Kidney disease is a condition where your kidneys are no longer able to remove waste effectively from your body or balance your fluids. This buildup of waste changes the chemistry of your body, causing some symptoms you can feel and others you don’t.

Common symptoms of kidney disease

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue and weakness
• Change in urination
• Swelling of the feet or ankles
• Muscle cramps
• Dry, itchy skin
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Shortness of breath

Keep your kidneys healthy

Protect your kidneys by taking preventative measures when managing your health. The steps below will help keep your whole body healthy, including your kidneys:

• Managing diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease
• Eating foods lower in salt
• Getting enough sleep
• Increasing physical activity
• Limiting alcohol intake
• Quitting smoking

Ask your primary care provider questions

If you find yourself having any signs or symptoms of kidney disease or if you have a medical condition that increases your risk of kidney disease, ask your primary care provider about your kidney health during your next medical visit. The sooner kidney disease is diagnosed, the sooner you can get treatment to help protect your kidneys. If needed, a primary care provider will refer you to a nephrologist for more specialized kidney care.