10 Common Habits That May Harm Your Kidneys

What patients said:

Foul taste in your mouth. Almost like you're drinking iron.

I don't have the appetite I had before I started dialysis, I must have lost about 10 pounds.

10. Ammonia breath

Why this happens:

A build-up of wastes in the blood (called uremia) can cause bad breath.

What patients said:

My husband always tells me I have fish breath.

Sometimes my breath smells like urine and I need to brush my teeth more often.

11. Upset stomach, nausea, vomiting

Why this happens:

A severe build-up of wastes in the blood (uremia) can also cause nausea and vomiting. Loss of appetite can lead to weight loss.

What patients said:

I had a lot of itching, and I was nauseated, throwing up all the time. I couldn't keep anything down in my stomach.

When I got the nausea, I couldn't eat and I had a hard time taking my blood pressure pills.

12. Getting up during the night to make urine

Why this happens:

Kidneys make urine, so when the kidneys are failing, the urine may change. How?

You may urinate more often, or in greater amounts than usual, with pale urine.

You may feel pressure or have difficulty urinating.

What patients said:

My urine is what I had started noticing. Then I was frequently going to the bathroom, and when I got there, nothing's happening. You think, 'Hey, I've got to go to the john,' and you get there, 2 or 3 drops.

13. Foamy or bubbly urine

Why this happens:

Kidneys make urine, so when the kidneys are failing, the urine may change. How?

Urine may be foamy or bubbly.

This can lead to an above-normal amount of protein in the urine.

What patients said:

The bowl would be filled with bubbles.

Sometimes I would notice my urine being very foamy, so I made an appointment with the doctor.

14. Brown, red, or purple urine

Why this happens:

Kidneys make urine, so when the kidneys are failing, the urine may change. How?

You may urinate less often, or in smaller amounts than usual, with dark-colored urine.

Your urine may contain blood.

What patients said:

I was passing blood in my urine. It was so dark it looked like grape Kool-Aid. And when I went to the hospital they thought I was lying about what color it was.

15. Pressure when you make urine

Why this happens:

Kidneys make urine, so when the kidneys are failing, the urine may change. How?

You may feel pressure or have difficulty urinating.

What patients said:

When you go to use the restroom, you couldn't get it all out. And it would still feel just like tightness down there, there was so much pressure.

 

MORE Symptoms of Kidney Disease

You’re more tired, have less energy or are having trouble concentrating. A severe decrease in kidney function can lead to a buildup of toxins and impurities in the blood. This can cause you to feel tired, weak and can make it hard to concentrate. Another complication of kidney disease is anemia, which can also cause weakness and fatigue.

You’re having trouble sleeping. When the kidneys aren’t filtering properly, toxins stay in the blood rather than leaving the body through the urine. This can make it difficult to sleep. There is also a link between obesity and chronic kidney disease, and sleep apnea is more common in those with chronic kidney disease.

You have dry and itchy skin. Healthy kidneys do many important jobs. They remove wastes and extra fluid from your body, help make red blood cells, keep bones strong and work to maintain the right amount of minerals in your blood. Dry and itchy skin can be a sign of the mineral and bone disease that often accompanies advanced kidney disease, when the kidneys are no longer able to keep the right balance of minerals and nutrients in the blood.

You feel the need to urinate more often. If you feel the need to urinate more often, especially at night, this can be a sign of kidney disease. When the kidneys’ filters are damaged, it can cause an increase in the urge to urinate. Frequent urination can also be a sign of a urinary infection or enlarged prostate in men.

You see blood in your urine. Healthy kidneys typically keep blood cells in the body when filtering wastes from the blood to create urine. However, when the kidneys have been damaged, these blood cells can start to “leak” out into the urine. In addition to signaling kidney disease, blood in the urine can be indicative of tumors, kidney stones or an infection.

Your urine is foamy. Excessive bubbles in the urine — especially ones that require you to flush several times before they go away — indicate protein in the urine. This foam may look like the foam you see when scrambling eggs, as the common protein found in urine, albumin, is the same protein as in eggs.

You’re experiencing persistent puffiness around your eyes. Protein in the urine is an early sign that the kidneys’ filters have been damaged, allowing protein to leak into the urine. This puffiness around your eyes can be due to the fact that your kidneys are leaking a large amount of protein in the urine, rather than keeping it in the body.

Your ankles and feet are swollen. Decreased kidney function can lead to sodium retention, causing swelling in your feet and ankles. Swelling in the lower extremities can also be a sign of heart disease, liver disease and chronic leg vein problems.

You have a poor appetite. This is a very general symptom, but a buildup of toxins resulting from reduced kidney function can be one of the causes.

Your muscles are cramping. Electrolyte imbalances and cramping can be caused by impaired kidney function. For example, low calcium levels and poorly controlled phosphorus may contribute to muscle cramping.

10 Common Habits That May Harm Your Kidneys

1. Overusing Painkillers
Over the counter pain medicines, such as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) may alleviate your aches and pains, but they can harm the kidneys, especially if you already have kidney disease. Reduce your regular use of NSAIDs and never go over the recommended dosage.

2. Abusing the Salt Shaker
Diets high in salt are high in sodium, which can increase blood pressure and, in turn, harm your kidneys.  Flavor your foods with herbs and spices instead of salt. Over time, you may find it easier to avoid using added salt (sodium) on your food.

3. Eating Processed Foods
Processed foods are significant sources of sodium and phosphorus. Many people who have kidney disease need to limit phosphorus in their diets. Some studies have shown that high phosphorus intake from processed foods in people without kidney disease may be harmful to their kidneys and bones. Try adopting the DASH diet to guide your healthy eating habits.

4. Not Drinking Enough Water
Staying well hydrated helps your kidneys clear sodium and toxins from the body. Drinking plenty of water is also one of the best ways to avoid painful kidney stones. Those with kidney problems or kidney failure may need to restrict their fluid intake, but for most people, drinking 1.5 to 2 liters (3 to 4 pints) of water per day is a healthy target.