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fatigue, swelling, puffy eyes: do you know the signs of kidney disease?

because chronic kidney disease starts slowly with few symptoms, like puffy eyes, it may not be diagnosed before much of the damage has been done.

by dave yasvinski

published mar 21, 2023

last updated may 17, 2024

5 minute read

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5 minute read

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what are puffy eyes?

if you’re waking up with consistently swollen, puffy eyes of your eyelid or puffy under eyes, it can be a sign. puffy eyes are linked to allergies, genetics, high salt in your diet, or aging with the loss of firmness in skin and muscles. but they can also be a warning flag for serious health conditions like heart disease and kidney disease. while often overlooked because of so many other causes, puffy under eyes and kidneys are directly linked.

the cause of eye puffiness and kidney problems is related to your kidneys not removing excess water and waste from your body. they can build up in your tissues and lead to swelling of feet, ankles, hands and puffy eyes.

there are natural remedies for reducing puffy eyes, notes johns hopkins medicine. try a cold compress or frozen bag of vegetables over closed eyes for a few minutes to lessen inflammation and swelling by reducing blood flow. caffeine constricts blood vessels, so try eye creams with caffeine or chilled black tea bags. another option is patting on over-the-counter hemorrhoid creams that narrow blood vessels to reduce swelling (but be careful not to get the medication in your eyes).

signs and symptoms of kidney issues

get your eye puffiness checked out.

kidney disease refers to a group of conditions or disorders that reduce the ability to properly filter and eliminate waste. if the kidneys become damaged and are unable to remove toxins and excess salt from the blood, waste can accumulate and make a person sick. according to the kidney foundation of canada, the key national volunteer organization in the country, kidney problems can occur suddenly or over longer periods of time.

the sudden loss of kidney function, usually from dehydration or blood loss, is referred to as acute kidney injury, while the gradual loss of function, from things such as high blood pressure or diabetes, is known as chronic kidney disease. because chronic kidney disease starts slowly and exhibits few symptoms, it may not be diagnosed before much of the damage has been done. a person can lose more than 50 per cent of kidney function before symptoms appear.

if the disease is not treated, it can progress to end-stage kidney disease, a life-threatening condition caused by the complete inability to filter blood. most patients do not reach this stage and there are still treatment options available for those who do. there is no cure for chronic kidney disease but there are treatments to ease symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.

common symptoms like puffy eyes vary depending on the cause and progression of the disease, according to very well health. when the damage occurs suddenly, as in acute kidney injury, symptoms appear quickly and can include nausea, fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, swelling in the lower extremities, chest pain, confusion, seizures and a decrease in urination. with chronic kidney disease, loss of function progresses over a period of months or years and symptoms, when they appear, can include: persistent fatigue or weakness, loss of appetite, itchy skin, ammonia-smelling breath, swelling in the feet or ankles, frequent urination, blood in your urine, puffy eyes, trouble sleeping or concentrating, and muscle cramps.

the connection between puffy under eyes and kidneys shouldn’t be overlooked. the swelling, or edema, occurs when your body has too much fluid, suggesting your kidneys are not working properly. the main job of your kidneys is filtering to remove waste and extra fluid from your body, including from your blood, as the u.s. national kidney foundation notes: “your kidneys filter about 200 quarts of blood each day to make about 1 to 2 quarts of urine. the urine contains wastes and extra fluid. this prevents buildup of wastes and fluid to keep your body healthy.”

blood tests are done to look for the presence of waste products and determine how well the kidneys are filtering blood. getty images

prevention and management of kidney disease

healthy lifestyle habits are critical to prevention and stalling the progression of kidney disease. while there is no cure for chronic kidney disease, there are steps that can be taken to preserve kidney function for as long as possible. according to the cleveland clinic, these include:

keeping blood sugar under control, if you are diabetic
avoiding painkillers and other medications that may worsen the disease
keeping blood pressure under control
consulting a dietitian, who may recommend limiting salt, potassium and protein intake, and incorporating “superfoods,” like acai berries, blueberries, cherries, root vegetables, nuts and seeds, whole grains, tofu and fish
quitting smoking
exercising regularly
maintaining a healthy weight

a doctor may prescribe medications to control blood pressure, lower cholesterol and help regulate other functions that affect the course of the disease. if chronic kidney disease progresses to end-stage kidney disease — or complete kidney failure — the only two options that remain are dialysis (using a machine to filter blood) or a transplant (completely replacing the organ).

when to seek medical help

it’s important to understand the urgency of kidney-related symptoms, whether it’s foamy or bloody urine, persistent itching, fatigue or swelling in the legs, ankles or puffy eyes. kidney problems could be the cause. consulting a health-care professional for puffy eyes and other symptoms is important.

health-care professionals will take a patient’s medical history and conduct a physical exam when diagnosing kidney disease. because symptoms do not often emerge until after the damage is done, they also rely on a few key tests:

blood tests – to look for the presence of waste products and determine how well the kidneys are filtering blood
urine tests – to make sure there is no blood in the urine or other signs of chronic disease
imaging tests – ultrasounds, mris or ct scans may be used to detect any issues with the size or structure of the kidneys

early detection can help kidney disease from getting worse and may prevent other associated health problems like heart disease.

one in 10 canadians are living with kidney disease, according to the kidney foundation of canada. getty images

support and resources for kidney health

around 1 in ten canadians, or four million people, have kidney disease. the leading cause of the condition (at 38 per cent) is diabetes and 46 per cent of new patients are under the age of 65. more than 50,000 canadians are currently being treated for kidney failure and 75 per cent of the estimated 4,300 people on organ transplant lists are waiting for a kidney.

learning about kidney disease and finding support groups to connect with and share information will help you and your family feel empowered and more confident about care and accessing services.

the kidney foundation of canada is a great place to start to learn more about the disease, including information on the latest news and research. the website also contains a peer support page that was designed to provide emotional support and other resources to people in need. you can connect with trained volunteers, many of whom are patients themselves, who will share their experiences.

donating to kidney research and advocacy organizations also helps patients and their families have a better quality of life. the mission of the kidney foundation of canada is to eliminate the burden of kidney disease through the best use of donated funds – for research, education and support, improved access to care, and increasing public awareness to advance kidney health and organ donation. it all counts. it starts with people tuning into their own health and not ignoring signs like consistent puffy eyes. kidney disease can be treated.

dave yasvinski

fatigue, swelling, puffy eyes: do you know the signs of kidney disease?