9 Warning Signs Your Body Gives Before Your Kidneys DIE + 5 Urgent Tips to Save Them NOW

Added: 2026-05-20

[00:00:00]Nine signs your kidneys are crying for help. In this video, I'm going to tell you the signs and symptoms your body shows when your kidneys are failing.

[00:00:11]Weak kidneys.

[00:00:14]In medical terms, we call this kidney failure, which is a condition. When the kidneys become weak and can't filter the blood properly, this will make your body show a series of signs and symptoms that I'm going to talk about. Besides talking about the main signs, I'm also going to give you five tips to avoid this on how to save and protect your kidneys.

[00:00:40]If you follow these five tips, your chances of keeping your kidneys healthy are much higher because the main diseases happen if you don't follow these tips.

[00:00:53]So pay close attention. Did you notice that I mentioned the function of filtering the blood? So the kidneys also have other functions like producing hormones in this case ariththropoetin which stimulates the production of red blood cells. This is key for one of the symptoms I'm going to explain.

[00:01:12]The kidneys are also extremely important for our bones, for vitamin D, magnesium, phosphorus, and for bone health. So besides filtering toxins, medications, and helping our health, the kidneys have several other functions.

[00:01:30]They also regulate blood pressure.

[00:01:33]So let's start with the nine signs and symptoms. After that, I'll share some tips. And the first sign of weak kidneys is swelling.

[00:01:43]And I'm going to highlight swelling in the lower limbs and the legs.

[00:01:48]But it can also happen in other places like the face, in the lungs, fluid buildup in the lungs, the well-known water in the lungs can happen because of the kidneys. That's called pulmonary edema.

[00:02:02]And why does this swelling happen?

[00:02:04]One of the functions as you saw is filtering our blood.

[00:02:09]Also regulating the amount of fluid in our body, what's called veimmia.

[00:02:16]If the body can't properly eliminate these fluids, this can cause a symptom which is swelling in the lower limbs mainly in the legs. Why am I highlighting the legs here? Because it's easier. You can see it unlike in other places like the lungs. So that's swelling in the legs.

[00:02:35]It's worth mentioning that besides the kidneys, swelling in the legs can also be caused by issues with the heart, liver, or thyroid.

[00:02:45]But whenever it comes to swelling in the legs, the kidneys should always be evaluated.

[00:02:51]A little later, I'll tell you how to do this evaluation, how doctors go about it. So it's important for you to stick around until the end.

[00:03:00]The second sign of weak kidneys is an increased feeling of cold.

[00:03:06]A change in this pattern.

[00:03:09]Huh? Why this increased feeling of cold?

[00:03:12]It's a pretty curious sign. But studies have shown ma it may be related to a sign of anemia.

[00:03:20]And you saw that one of the functions I explained earlier in the video, this is why it's important to understand the functions because then the pieces of the puzzle start to fit together is exactly the production of ariththropoan.

[00:03:31]If the kidneys aren't working properly, you can develop anemia which has a specific characteristic in blood tests for kidney disease which is anemia with normal red blood cell volume and also normal coloration.

[00:03:49]It's a medical sign. I'm sharing this knowledge with you here. Unlike other causes of anemia like iron deficiency which makes red blood cells small, we call these tiny cells microcytosis and also vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency. That'll make the red blood cells large called macrocytosis.

[00:04:12]Here when it comes to anemia caused by kidney disease, it has this characteristic.

[00:04:18]that I mentioned. Okay, so I'll put it here. Increased feeling of cold, a change in your usual pattern, especially compared to how you used to be. So, you also need to evaluate this kidney issue.

[00:04:31]The third sign that your kidneys might be failing is itching.

[00:04:36]It's a pretty curious sign. You always ask, "Why did you put that image on the cover?"

[00:04:42]You saw that I was pointing to a a skin lesion. That can happen because the person ends up scratching themselves.

[00:04:50]They scratch a lot. So you might see these scratch marks on the skin. People ask about this a lot. So here's your answer. You see how the pieces of the puzzle are coming together, right? And why does this itching happen with the disease in the kidneys? Because when the kidneys are failing, ura can build up.

