7 Signs That Warn You Have Kidney Problems

Medical experts call the kidneys the laboratory of our body. This paired organ may work unproductively due to any pathologies.

Impaired kidney function leads to dysfunction of the genitourinary system, metabolic problems, and the body’s water-salt balance is also disrupted.

In order to eliminate pathology in a timely manner, it is necessary to diagnose it in a timely manner. To do this, a person needs to know how the kidneys hurt, what the nature of the pain is, and where it manifests itself.

Causes

A large number of people complain of pain in the lumbar region. Many people try to independently determine the cause of pain, and as a rule, they are mistaken.

Pain in the lower back can occur for various reasons.

Medical experts identify several groups of factors that can trigger pain in the lumbar spine, namely:

The cause may be diseases of the spine or any internal organs of a person. Such pathologies often do not have clinical manifestations in the early stages of development. However, over time, acute pain develops with certain bends, and problems with the functioning of the genitourinary system appear.
The neuralgic nature is also possible . Lower back pain occurs when the nerve endings of the spinal column are pinched, osteochondrosis of the lumbar region and other similar diseases.
Sharp painful sensations in the lumbar region are also characteristic of osteoporosis , which arose against the background of calcium deficiency in the body.

There are many reasons why lower back pain may occur. To establish the nature of their occurrence, you need to consult a medical specialist for advice.

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If an inflammatory complication of renal tissue has been diagnosed, antibacterial therapy is mandatory, in which a broad-spectrum antibiotic is used. Diuretics, vitamin complexes, and detoxification agents are prescribed as auxiliary agents.

In addition to drug therapy, it is necessary to follow a special diet, which includes excluding salt, spices, spicy, fatty and fried foods from the menu. In case of kidney inflammation, it is important to establish a drinking regime.

With a sufficient amount of fluid, it will be possible to avoid symptoms of intoxication and more quickly remove the pathogen and its waste products from the body. During pregnancy, pyelonephritis is treated in a hospital.

This will help avoid unpleasant consequences and prevent the development of uncontrolled complications.

Externally and even in color, the buds are most similar to two large beans, each of which can weigh up to 200 g. However, in terms of their internal structure, these beans consist of complex filters. If you have a water filter at home, then you know that it filters out all sorts of harmful substances and the output is clean water suitable for drinking. So the kidneys are essentially the same filter, only it works in reverse: it lets through and removes all sorts of harmful substances, and returns most of the liquid back to the body. And the kidneys filter not water, but blood. More precisely, the liquid part of the blood is plasma. Filtration takes place in two stages: 1. Formation of primary urine - the one that none of us sees. Blood flowing through a tangle of capillaries loses a certain amount of liquid part (plasma). The plasma passes through the kidney filter (it only excludes blood cells and proteins important for the body). But water, sugar (glucose), salts and urea, ammonia and other nitrogenous substances that are toxic to the body leak out. This urine produces 120-170 liters per day. 2. Formation of secondary (or, more simply, ordinary) urine. It is obtained from primary urine much less - 1.5-2 liters per day. Secondary urine flows through special tubules in which water, sugar and some other substances are reabsorbed and some salts and other toxins are released. These tubules, which have a complex shape, open into the renal pelvis, and from them urine, without retention, enters the ureters.

How to distinguish kidney pain from lumbar pain?

In 9 out of 10 all cases, the cause of pain in the lumbar region is disorders of the spinal column.

The kidneys become a factor causing pain in this area of the body only in every twentieth case.

The nature of the painful sensations and their intensity will differ depending on the nature of the occurrence.

Localization of pain in pathologies with the kidneys

For diseases of the renal system, doctors note the following clinical signs:

Painful sensations arose within a short period of time after severe hypothermia of the lower extremities or after recently suffering pathologies of a cold or infectious nature.
The process of urination also changes, its frequency increases, and painful sensations are possible before or after the process of emptying the bladder.
Some patients complain of chills and fever.
The person loses appetite and may vomit.

Particular attention must be paid to the nature of the painful sensations; on the basis of this, the cause of their occurrence can be distinguished:

In case of kidney diseases, the painful sensations will be acute and occur in attacks. Renal colic has this type of pain. Dull, muffled pain is possible, which is observed during the inflammatory process of the kidneys.
Pain during the inflammatory process in the renal system is constant; the intensity of the discomfort does not change with the patient’s movements.
Unpleasant sensations are localized not in the center of the lumbar region, but from one of the edges. Just below the ribs.
Painful impulses can radiate to the side of the abdomen, to the genital area or to the thighs.

