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    1. About Kidney Disease
      1. OVERVIEW
      2. Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease
      3. Kidney Disease Stages
      4. What Is a Nephrologist?
      5. What to Expect with CKD
      6. Kidney Disease Management
      7. Understanding Acute Kidney Injury
      8. How Kidneys Work
      9. Take a FREE CLASS on Kidney Disease
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      1. OVERVIEW
      2. Dialysis Basics
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      7. In-Center Hemodialysis
      8. Transplant
      9. Insurance & Managing Costs
      10. Choosing Not to Treat
    3. Life On Dialysis
      1. OVERVIEW
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    Find a Dialysis Center

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      1. About Kidney Disease
        1. Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease
          1. Symptoms
          2. Risk Factors
          3. Causes
          4. Diagnosis and Testing
          5. GFR Calculator
        2. Kidney Disease Stages
          1. Stage 1
          2. Stage 2
          3. Stage 3
          4. Stage 4
          5. Stage 5
        3. What Is a Nephrologist?
        4. What to Expect with CKD
        5. Kidney Disease Management
          1. Kidney Diet Basics
          2. CKD Medications
          3. Your Kidney Care Team
          4. Diabetes
          5. High Blood Pressure
        6. Understanding Acute Kidney Injury
          1. Acute Kidney Injury Treatment and Recovery
        7. How Kidneys Work
        8. Take a FREE CLASS on Kidney Disease
      2. Treatments
        1. Dialysis Basics
          1. How Does a Hemodialysis Machine Work
          2. Starting Dialysis
          3. Types of Dialysis Access
          4. Your Care Plan
          5. Dialysis Medications
          6. Monitoring Your Lab Results
        2. Benefits of Home Dialysis
        3. Home Peritoneal Dialysis
          1. What to Expect
          2. Getting Prepared
          3. PD Access
          4. PD Training
          5. PD Monitoring
          6. Your Care Team
        4. Home Hemodialysis
          1. What to Expect
          2. Getting Prepared
          3. HD Training
          4. HD Monitoring
          5. Your Care Team
        5. Sign up to Talk to a Home Dialysis Expert
        6. In-Center Hemodialysis
          1. In-Center Treatment Options
          2. What to Expect
          3. Types of Vascular Access for Hemodialysis
          4. Your Care Team
          5. How to Choose a Center
        7. Transplant
          1. Finding a Kidney Donor
          2. Considering Kidney Donation
        8. Insurance & Managing Costs
          1. Understanding Medicare Coverage
          2. Understanding Medicare Advantage
          3. Understanding Employer Plans
        9. Choosing Not to Treat
      3. Life On Dialysis
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          1. In-Center Hemodialysis
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        6. PatientHub
      4. Recipes & Nutrition
        1. Recipes
        2. Managing Your Diet
          1. Eating Well on a CKD Diet
          2. Eating Well on a Dialysis Diet
          3. Salt and Kidney Disease
          4. Potassium and Kidney Disease
          5. Phosphorus and Kidney Disease
          6. Talking With Your Dietitian
        3. Fluid Management on Dialysis
        4. Dialysis Diet Planning
          1. Kidney-Friendly Shopping
          2. Eating Out
          3. Holiday Diet Tips
          4. A Chef’s Advice | Chef Aaron McCargo on Kidney Friendly Meals
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      Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease
      Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease
      OVERVIEW Symptoms Risk Factors Causes Diagnosis and Testing GFR Calculator
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      1. Home
      2. About Kidney Disease
      3. Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease
      4. Symptoms

      What are the Symptoms of Kidney Disease?

      Share:
      Detecting chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be tricky because the signs and symptoms of kidney disease occur late, after the condition has progressed and kidney damage has occurred. In fact, CKD is sometimes known as a “silent” condition because it’s hard to detect—and most people with early stage CKD are completely unaware of it.

      Understanding chronic kidney disease symptoms

      While watching for late-stage symptoms won’t help with early detection, it’s still important to be aware of the signs. Remember, you shouldn’t wait for symptoms before you take action. If you are at risk for CKD, especially if you have high blood pressure or diabetes, it's recommended that you get screened at least once a year for any evidence of kidney disease and to learn your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Your doctor can give you a blood test that will measure your creatinine levels and help determine your level of kidney function. The earlier CKD is detected, the greater the benefit of early treatment.