[00:05:11]And too much ura in our blood can cause itching.

[00:05:17]There's another sign you might be expecting, which I'm not going to number here, and that's pain.

[00:05:24]People usually associate this, right?

[00:05:26]Uh, I'm in pain. My kidneys must be failing. There must be something wrong with them. But no, I'm not going to include pain here. Why? Pain can mean an infection in the kidneys. That's called pyonritis, for example. It could mean kidney stones which can cause a lot of pain. Okay? And these situations can lead to weakened kidneys, but it's not exactly a sign of weak kidneys themselves, but rather of situations that can lead to kidney failure or weak kidneys. All right? So, it's important to point that out, too.

[00:06:01]Pain itself isn't one of the typical signs, but rather a result of situations that lead to weakened kidneys. Let's keep going with our list. Number four is shortness of breath. Feeling unwell, fatigue, tiredness. In other words, waking up tired. And there are two reasons for that here. It's shortness of breath which can also be caused by fluid building up in the lungs. But mainly these signs are related to a decrease in the levels of red blood cells or iththraittes leading to a drop in hemoglobin. What does that mean?

[00:06:37]The kidneys stimulate the production of red blood cells through ariththropoetin.

[00:06:42]If there's a problem in this process, it can lead to anemia. So, signs and symptoms of anemia, changes in the nails, for example, and hair loss. But I want to highlight fatigue, tiredness, and the decrease in the levels of red blood cells in the blood. Sign number five is another pretty interesting one, which is weight loss.

[00:07:07]Why is that? When these toxins start to build up in our blood, the kidney can no longer filter them properly and we can accumulate toxins that cause nausea and vomiting. That could be another sign as well. But I'm going to highlight weight loss here because it's more objective.

[00:07:26]And this weight loss happens because you have a reduced appetite. So you end up consuming fewer calories. Studies have shown that many people lose weight mainly because of the nature of the disease. And sign number six is high blood pressure that's hard to control.

[00:07:44]It's that kind of blood pressure.

[00:07:47]Doctors can't figure out the cause. They don't know what's going on. So, they need to check kidney function.

[00:07:54]And also that high blood pressure that used to be under control but suddenly started to go up. You have to keep adding more and more medications and this could have a kidney related cause.

[00:08:05]The kidneys might be causing this this increase in blood pressure because one of their functions is to regulate and also to control the volume of our blood, the amount of fluids present in our body. And if this mechanism fails, if the kidneys are failing and can't do this, one of the signs is high blood pressure that's hard to control. It could be caused by the kidneys, okay?

[00:08:32]Or because there's a narrowing in some blood vessel which leads to increased blood pressure and harms the kidneys or because they can't function properly and do their job. So many times young patients with very high blood pressure or that older gentleman who used medication his whole life but was well controlled he only took low sartan for example just one type one class of medication and all of a sudden things got out of control no but I didn't do anything different I don't know why it happened I didn't start anything new I didn't start any habits that could explain it there was no change in weight nothing happened and yet things got out of control. Whoa, that's a big warning sign. Okay, so high blood pressure always needs to be evaluated.

[00:09:24]I always check kidney function when diagnosing high blood pressure. And for patients who have high blood pressure, you have to check kidney function periodically. Okay? And if it keeps being difficult to control, even with several medications, then it's not even up for debate. It's mandatory. A detailed evaluation of the kidneys is mandatory to check for kidney failure.

[00:09:46]Sign number seven. This one you guys ask about a lot. It's also that metallic taste like there's metal in your mouth.

[00:09:55]If you're one of the people who mention this, there are lots and lots of people.

[00:09:59]So changes in the kidneys can cause this. Weak kidneys because there's a buildup of toxins in our body can't filter the blood properly. And you might have this sign which is the metallic taste in your mouth.

[00:10:15]Sign number eight is waking up to pee at night.

[00:10:20]Why is this a sign of kidney disease of weak kidneys?

[00:10:24]Because as the hours go by throughout the day, you might tend to retain fluids, especially in your lower limbs and when you lie down.

