Kidney disease symptoms

Kidney failure often does not come with noticeable symptoms early on. Learn the signs of chronic kidney disease to get treatment as early as possible. 

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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a gradual loss of kidney function over time. Signs of CKD are not easy to detect in the early stages as kidney disease symptoms vary for every individual. And often the symptoms are only exhibited when kidney function is very poor. Kidney disease can have progressed significantly before we even realise we have a problem. This is the reason kidney disease is referred to as a “silent condition.”  

Over 10% of the global population is affected by some degree of CKD and a sizable number among them face the chance of progression to end-stage kidney disease. End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is the final stage of CKD, when kidney function drops to below 15%. It is also called kidney failure. Therefore, it is critical to be watchful of any kidney disease symptoms that may appear. 

The most common signs of kidney failure or ESKD are outlined below, however, the symptoms of CKD are mostly non-specific in nature and can also be caused by other health conditions. Talk to your doctor if you have any of these symptoms for an accurate diagnosis. 

Symptoms of chronic kidney disease: what you may experience and why

It is important that you reach out to your doctor about any of the above symptoms. As mentioned earlier, these apparent symptoms of kidney disease can be caused by other health conditions apart from kidney failure. Your doctor can accurately diagnose the cause of your symptoms. 

Estimating the stage of kidney disease based on 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. 

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