If Your Kidneys Are Sending You These 10 Signals, They’re Probably in Trouble – Don’t Ignore Them
The kidneys are two small, bean-shaped organs located just below the ribs, but their job is gigantic: every day, they filter 120 to 150 liters* of blood, eliminate waste, regulate fluids and electrolytes, maintain blood pressure and even participate in the formation of red blood cells.
When a problem arises, the signs are subtle and can easily go unnoticed. Chronic kidney disease affects millions of people worldwide and often progresses “silently” until the damage becomes irreversible. The good news? Your body is warning you—if you know what to look for.
Below are 10 early signs that your kidneys may be at risk, along with tips on how to respond in time.
⚠️1. Constant fatigue and exhaustion
Do you go to bed early but wake up exhausted? When kidney function deteriorates, it produces less erythropoietin, the hormone that stimulates red blood cell production. This results in anemia and constant fatigue.
What to do?
Discuss the symptom with your GP and request creatinine and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) tests.
💧2. Swelling of the legs, ankles or feet
Impaired filtration traps excess fluid, which accumulates in tissues, most often in the lower limbs.