[00:10:35]This makes it easier for those fluids to return so the kidney can eliminate them since it couldn't do it before. During the day, you built up that fluid.

[00:10:44]And one of the signs can be waking up to pee even if you didn't drink any fluids before going to bed.

[00:10:55]This could also be a sign of other diseases like diabetes, which I've already talked about here on the channel. But a problem with the kidneys, weak kidneys, can lead to you peeing more often during the night.

[00:11:09]Got it? So, you always need to check your kidneys. Besides diabetes, you also need to check kidney function. And sign number nine is a change in your urine.

[00:11:21]And now you might be thinking, "Oh, if my kidneys are weak, I'm going to pee just a little."

[00:11:27]You might think it's a change in the amount of urine. But the sign I want to highlight here is foam in your urine because this can be a sign that your kidneys are being damaged. When your kidneys are being damaged, they start releasing proteins into your urine. It could be a sign that you have kidney problems. So foam in your urine that also needs to be checked out. Okay. And now changes in urine volume aren't always present.

[00:11:58]Many times the kidneys will still produce a normal amount of urine and the color too.

[00:12:05]Color is more related to the density, how much water you drink per day than to being a sign of disease, for example.

[00:12:14]So foamy urine is the ninth sign that your kidneys might be failing.

[00:12:20]And now, what are the tips? Five tips to protect your kidneys.

[00:12:26]But first, if you haven't liked the video yet, I'm setting a goal of 10,000 likes to help you protect your kidneys in the best way. And I also want to invite you to subscribe to the channel if you haven't already. Here I talk a lot about diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, hormones in general. My medical specialty here is endocrinology.

[00:12:50]If you're interested, subscribe. And if you're already subscribed, turn on the notification bell so you'll always get a notification whenever I post. So, let's get into five tips. What are these tips?

[00:13:02]Tip number one is about hydration.

[00:13:06]Four to six glasses of water per day.

[00:13:09]Spread out throughout the day.

[00:13:11]Wait, but why am I talking in glasses?

[00:13:15]Because last time I mentioned a specific amount and you all asked me to convert that into glasses. So, a medium glass, four to six glasses per day. But why is hydration so important?

[00:13:29]For several reasons.

[00:13:31]One of those reasons, do you remember when I talked about kidney stones?

[00:13:36]Hydration is also a way for you to help reduce those kidney stones and because your body is able to function better.

[00:13:46]On top of that, many people have other conditions that increase the risk of dehydration, like diabetes.

[00:13:53]High blood sugar levels can also lead to this issue. Here's a really simple tip.

[00:13:58]It doesn't cost anything and it can help. It's hydration for your health.

[00:14:03]How many glasses of water do you drink a day? Write it here in the comments. If you like this tip about the glasses, or if you prefer to go by quantity, let us know here, too. and tell us which city you're from. Why am I asking about your city? Because I like to know. There are people who watch from Alaska. There are people who watch from islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It's really interesting to me. I love finding that out. I'll give a shout out to you and your specific city. All right. The second way to protect your kidneys is by keeping your blood sugar levels in check. Did you know that the main cause of kidney disease is diabetes?

[00:14:44]When I say the main cause, there are actually two main ones. The other one, I'll talk about it later. So, depending on the country, these diseases, they might switch places, but they're always in first or second place. You'll see that diabetes is one of the biggest causes of weak kidneys, of kidney disease.

[00:15:06]Why is that? Because when your body is dealing with high blood sugar levels, the kidneys get damaged. It's one of the organs most affected by increased glucose, so it's a major cause. So, keeping your blood sugar in check is a great way to protect yourself. Later, I'll give you more tips on how to do that, but for now, let's keep going with our video here. And third, the third essential strategy to protect your kidneys is to effectively manage and regulate your high blood pressure levels by actively avoiding the consumption of excessive sodium and salt intake in your daily diet. What counts as too much salt or sodium?

