Kidneys are among the most important organs in a human’s body, as they help remove waste products while maintaining metabolic levels. Any infection affecting the kidneys will lead to its failure hence rendering it useless. When a kidney has failed, a person will be forced to seek a kidney transplant by first looking for a donor.
Once a kidney transplant has been performed, the person will get back to their normal life. After all, any person can survive with only one kidney as it effectively performs all the functions. Detecting the signs of a kidney failure during early stages is very important if you’re to get apt treatment.
When a kidney failure is detected during the final stages, it becomes difficult for it to be treated and thus the only way out is a kidney transplant or kidney dialysis. Here are the main signs of kidney failure.
Fatigue
Patients with kidney failure tend to feel tired even when they haven’t done anything. A healthy kidney is known to produce hormone Erythropoietin (EPO) which is the main factor behind the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen. Once the kidneys start failing, less and less of this hormone is produced by your body leading to a decrease in the number of red blood cells. With a decreased supply of blood containing oxygen, the brain and muscles become tired easily.
Breathing Difficulties
A kidney failure may make it difficult for a person to breathe and at times one may think they’re collapsing, although this is not the case. Difficulty in breathing can be related to a kidney failure in two main ways. First of all, when you kidney fails, it becomes difficult for the body to maintain fluid levels.
When the lungs are filled with this fluid, it becomes hard for a person to breathe even though they may be in a good condition. Anemia, a disease that occurs as a result of having few red blood cells that carry Oxygen can leave your body without the required Oxygen, making it hard for you to breathe easily.
Dizziness
Patients suffering from a kidney failure may at times feel dizzy due to anemia. Anemia that develops due to kidney failure may limit the amount of Oxygen supplied to your brain. Once your brain is no longer getting enough Oxygen, it becomes weak and leaves you dizzy. In some instances, the brain may not get any Oxygen making patients faint.