With the clinical manifestations described above, it is necessary to remember that heating in this case is unacceptable.

The use of warming-type medications is contraindicated until a diagnosis has been established.

Pain in the morning

It will be possible to determine the nature of the discomfort based on the nature of the clinical signs. Before consulting a medical specialist, it is possible to make an assumption about the diagnosis.

With pathologies of the lumbar spinal column, the following symptoms are possible:

Discomfort in the lumbar region occurs after a long stay in an uncomfortable position, during strong or sudden physical activity.
The pain can be pulling or shooting in nature, and its location in most cases is in the middle of the lumbar region. In this case, “shooting” in the lower limbs or in the buttocks area is possible. The cause of this discomfort is most often osteochondrosis.
The patient's movements become difficult; medical experts explain this by an increase in the intensity of pain.
Spasms of muscle tissue.

For these clinical manifestations, medications that have an anti-inflammatory and warming effect on the human body will have a healing effect.

The intensity of pain decreases if the patient lies still.

Other symptoms

Medical experts also recommend paying attention to the following clinical signs for diseases of the renal system:

You should pay attention to signs of intoxication of the body . These include dizziness, headache, chronic weakness. This clinical picture is characteristic of pyelonephritis.
The occurrence of swelling is evidence that the kidneys are not able to remove all the fluid from the body. The symptom occurs in the morning after sleep.
Bloody discharge in urine . In this case, the urine takes on the shade of meat; with intense physical activity, the color becomes brighter.
Urine turbidity . With inflammatory kidney damage, this symptom manifests itself in almost all cases.
The outflow of urine is disrupted . Urine is released in a weak stream, and in the last stages of development of renal disease - in drops. Also, in some cases, the frequency of urination increases.
Constantly elevated blood pressure is evidence of circulatory disorders, which is typical for some renal pathologies.
Changes in the human nervous system are also possible . In the initial forms of renal pathology, nervous excitement may occur, which leads to lethargy and drowsiness.

Clinical signs of kidney dysfunction can be of a different nature; to accurately diagnose the disease, you need to contact a medical specialist to undergo diagnostic tests.

Other signs

Fever does not occur with all kidney problems. For example, urolithiasis and hydronephrosis can occur against a background of normal temperature.

Unless during an exacerbation, when stones pass through the urinary tract or there is severe stagnation of urine in the kidneys, the temperature may rise to subfebrile levels.

Signs

However, bacterial inflammation is accompanied by severe fever up to 38 - 38.5º.

One of the functions of the kidneys is to maintain a constant volume of fluid in all cells of the body. Therefore, disruption of their work leads to water retention, which is manifested by the development of swelling.

Swelling

They usually appear on the face in the morning. In the initial stages of the disease, swelling develops after drinking a large amount of liquid at night or eating salty, smoked or pickled foods.

Further development of the disease leads to noticeable swelling not only on the face, but also on the arms, ankles, and fingers.

Fluid retention also causes symptoms of persistent high blood pressure.

Changes in skin color are also observed. With kidney problems, the skin acquires a characteristic pale, earthy tint. Inflammation of the kidneys and an increase in their size may be accompanied by redness in the lumbar region.

Which doctor should I contact?

Many people do not know which medical specialist to contact if they experience pain in the lumbar region. The best option would be to consult a therapist or general practitioner.

Initially, an oral interview of the patient is carried out, then a visual examination is carried out.

By tapping the lumbar region with the edge of the palm, it is sometimes possible to understand that the cause of the discomfort is renal pathology. Painful sensations in this case are dull in nature.

If kidney failure is suspected, the doctor will send you to a urologist or nephrologist.

Analyzes and examinations

The medical specialist first prescribes x-rays, which provide information about possible changes in the structure of the spinal column. After this, an ultrasound examination of the renal organs is prescribed. The patient will also need to undergo blood and urine tests.

Urinary disorders

Almost all nephrological problems are characterized by symptoms of urinary dysfunction. Urinary retention is called anuria. In this case, the daily volume of urine excreted is about 50 ml.

Typically, anuria occurs when the patency of both ureters is impaired (which occurs quite rarely), acute renal failure due to injury, or poisoning with nephrotoxic substances.

Urinary disorders

A decrease in the amount of daily urine is called oliguria in clinical practice. It usually develops with glomerulonephritis and acute fluid deficiency.

