8 Early Signs of Kid.ney Failure You Shouldn’t Ignore
Early detection of kidney failure symptoms can lead to more effective treatment. Below are 8 early signs of kidney failure you should pay attention to.

What is Kidney Failure?

According to an article on the Tâm Anh General Hospital website, with expert input from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vũ Lê Chuyên, Vietnam has over 10 million people suffering from chronic kidney disease. The number of new cases continues to rise, with 8,000 more people diagnosed each year.

About 0.1% of the population progresses to end-stage kidney failure. This condition is not only a heavy burden on physical and mental health but also financially devastating for many families.

Kidney failure means the kidneys are no longer functioning effectively. Normally, the kidneys play a vital role in the body by filtering waste and excess fluids. If untreated, kidney failure can be fatal. The condition can be temporary and develop rapidly (acute) or persist long-term and gradually worsen (chronic).

The kidneys help maintain fluid balance, remove metabolic waste, and perform other important functions like conserving or eliminating substances through urination.

In the early stages, kidney function decline often presents with no specific symptoms and worsens over time. Because the two kidneys can compensate for each other, many cases go undiagnosed until the disease reaches an advanced stage, causing severe complications and potentially death.

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8 Early Signs of Kidney Failure

According to an article on Medlatec General Hospital’s website, with medical consultation from Dr. Dương Ngọc Vân, early detection is critical for effective treatment and recovery. Here are 8 early signs of kidney failure to watch out for:

1. Loud and Persistent Snoring

People with chronic kidney disease often suffer from sleep apnea — a sleep disorder that causes breathing to stop momentarily during sleep. While each episode lasts just a few seconds to a minute, it results in loud and prolonged snoring afterward.

2. Fatigue and Weakness

Almost all chronic kidney disease patients experience anemia due to reduced kidney function, which drops to just 20%–50% of normal capacity. If you constantly feel tired or sluggish despite getting enough rest, it may be a sign of kidney failure.

3. Skin Rash and Itching

When the kidneys fail to filter waste from the blood properly, toxins build up and cause skin issues like rashes and itching. Persistent skin problems may be a warning sign.

4. Lower Back Pain

Pain that starts in the lower back and radiates to the front of the abdomen or pelvis could be an early sign of kidney disease and should not be ignored.

5. Shortness of Breath

Kidney failure impairs waste removal and red blood cell production, leading to fluid buildup and reduced lung function. Anemia also decreases oxygen transport, making it harder to breathe.

6. Bad Breath

When waste accumulates in the bloodstream, it can cause a metallic taste and foul-smelling breath — often mistaken for dental problems.

7. Swelling in the Body

Fluid retention due to the kidneys' inability to remove waste can lead to swelling in the legs, hands, and face.

8. Abnormal Urination

Changes in urination are closely linked to kidney health. Be cautious if you notice increased or decreased urination, unusual color or odor, or blood in your urine.