Leg swelling is clearer at night
Kidneys play a role in removing excess fluid from the body. When this function is reduced, fluid will accumulate in tissues, causing swelling in the ankles, soles, or calves. Edema is often more noticeable in the evening, especially after a long day of standing or sitting a lot. This may be a sign related to kidney or cardiovascular dysfunction.
Wake up to urinate many times at night
Nighttime urination is one of the early and quite common manifestations when kidney function declines. In healthy people, the kidneys will concentrate urine at night to limit waking up. However, when this organ functions poorly, the regulation process is disrupted, causing you to wake up to urinate many times, disrupting sleep and affecting overall health.
In addition, urine with a lot of foam may be related to protein (albumin) excess due to poor kidney filtration. If blood appears in the urine, this may also be a warning sign of kidney stones, infection, or other serious problems.
Shortness of breath, not sleeping deeply
When the kidneys function poorly, the body may lack the hormone erythropoietin - a necessary factor for red blood cell production. This leads to anemia, making you feel tired and short of breath. In addition, the accumulation of fluid in the body due to poor kidney filtration can also affect the lungs, causing chest tightness and shortness of breath, especially when sleeping.
Skin itching, discomfort when sleeping
When the kidneys decline, waste products that are not completely eliminated will accumulate in the blood, causing skin itching, especially noticeable at night. This feeling can cause the patient to restless and have difficulty sleeping.
Sleepless legs syndrome at night
Leg restlessness syndrome (RLS) is common in people with kidney diseases. People with it have feelings of restlessness, discomfort and always want to move their feet, especially when resting. This condition may be related to iron imbalance or the accumulation of toxins in the body. Constantly having to move disrupts sleep, easily leading to fatigue and exhaustion the next day.