      Talk to your doctor immediately if you notice any of these potential CKD signs and symptoms:

      • Changes in urination
        Healthy kidneys help filter blood to create urine. When the kidneys don’t function well, urination issues may occur such as needing to urinate more often or seeing blood in your urine. You may also experience urine that’s foamy or bubbly—which could be an early sign that protein is getting into your urine due to damaged kidneys.
      • Fatigue
        Reduced kidney function can lead to a buildup of toxins in the blood that causes you to have a lack of energy or feel overwhelmingly tired. CKD may also cause anemia, which can make you feel tired or weak due to having too few red blood cells.
      • Itching
        Dry and itchy skin may be a sign that you have an imbalance of minerals and nutrients in your blood due to kidneydisease. Itching is often caused by high blood levels of phosphorus.
      • Swelling in your hands, legs, or feet
        When your kidneys aren’t removing excess fluid and sodium from your body, swelling (also known as edema) may occur in your feet or other lower extremities.
      • Shortness of breath
        Extra fluid can build up in your lungs when your kidneys aren't removing enough fluid, which may cause you to beshort of breath. CKD-induced anemia, which is a shortage of oxygen carrying red blood cells, may also cause breathlessness.
      • Pain in the small of your back
        You may experience localized pain near your kidneys that doesn't change or that becomes worse when you move or stretch. The kidneys are located on either side of your spine in your lower back, and kidney problems can cause pain in this area. Back pain may also be due to an infection or blockage of the kidneys, which can lead to kidney damage.
      • Decreased appetite
        A buildup of toxins due to impaired kidney function may cause you to lose your appetite, whether because you feel full or too sick or tired to eat.
      • Puffiness around your eyes
        Protein leaking into your urine as a result of kidney damage may cause persistent puffiness around the eyes, an early sign of kidney disease.
      • Abnormal levels of phosphorus, calcium, or vitamin D
        Impaired kidney function can cause electrolyte imbalances, such as low calcium levels or high phosphorus, that may lead to muscle cramping.
      • Abnormal urine test
        High amounts of protein in your urine, called proteinurea, can be a sign of kidney disease. Healthy kidneys filter out waste and fluid, letting protein return to the blood. When the kidneys don’t function correctly, protein leaks into your urine.
      • High blood pressure
        Excess fluid and sodium build up as a result of kidney disease can cause you to have higher blood pressure. High blood pressure can also damage the blood vessels in the kidneys and lead to a worsening of kidney disease over time.




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      TAKE A FREE KIDNEY CARE CLASS

      Learn how to look after your kidney health and thrive—in a class that fits your life. Choose an educator-led or self-guided format.
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      “DON’T WAIT TO GET TESTED—IT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE.”

      Take the next step to early kidney disease detection.
      Watch Sean’s Story
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      ASK ABOUT DIAGNOSIS & TESTING

      If you are at risk of kidneydisease or experience signs orsymptoms, talk to your doctorand get tested.

      READ MORE

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      How do CKD symptoms progress?

      Symptoms of CKD develop slowly over time. Many people in the earlier stages (stages 1 and 2) of kidney disease do not experience symptoms at all and may require testing to receive a diagnosis. You’re more likely to experience symptoms in the later stages or end stage of kidney disease (stages 3, 4, and 5).

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      Check in on diabetes and high blood pressure

      Diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension) are the top two causes of chronic kidney disease. If you have a health diagnosis such as high blood pressure or diabetes, it’s important that you take control of your health and begin monitoring these conditions more closely. Many times when these other conditions progress or are not treated properly, your kidneys have to work harder and risk more damage over time. Regular check-ups that include blood and urine tests are critical to monitoring your kidney health. Take the time to learn from your doctor about how to best care for your health, manage your medications, and eat well.

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      Are symptoms of kidney disease different in men and women?

      Although they both may experience the same symptoms, CKD may progress differently in men and women. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and kidney infections are more common in women, which may cause kidney disease to develop. In general, women have a greater risk for CKD, whereas men may progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or kidney failure faster. Both men and women can lower their risk of kidney disease by maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar, and living a healthy lifestyle.

      UNDERSTAND­ING ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY

      If symptoms appear suddenly orall at once, it may be a sign ofacute kidney injury (AKI), alsoknown as acute kidney failure. 
      Learn More About AKI
      Watch a video about the symptoms of chronic kidney disease.

      Know the risks and symptoms of CKD

      Understanding the risks and symptoms to be aware of for kidney disease can help you know when to take action and talk to your doctor about CKD.

      WATCH VIDEO

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      Recognize a symptom? Talk to your doctor

      The sooner you report signs or symptoms to your doctor, the sooner you can get a diagnosis and start taking steps to slow the progression of kidney disease. Your doctor can determine your level of kidney function through a simple blood test used to calculate your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Knowing your eGFR is key to understanding your stage of kidney disease and how best to manage your kidney health.

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      When to see a kidney doctor

      Your primary care doctor can help you determine when it's time to see a kidney doctor (nephrologist), who specializes in treating kidney disease. If you have late stage 3 kidney disease (eGFR of 44 or lower), talk to your doctor about receiving a referral to a nephrologist. A nephrologist can help you develop a personalized care plan, talk to you about managing kidney disease, and support you in living your best life.
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