Chronic Kidney Disease Signs & Symptoms

How your kidney doctors in Des Moines, IA, can help if you have chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease may go undiagnosed because many of the signs and symptoms are common to several illnesses and medical conditions. Fortunately, your kidney doctor, or nephrologist, is an expert at diagnosing and treating chronic kidney disease.

The kidney doctors at Iowa Kidney Physicians offer a wide range of nephrology services, including diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease. They have several convenient office locations in Des Moines, IA, to help you feel better.

Chronic kidney disease can get worse gradually over time, which is one of the reasons it often goes undiagnosed. Many of the signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease are generic, such as:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Dry, itchy skin
  • Loss of appetite and weight loss
  • Extreme fatigue and weakness
  • Shortness of breath and chest pain
  • Ankle and feet swelling
  • High blood pressure
  • Muscle cramping
  • More or less urination
  • Problems sleeping and loss of concentration

There are several medical conditions that can eventually cause problems with kidney function, resulting in chronic kidney disease. These underlying conditions include:

  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Recurrent kidney infections
  • Kidney inflammation (glomerulonephritis)
  • Inflammation of the surrounding structures (interstitial nephritis)
  • Urinary tract obstructions
  • Enlarged prostate
  • Kidney stones
  • Cancer

Treating chronic kidney disease can include several treatment modalities, designed to treat both the cause, and the symptoms. Managing the underlying disease, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, is a first line of treatment. In addition, your kidney doctor may recommend dietary modifications to lower salt intake and reduce protein to minimize waste products in your blood.

Medications are another important line of treatment, which can:

  • Reduce fluid build-up
  • Relieve swelling
  • Treat anemia
  • Lower cholesterol
  • Prevent osteoporosis and fractures

To read more detailed information about chronic kidney disease, please click here.

To learn more about the signs, symptoms, and treatment of chronic kidney disease, call the kidney doctors at Iowa Kidney Physicians in Des Moines, IA. You can reach them in Methodist Plaza at (515) 336-6557, or in Riverpoint at (515) 243-3161, so call now.