, and down into the groin.

Pain or burning with urination, or frequent urination, can be caused by pyelonephritis or kidney infection. The symptoms may occur when bacteria causes irritation and inflammation of the lining of the urinary tract.

Edema or swelling of the feet and legs, the hands, or the face can occur with your kidneys are unable to regulate your body water. You may notice that your rings and shoes fit tighter than they used to. As the function of your kidneys deteriorates electrolyte imbalances and the accumulation of waste products may contribute to the swelling and fluid retention. As the situation gets worse there may be fluid in your lungs and you may develop congestive heart failure.

Arrhythmias and muscle weakness may occur when your kidneys are unable to keep the potassium in your blood at a certain level. Potassium is an important electrolyte that must be kept within a very narrow range for your heart and other muscles to function correctly.

Chest pain from inflammation of the heart tissue, or alterations in your thinking from irritation of the brain tissue, may occur when waste products such as urea become too concentrated in your blood. This may occur at your kidney begin to fail and are unable to properly remove toxins from your blood.

Hypertension or high blood pressure may be a symptom of kidney disease or it may cause kidney disease. Kidney failure may cause decreased renin production. Insufficient amounts of this important hormone will cause your blood pressure to climb.

If you have hypertension from other causes it may lead to kidney damage. I have the advantages of blood vessels in all parts of your body including your kidneys. When your blood pressure is uncontrolled kidney damage tiny blood vessels in the glomeruli of your kidneys. When these filtering units become scarred they are unable to efficiently remove water and waste products from the blood. High blood pressure is the leading cause of kidney failure in the United States.

Proteinuria will cause excessively foamy urine. This occurs when damage to the glomeruli or other parts of the nephron allow too much protein been removed from the blood and passed into your urine. Diabetic nephropathy is a common cause of damage to the nephrons that may cause proteinuria.

Fatigue and weakness may occur from anemia, or a shortage of red blood cells. Healthy kidneys produce erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. These are the cells that carry oxygen to all the tissues in your body. If your muscles do not get enough oxygen because your red blood cell count is low you will have fatigue and weakness.

You can prevent kidney disease symptoms and pain by:

Close management of your blood pressure

Check your blood pressure often

See your doctor often and follow his advice

Take your blood pressure medication daily

Watch your diet and Exercise regularly

Limit your alcohol consumption

Drink plenty of fluids especially water

"tests to check your kidneys and evaluate your kidney function"

If you're having any kidney disease symptoms or pain it is important to see your doctor at the first opportunity. Blood and urine tests to check your kidneys and evaluate your kidney function are quick and easy to do. The sooner you know there's a problem, the sooner you can take steps to fix it. Early diagnosis and treatment gives you the best chance for a cure.

Maybe these can also help:

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Kidney Stones Back Pain

Return from Of All The Kidney Disease Symptoms Pain Is The Most Common to Causes Of Back Pain

Return to Living with Back Pain