Are Puffy Eyes A Sign Of Kidney Problems

Feeling Faint Dizzy Or Weak

Why this happens:

Anemia related to kidney failure means that your brain is not getting enough oxygen. This can lead to feeling faint, dizzy, or weak.

What patients said:

I was always tired and dizzy.

It got to the point, like, I used to be at work, and all of the sudden I’d start getting dizzy. So I was thinking maybe it was my blood pressure or else diabetes was going bad. That’s what was on my mind.

When To See Your Doctor

Make an appointment if you notice any of the symptoms listed above. There could be other possible causes, but youâll need to see your doctor to find out what the problem is and what treatment you need.

If youâre at risk — you have high blood pressure or diabetes, or if kidney disease runs in your family, for instance — ask your doctor how often youâll need to get tested. Itâs very important to do this so your kidneys can work as well as possible.

What Causes Kidney Disease

Kidney diseases happen when your kidneys are damaged and cant filter your blood. The damage can happen quickly when its caused by injury or toxins or, more commonly, over months or years.

High blood pressure and diabetes are the two most common causes of chronic kidney disease. Other causes and conditions that affect kidney function and can cause chronic kidney disease include:

• Glomerulonephritis. This type of kidney disease involves damage to the glomeruli, which are the filtering units inside your kidneys.
• Polycystic kidney disease. This is a genetic disorder that causes many fluid-filled cysts to grow in your kidneys, reducing the ability of your kidneys to function.
• Hypertensive nephrosclerosis. Kidney damage caused by chronic, poorly controlled hypertension.
• Membranous nephropathy. This is a disorder where your bodys immune system attacks the waste-filtering membranes in your kidney.
• Obstructions of the urinary tract from kidney stones, an enlarged prostate or cancer.
• Vesicourethral reflux. This is a condition in which urine flows backward refluxes back up the ureters to the kidneys
• Nephrotic syndrome. This is a collection of symptoms that indicate kidney damage.

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Kidney Disease Can Cause Serious Long

According to Lawson, some kidney diseases are treatable, but an early diagnosis is the only thing that will reduce complications. “A kidney disease at its initial stage is treatable, if any kidney disease reaches its advanced stage, it can become a life-threatening situation for you,” she warns.

The Mayo Clinic says that chronic kidney disease “can affect almost every part of your body,” resulting in serious long-term consequences. This includes heart disease, pregnancy complications, decreased immune response, and anemia. You may also develop irreversible damage to your kidneys once the disease advances far enough without treatment, requiring you to undergo either dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive.

“If your kidneys are not working properly, all the waste materials will start accumulating in your blood while making you greatly sick. The long-term consequences associated with this are high blood pressure, weaker bones, shortness of breath, low blood count, nerve damage, and heart problems,” Lawson says. “If you have observed early signs of kidney disease, you should get its treatment without any delay.”

Dark Circles In Kidney Disease

Kidney Damage: In some cases, dark circles are an early sign of kidney damage. In this condition, the kidney does not filter the body fluid properly. When the fluid does not get filtered, toxic and harmful impurities stay in the body fluids. The presence of the toxic and harmful impurities leads to reduced energy level. The person feels tired, and also have poor concentration. The facial characteristics appear to have dark circles.

Difficulty Sleeping: Kidney disease increases oxidative stress as well as toxic substances. Increases in toxic metabolite in the blood lead to poor brain function. Poor concentration and poor brain function lead to insomnia. Patients do not take a proper sleep the dark circles are occurring under the eye eyelids4. Kidney damage also leads to frequent urination. Frequency in increased more at night leading to poor sleep.

Need To More Urinate: In some condition, the need to more urinate because of damages of kidney filter. In kidney diseases, the volume of urine increases. Although in most cases the frequent urination is caused due to bladder diseases. Increased urination may lead to dehydration. The skin gets dried and dull leading to dark circles.

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You Have Swollen Hands Eyes Ankles Or Feet

The edema of your hands or feet may be caused by kidney disease in some cases, per WebMD. When edema associated with kidney disease, your body may retain extra salt and fluid in your legs and around your eyes due to poor blood circulation.

But swelling isn’t always a cause for major kidney-related concern. Edema has a lot of potential causes and it also commonly experienced by people who are pregnant or on certain medications.

What Is Kidney Disease

Having kidney disease means that there is damage to your kidneys and they arent working as well as they should. Kidney disease is called chronic because kidney function slowly gets worse over time. Kidney disease leads to kidney failure, which is also called end-stage kidney disease. At this point, youll need dialysis or a kidney transplant.

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Causes Of Chronic Kidney Disease

Kidney disease is most often caused by other conditions that put a strain on the kidneys.

High blood pressure and diabetes are the most common causes of kidney disease. The evidence indicates that high blood pressure causes just over a quarter of all cases of kidney failure. Diabetes has been established as the cause of around a quarter of all cases.

