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Kidney trouble should always be taken seriously because a kidney problem, if it's not treated in time, can have a huge impact on your overall health and quality of life. Some kidney conditions are potentially fatal. Your kidneys can become so damaged from a kidney infection or kidney cancer that they no longer work. When such kidney failure occurs, the only alternatives for survival are a transplant or dialysis. Some Common Kidney Problem Symptoms The symptoms of many kidney problems are similar. You may or may not experience pain in the lower back or "flank" area. It may be mild, or it may be severe. Back pain of this kind often indicates kidney stones. You may feel this pain on either side of the back. People with kidney trouble often find they're urinating less frequently than before. You may notice that your urine is darker than usual - perhaps even somewhat reddish. This is usually a sign that blood is present. You may feel pain or discomfort while urinating. This is a classic sign of a bladder infection, but it could also indicate an infection in the kidneys. You may sometimes pass very little urine, even though you felt an urgent need to urinate moments before. Other symptoms include: * fever or chills, * elevated blood pressure, * feeling overly tired, weak or fatigued, * your muscles may feel weak, * a bloated feeling. This could be a sign that your kidneys aren't filtering fluids properly. * swelling in the extremities, * puffiness around the eyes, especially in the morning, * less appetite than usual, and some nausea and vomiting, * abnormal behavior, seizures and convulsions. These sometimes occur in the late stages of a kidney problem. Clinical Diagnosis of Kidney Problems The following types of clinical procedures can assist in diagnosing kidney problem symptoms. * a blood analysis * blood pressure measurements * a thorough physical * a sonogram of your abdomen * urinalysis, Tests that are typically done when a woman is pregnant can also assist in determining if kidney disease is developing. A Final Thought on Kidney Problems Symptoms of kidney trouble are often difficult to diagnose, and frequently don't appear until the problem has become extremely serious. You can actually lose almost all kidney function before the signs of a problem are obvious. George McKenzie is a former TV news anchor, medical reporter and radio talk show host.
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kidney failure, kidneys, kidney infection, kidney problem,
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