Your kidneys play an essential role in your body. They filter your blood, removing waste and excess fluid. And they perform a host of other key functions, like balancing your electrolytes, regulating your blood pressure, activating vitamin D (to help you absorb calcium and keep your bones strong), and helping your body produce red blood cells.
Kidney disease affects over 1 in 7 Africans—about 35.5 million people—, but because its symptoms are so subtle, many people don’t realize they have it. Here are 5 possible symptoms you should recognize.
High Blood Pressure
Once your kidneys are damaged, they can’t effectively regulate your blood pressure. And this causes an unfortunate cycle. The force of your blood pounding against your vessels stretches them, causing further damage by scarring and weakening the blood vessels in your kidneys.
Swelling and Weight Gain
Your kidneys remove waste and excess fluid from your body by producing urine. “If the kidneys slow down or do not work well, then fluid can be retained,” says Mateo Ledezma, M.D., a nephrologist with Kaiser Permanente. “This can result in persistent swelling in tissue.” This type of swelling is called edema.
Infrequent Urination
When more fluid is stuck in your tissues, less is being flushed out—meaning you may be peeing less than usual. If you notice you’re drinking the same amount you normally do, but urinating less frequently, it may be worth bringing up with your doctor.
Heart Palpitations
“If your kidney damage is causing a build-up of potassium, you might notice an abnormal heartbeat,” says Allen. Your heartbeat might seem fast or irregular, or you may feel like your heart is fluttering.
Nausea or Loss of Appetite
When waste builds up in your system because your kidneys aren’t filtering it out, it can start to mess with other parts of your body. This can lead to nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite, and just generally make you feel sick.
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