[00:15:47]According to the World Health Organization, that's 5 gram of salt per day or 2 gram of sodium per day. Studies have shown that in the United States, Germany, and even in some South American countries, people consume more than double the recommended amount. Doing this every day can put extra strain on your kidneys. I'm not talking about a one-time intake here, okay? Because there are people who say even in videos, "Oh, sodium isn't harmful." Of course not. Sodium doesn't harm your kidneys.

[00:16:20]After all, we need salt and sodium to live, right? What causes harm is too much salt and sodium, especially when that excess is part of your daily routine. If you're consistently taking in more than double what you need, then yes, that's a problem. And studies have shown that a lot of people do this. It's a large part of the population. That's also why we have higher blood pressure levels. But keeping your blood pressure in check is a way to protect yourself.

[00:16:50]Do you remember when I mentioned diabetes alternating with another disease? Well, that other disease is systemic arterial hypertension or simply high blood pressure, which is a major cause of weak kidneys.

[00:17:05]The fourth way to take care of your kidneys is through routine checkups.

[00:17:11]What are the essential tests for evaluating your kidneys?

[00:17:15]Creatin. What is creatinine?

[00:17:18]Creatinine can estimate what percentage your kidneys are working, how well they're functioning.

[00:17:25]In general, the upper limit for this test is around 1.2 to 1.4 for men, but this can vary. Remember that not every time creatinine is elevated, it doesn't always mean there's a disease, for example.

[00:17:39]Why?

[00:17:41]People who work out, who have a lot of muscle mass, their creatinin can go up. Okay. So, it's always important to look at other tests as well, but creatinin is one of the main routine tests. They're essential and can be the starting point for a more accurate diagnosis.

[00:18:01]Another test I want to highlight here is the urinalysis.

[00:18:05]This test can be called a qualitative urine test or urine type one or simple urine test. Depending on where you are, this test might have a different name.

[00:18:14]But just so you understand, it's that test you take. You pee in that little cup at the lab, right? And through that, we can analyze how your urine is doing.

[00:18:27]And there are important markers there like glucose, for example. If your kidneys are letting glucose pass into your urine, that's really important.

[00:18:35]Even proteins, there's a marker there for protein. And this marker here, it will show up even before you get that sign I mentioned, which is foamy urine.

[00:18:46]So smaller amounts of protein that can indicate kidney disease. Before foam even appears in your urine, we can detect through this simple urine test.

[00:18:56]I'm going to highlight these two tests here, the first line screening tests, which are the standard for detecting early kidney disease.

[00:19:05]Hm. Another test. A lot of people ask about that 24-hour urine test where you take the container home and pee in it.

[00:19:14]Then you take it back to the lab so they can analyze it. This test here is very important, but it's not a routine test.

[00:19:22]Not everyone needs to do this test. when the doctor suspects something else. For example, if we suspect there are proteins in the urine and the doctor wants to quantify it to see how much protein you're losing in a day, that can be important for evaluation. In that case, this test is ordered just like other tests such as imaging of the kidneys, like a kidney ultrasound, for example, or urinary tract imaging. But that's not routine either. I'm going to highlight those first two that I mentioned. And the fifth way to protect your kidneys is to be careful with too many medications.

[00:19:59]One of the causes of weak kidneys is actually taking too many medications.

[00:20:05]And when I say this, I'm talking about medication taken without supervision, without medical guidance, without a prescription. This is extremely common.

[00:20:13]So be careful with self-medicated.

[00:20:16]I'm going to give special emphasis here to being careful with self-medicating using anti-inflammatories like Nomeside, Dicloanac, Moxyam, ibuprofen, ketrofen.

[00:20:30]These medications can reduce your kidney's filtration rate, even causing damage to their function and leading to kidney failure.

[00:20:39]And you might be thinking, "Oh, but that must be for people who take them for many years."

[00:20:45]Here's the catch. Scientific studies have shown that this damage to kidney function can happen with just five or more days of use. So, you really need to be careful with anti-inflammatories.

[00:20:57]Remember, I'm talking about taking them without a prescription, without supervision, without having a doctor evaluate you.

[00:21:04]It's not just about taking medication and thinking you're doing something good for your health when in reality you could actually be causing kidney disease.