Dark Circles In Liver Disease

Liver Failure: The dark circle may be caused due to liver damage. When the liver gets damaged, it is not able to convert and store the food in the form of energy. Further, liver damage may also result in poor digestion and malabsorption of various vitamins and minerals. Deficiency of vitamins such as vitamin A, E, K and B complex vitamins results in dark circles. When the body does not get the required energy due to liver failure, the fatigue and weakness appear on the face of patients which may lead to the appearance of dark circle2.

Hepatitis: Hepatitis is the inflammation of liver cells. As the liver cells get inflamed, they are not able to produce essential enzymes and bile. Hepatitis also results in fatigue because the essential enzymes for energy production do not effectively perform their physical function. Weakness and tiredness in the body cause the dark circle under the eyes3.

Excess Sweating: In liver disease, the efficacy of the body for maintaining temperature homeostasis reduces leading to increased sweating due to high heat production. Because of excess heat, the internal body temperature is increased and the volume of sweating is increased. Excess sweating leads to dehydration and the moisture component of skin gets reduced. This may develop dark circles.

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Food Tastes Like Metal

Why this happens:

A build-up of wastes in the blood can make food taste different and cause bad breath. You may also notice that you stop liking to eat meat, or that you are losing weight because you just don’t feel like eating.

What patients said:

Foul taste in your mouth. Almost like you’re drinking iron.

I don’t have the appetite I had before I started dialysis, I must have lost about 10 pounds.

Kidney Disease Symptoms 10 Warning Signs Your Body Is Sending You

Kidneys, the vital organs located just below the rib cage on either side of the spine, do a lot to keep the body in check. Think of your kidney as a filter. It helps eliminate waste and toxins from blood that our bodies cant process otherwise its the removal of this waste that produces urine. They regulate blood pressure, create red blood cells , and assist in keeping bones strong and healthy.

Read more: Heres why kidney dysfunction is more common in women than men

But whats alarming is that an estimated 17.2% of Indias population has chronic kidney disease , with the disease progressing to Stage 3 and beyond in nearly 6% of people, according to data from SEEK , a US-India initiative to track CKD in India.

The good news: With your doctors help, you can detect the disease earlier and even prevent it altogether. Many symptoms of kidney disease are ignored because they dont seem serious. Keep an eye out for these:

Your ankles and feet are swollen

Youre more tired, have less energy or are having trouble concentrating

A severe decrease in kidney function can lead to a buildup of toxins and impurities in the blood. This can cause people to feel tired, weak and can make it hard to concentrate.

You see blood in your urine

Healthy kidneys typically keep the blood cells in the body when filtering wastes from the blood to create urine, but when the kidneys filters have been damaged, these blood cells can start to leak out into the urine.

You have dry and itchy skin

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Final Thoughts On Hidden Signs Of Kidney Damage

A large part of your life will change once you have kidney disease. Once it fails, you will require dialysis for life or may have to undergo a risky kidney transplant. So, its very important to make sure that this organ is healthy and always performing its optimal function.

If you are over 40 years of age, in addition to annual kidney tests, you can take good care of your kidneys by doing the following:

• Eating right and maintaining a healthy weight
• Minimizing your sugar and salt intake
• Staying physically fit and active
• Making sure that your blood sugar level is under control
• Monitoring your blood pressure
• Drinking lots of fluids
• Avoiding cigarettes and alcohol

Whenever possible, you should not make it a habit to take common medications like anti-inflammatory drugs and non-steroidal drugs because these have been proven to cause kidney damage. If youre suffering from chronic conditions, such as arthritis, it is best to see a specialist who can suggest and recommend the right medicines rather than go for over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen.

If you have a history of other high risks diseases, such as hypertension, heart disease, or diabetes, getting the annual kidney test is also a must. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three adults with diabetes also have kidney problems, while one in five adults with high blood pressure may develop kidney diseases in due time.

When To See An Eye Doctor

Puffy eyes are not an emergency, but they can be mistaken for swollen eyelids, which may have a serious underlying medical cause.

Therefore, its a good idea to schedule an exam with your eye doctor to determine whether you have puffy eyes or swollen eyelids and the most effective treatment for it.

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS? See our Swollen Eyelid FAQs

Schedule an exam

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Preventing Chronic Kidney Disease

The main way to reduce the chances of CKD developing is to ensure any existing conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are carefully managed.

Some lifestyle changes can also reduce the risk of CKD developing, these include:

• having a healthy diet
• avoiding drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
• exercising regularly

• British Kidney Patient Association

Do You Have Kidney Disease You May Be Showing Symptoms

Feeling fatigue, unable to concentrate, or in general having less energy

Kidney disease is a result of the kidneys losing their ability to function as filters for the body. This can result in toxins and impurities building up in the bloodstream, resulting in these symptoms. Kidney disease is often diagnosed in conjunction with anemia, which is a potential cause for such symptoms as well.

