The kidneys are vital organs. So humans seem to be surviving after sacrificing one kidney, but nobody can live with neither of these. The kidneys help support the stability of electrolytes in the blood, eliminate toxins from the body and can trigger either the removal or preservation of water, among a few more functions. When kidney failure develops without having medical treatment, death is highly expected due to organ failure and toxicity. As a result, renal failure symptoms appear as the body executes several last-ditch efforts to reduce the wastes accumulating in the bloodstream. In the earliest levels of kidney disease, there are usually no symptoms therefore kidney disease becomes difficult to detect initially. The human body is actually fairly tolerant, and is able to manage the blood very efficiently. For example, while normal blood quantities of waste product generally known as creatinine are between 0.5-1.2 mg/dl for a healthy person, and approximately 1.9 for a person with only one kidney, they can go up to 10.0 mg/dl before a person demands kidney dialysis. Since renal failure symptoms are really produced by the body as a reaction to this buildup of toxins in the blood, it takes some time for toxins to build up enough to result in symptoms. This is why treatment is significant once renal failure symptoms become visible as by this time renal damage can be so advanced that that the kidneys may not be capable to function effectively independently.

Meanwhile, the body works very hard to maintain the right balance of many necessary factors in the blood vessels. The kidneys are responsible for managing fluid levels within the body therefore among the first renal failure symptoms will probably be swelling, as the body retains water. This is most frequently observed in the limbs such as feet and ankles, but even puffiness around the eyes in the morning. As this progresses, fluid can end up diffusing into the lungs, triggering shortness of breath and potentially eventual congestive heart failure. Another crucial task for the kidneys is balancing of electrolytes. Many people know these are needed for appropriate hydration, but the fact is that minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium are needed for regular muscle and nerve function too. As levels of potassium increase, as noticed in renal failure, heart arrhythmias is common renal failure symptom. These include dangerous arrhythmias, like ventricular fibrillation. This can probably cause death from cardiac arrest. Calcium levels drop during kidney failure, which can lead to mental renal failure symptoms including confusion due to hypocalcaemia.

When the kidneys can’t purify the blood effectively, metabolic acidosis increases. This happens when the body’s capability to buffer itself is thrown off kilter, causing the bloodstream to become more acidic than it should be. There are many widespread symptoms of acidosis, and those that relate to the kidneys and can be seen as urinary problems, high blood pressure, gout, immune problems and low energy.

For most kidney disease patients, over time anemia can develop. It is because the kidneys are necessary to make up the hormone EPO, which helps produce red blood cells. When poor quantities of red blood cells are made, the body’s capability to utilize oxygen decreases. This can lead to weakness, lethargy, and shortness of breath, which are standard symptoms. As kidney failure continues, the body might even try to reduce waste by excreting it from the skin. In this case skin rashes and itching are common. Uremic frost can develop on the skin as urea compounds and other metabolic wastes are pushed out through the capillaries in the skin, especially on the face. This normally happens to be severe as well. (more…)