Kidney Failure Signs: Kidney failure, or chronic kidney disease, is often called a 'silent killer,' and this is the main reason why most patients only become aware of their illness when kidney damage is in its final stages. The kidneys have an amazing ability to maintain up to 80% of their function without causing any noticeable harm to the body.

This means that even if your kidneys are severely damaged, they don't show any clear or serious symptoms in the early stages. By the time symptoms appear, the kidneys have already lost most of their function, leaving doctors with limited treatment options.

Furthermore, the early symptoms that do appear, such as fatigue, weakness, or frequent urination at night, are often dismissed as signs of aging, stress, or general tiredness. Due to this late diagnosis, patients may require dialysis or a kidney transplant. Therefore, understanding the early signs of kidney failure and undergoing regular checkups is crucial for saving lives.

Early Symptoms

The early symptoms of kidney failure are very subtle, making them easy to overlook. These symptoms include persistent fatigue (caused by anemia), frequent urination at night, and loss of appetite.

These symptoms are so common that people often attribute them to lack of sleep or a poor lifestyle. By the time the patient experiences more obvious symptoms like swollen legs or nausea, the disease has usually reached its final stages.

Lack of Regular Checkups

Most people do not include specific kidney tests in their regular health checkups. Doctors often only check blood sugar or cholesterol levels. A kidney function test, a blood test, is essential to detect kidney damage. This blood test should be done once a year. This helps detect signs of kidney damage early on.

Impact of High Blood Pressure and Diabetes

The two main causes of kidney failure are uncontrolled high blood pressure and diabetes. Both of these diseases gradually damage the kidneys, but patients often mistakenly believe that because they are taking medication for blood pressure or diabetes, their kidneys are safe. However, even with medication, if blood pressure or blood sugar levels are not properly controlled, the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys continue to be damaged.

Serious Consequences of Late Diagnosis

When the disease is diagnosed in its final stages, the patient is left with no option but dialysis or a kidney transplant. This is extremely challenging, not only for the patient but also for the family, both emotionally and financially. Therefore, people over 40 years of age, especially those with diabetes or high blood pressure, should undergo mandatory kidney function tests every year to detect and prevent the disease in its early stages.

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