16 Symptoms of Kidney Disease

The kidneys are highly important organs that serve crucial functions in the body. Most of us know that our kidneys are responsible for filtering the blood and for producing urine. They help to remove toxic chemicals and other substances that we don’t need and they are responsible for producing a number of important hormones as well that regulate our metabolism and our moods.

A quick rundown of the roles of the kidneys should include:

– Waste excretion
– Water level balancing
– Regulation of blood pressure
– Regulation of blood cells
– Acid regulation
– Hormone production

If you enjoy reading about health online, then you’ll probably come across the word ‘detox’ an awful lot. Truth is, scientists aren’t a big fan of this word because it tends to go hand in hand with pseudoscience. Many ‘detox’ products are ineffectual and vague about what they’re even supposed to do. The reality is that the body already has a detox system that is perfectly enough for the vast majority of situations. That detox system? The kidneys.

For all these reasons, kidney disease and kidney failure can actually be fatal conditions. The good news is that this isn’t usually the case however, as most people are born with two kidneys and we only need one to survive. Those who lose function of their kidneys might need to accept a kidney from a donor. This is not to be taken lightly though and that’s why it is so important that you look after your kidneys – by avoiding heavy drinking or drug use that can damage them.

What’s also highly important is that you learn to look out for the symptoms of kidney disease and that you get treatment as soon as possible if you notice any of the signs that might point to the condition.

Here are fifteen crucial signs to look out for, which together also perfectly illustrate just how crucial your kidneys are and how many different processes they are involved in.

1.  Pain

If you have kidney disease, then you might notice pain and discomfort located around the back and sides. The kidneys are bean shaped organs that are located against the back muscles in the upper abdominal cavity. They are opposite each other next to the spine and what many people don’t know is that the right kidney actually sits slightly lower in order to make space for the liver.

While kidney disease won’t always cause pain, in many cases it will. In that case, you might notice discomfort around the back area and it’s important that you get medical attention if you do. For example, this might occur if you have had a urinary tract infection that has travelled into the kidneys.