What Kidney Failure Means
Kidney failure happens when your kidneys no longer work well enough to keep you alive. It is the last stage (end-stage) of a progressive disease—Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Some people may live with kidney disease under a doctor’s care for a long time before they reach kidney failure. Others get worse more quickly depending on other healthcare problems. It’s important to stay aware of the progress of kidney disease. Your medical team, including your primary care physician and nephrologist (kidney doctor), will help guide you through the stages of kidney disease. Some signs and symptoms of kidney disease are:
- Changes in urination: urine that is foamy or bubbly, red or pink (contains blood); more or less than your usual amount; or getting up at night to urinate
- Swelling of face, hands, and/or feet
- Feeling more tired than usual
- Nausea/vomiting
- Headache, feeling dizzy, having trouble thinking clearly
- Severe itching not related to a “bite” or rash
- Shortness of breath or feeling that you can’t catch your breath
- Loss of appetite or change in the way foods taste
- High blood pressure
For more information on the stages of kidney disease, click here.