A significant increase in the daily volume of urine excreted, or pollakiuria, occurs with a significant deterioration in the filtration function of kidney cells.

Very often there is an increased urge to empty the bladder, even with a small amount of urine being discharged. Sometimes the process of urination is accompanied by pain, cutting, itching or burning.

Such symptoms are characteristic of urolithiasis, when small crystals or fragments injure the sensitive epithelium of the inner surface of the kidneys and urinary tract.

In what cases should you call an ambulance?

If you delay consultation with a medical specialist for a long time, pathologies enter the final stage of their development. Symptoms appear, which indicate that you need to call an ambulance:

A person begins to experience strong, constant pain not only in the lumbar region, but also in the gastrointestinal tract. The patient cannot get up and loss of consciousness is possible.
The appearance of bloody discharge in the urine indicates that you need to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Sudden rapid heartbeat, sudden change in blood pressure to critical levels.

What to do before the ambulance arrives

If there is a sharp deterioration in the patient’s well-being, he needs to provide first aid. First of all, the person needs to be placed on the bed and given a painkiller like analgin.

If there are suspicions of stone deposits in the renal system, an antispasmodic drug can relieve pain.

If primary symptoms occur, you need to consult a doctor as soon as possible. Only a doctor can make the correct diagnosis and create an effective course of treatment.

Changes in urine

In the presence of inflammatory problems with the kidneys or urolithiasis, the color and transparency of urine often changes. Cloudiness of the urine and the appearance of sediment in the form of flakes indicate the onset of bacterial inflammation, pyelonephritis.

The presence of blood in the urine is called hematuria. If there is little of it, this may indicate injury to the inner lining of the urinary tract by sand, sharp stones or their fragments.

The release of a sufficiently large amount of blood in the urine is a characteristic symptom of autoimmune inflammation of the kidneys - glomerulonephritis. With the development of such a disease, urine takes on the color of “meat slop.”

Unpleasant odor and metallic taste in the mouth

When your kidneys don't work properly, toxins accumulate in your blood, changing the taste of food and leaving a metallic taste in your mouth. Another sign of too many toxins in the bloodstream can be a foul odor. Additionally, you may lose your desire to eat meat or your appetite in general, leading to unhealthy weight loss.

A metallic taste in the mouth can occur for various reasons, such as allergies or poor oral health. Typically, once the suspected cause of the problem is eliminated, the metallic taste should disappear. But if this does not happen, consult a doctor.

Headache, feeling tired and general weakness

Healthy, functioning kidneys use vitamin D to maintain strong bones and produce a hormone called erythropoietin (EPO), which is essential for the production of red blood cells. If the kidneys begin to function improperly, the production of this hormone decreases. A decrease in the number of red blood cells (which carry oxygen in the blood) leads to rapid muscle and brain fatigue.

People with chronic kidney disease often suffer from anemia. This disease can develop when kidney function decreases by 20-50%. If you get enough rest and sleep but still feel tired, lack of energy, and feel generally weak, you should call your doctor right away.

Visual examination of the patient and making a preliminary diagnosis

A preliminary diagnosis by the attending physician is based on an examination of the patient. First of all, what the specialist pays attention to is the patient’s swelling. It is by its nature that the doctor can diagnose renal or cardiac pathology. In the first case, swelling is localized exclusively in soft tissues, namely in the facial area. This is due to the fact that protein goes into the urine when kidney function is reduced. In this case, the physical properties of the blood change and it is no longer able to retain water. There, in turn, it goes to the soft tissues. If the patient’s swelling is localized exclusively in the legs, then we can talk about heart failure. Since the heart is not able to pump blood efficiently, part of the water from it is sent to the lower parts of the patient’s body.

The specialist also conducts the Pasternatsky test, in which the affected urinary organs respond with pain when tapped in the lumbar region.

Important: it is worth understanding that these signs of kidney disease are only visual. Confirmation of the diagnosis is based on the results of numerous tests. Based on them, the specialist makes a decision on the correct therapeutic tactics.

Dyspnea

Shortness of breath, which occurs even after minor physical exertion, and kidney disease can also be related. First, when the kidneys fail, extra fluid in the body moves to the lungs. Secondly, due to anemia, the body does not receive enough oxygen, which can also lead to shortness of breath.

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There are various causes of shortness of breath, from kidney and heart failure to asthma and lung cancer. If you notice that you have difficulty breathing even with light exertion, you should immediately consult a doctor.