Trouble sleeping or difficulty staying asleep

The function of the kidneys is to act as a filter for the body. When the kidneys lose function, the toxins remain in the blood when they ought to be excreting out of the blood in the urine. This build up of toxins can make it difficult for those with the disease to fall asleep. Obesity and kidney disease are linked, so if you are a part of this population, you ought to consider being tested as soon as possible.

Dry/Itchy Skin

Kidney failure can lead to changes in the bodys ability to produce sweat and oil, causing the skin to become dry. In addition to this, the accumulation of waste and excess phosphorus in the blood due to improper filtering can cause skin to feel itchy.

Needing to urinate more often

Polyuria, a condition where one is frequently needing to use the bathroom, is a result of the built up sugar and fluids traveling through the kidneys. Since the kidneys cannot filter as they should, you have to urinate more as a result.

Blood in urine

Urine is “foamy”

Puffy eyes

Swollen feet/ankles

Poor appetite

Cramping muscles

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Swollen Or Puffy Face

Why this happens:

Failing kidneys don’t remove extra fluid, which builds up in your body causing swelling in the face.

What patients said:

My sister, her hair started to fall out, she was losing weight, but her face was really puffy, you know, and everything like that, before she found out what was going on with her.

My checks were always puffy and tight. Sometimes they would even hurt.

How To Get Rid Of Puffy Eyes

To find the best solution for puffy eyes and dark circles, it’s important to identify the underlying cause.

Many temporary remedies may help reduce the appearance of puffy eyes, such as:

• Using eye drops to relieve any irritation

• Drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration

• Applying iced compresses if your eyelids look puffy

• Applying cucumber slices or chilled tea bags over closed eyes

• Using creams and other skin products specially formulated for use around the eyes

• Reducing salt in your diet

• Eating potassium-rich foods, such as bananas, to eliminate excess fluids in your body

• Splashing cold water over your face and eyes

• Getting plenty of sleep

If you have the same puffy appearance around your eyes as your mother or father, it’s probably an inherited trait. In this case, you might want to consider cosmetic eyelid surgery to get rid of the puffiness.

Puffy eyes due to aging also can be eliminated with cosmetic eyelid surgery .

You might want to discuss with your eye doctor or cosmetic surgeon some of the other procedures available to lessen the appearance of puffy eyes and dark circles under the eyes. These include chemical peels and laser skin resurfacing.

One of the most common home remedies for puffy eyes, as mentioned above, is use of hemorrhoid creams and ointments on the skin around your eyes. A common active ingredient in these preparations is phenylephrine, which is a medication that constricts blood vessels.

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How Is Kidney Disease Diagnosed

First your healthcare provider will take your medical history, conduct a physical exam, ask about any medication you are currently taking, ask about any symptoms you have noticed, and inquire if any of your family members have kidney disease.

Your healthcare provider will order blood tests, a urine test and will also check your blood pressure.

The blood tests will check:

• Your glomerulofiltration rate . This describes how efficiently your kidneys are filtering blood how many milliliters per minute your kidneys are filtering. Your GFR is used to determine the stage of your kidney disease.
• Your serum creatinine level, which tells how well your kidneys are removing this waste product. Creatinine is a waste product from muscle metabolism and is normally excreted in your urine. A high creatinine level in your blood means that your kidneys are not functioning well enough to get rid it in your urine.

A urine protein test will look for the presence of protein and blood in your urine. Well-functioning kidneys should not have blood or proteins in your urine. If you do, this means your kidneys are damaged.

Your Skin Is Dry And Itchy

Healthy kidneys work to retain the right amounts of nutrients your body needs. The kidneys remove toxins and wastes that can impact cell structure, tissues, bones, and organs. If your kidneys are damaged, they cant properly maintain the balance of nutrients and eliminate toxins. If you notice your skin getting dry and itchy, this could indicate kidney damage.

• A malfunctioning kidney can result in chronic dehydration, where the body eliminates, rather than ingests or absorbs, more fluids.
• If you are losing bodily fluids, youll easily develop skin dryness.
• A kidney condition may also prevent your glands from effectively producing natural oils that keep the skin moistened, soft, and supple.
• Dry skin due to a damaged kidney may not only be itchy. It may also be flaky, red, and cause discomfort.
• As the kidney condition worsens, waste in the blood continues to build up. This, in turn, makes the itchiness, redness, and skin irritation more intense and unbearable.

Avoid bathing in hot water if you have dry skin because it could worsen the problem, according to experts at the Baylor College of Medicine. During the cold winter months, bathe in lukewarm water to minimize skin dryness.

Apply a skin moisturizer as soon as youve finished taking a bath. Also, dont use skin care products that contain alcohol and strong ingredients. Use hypoallergenic or organic soap that wont complicate the skin conditions that are linked to dehydration.

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