Know the Common Symptoms And Complications of End Stage Renal Disease!

As you know the function of your kidneys is to filter waste products and extra water from your blood. And if you are suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) then with the passage of time your kidneys might not be able to perform this function as efficiently as they should.

People are considered to be in end stage renal disease when their kidneys function at below 10% of their normal capacity. It tends to be progressive and doesn’t reach its full extent until people have been living with the disease for about 10-20 years after diagnosis.  

A few common symptoms of end stage renal disease that can help you know about your condition include:

• Loss of appetite

• Feeling nauseous

• Vomiting

• Feeling tired more than usual

• Facing problems in sleeping

• Changes in how much you urinate

• Decreased mental sharpness

• Muscle twitches and cramps

• Swelling of feet and ankles

• Persistent itching

• Chest pain

• Breathlessness, if fluid builds up in the lungs

• High blood pressure tha gets difficult to control

Apart from the symptoms you should also know some common complications of end-stage kidney disease:

• Pain in your joints, bones, and muscles

• Skin infections from dry skin and itching

• Higher risk of infections

• Abnormal electrolyte levels

• Weak bones

• Nerve damage

• Changes in blood glucose level

Watching your diet, limiting sugar intake, regular exercise, drinking lots of water, and controlling blood pressure are the best ways to prevent end stage renal disease, however, this disease is not always preventable, especially if it is hereditary. What you can do is, adopt some healthy lifestyle changes like exercising regularly, limiting salt intake etc. to reduce the chances of getting end stage renal disease.