Some people with advanced kidney disease also experience restless legs, muscle twitching, or discomfort that interferes with sleep.
If cramps are persistent, a doctor may recommend blood tests to assess kidney function and electrolyte levels.
These tests are more informative than trying to determine the cause from the location of the cramps.
What Can You Do?
Maintain appropriate hydration unless your healthcare professional has advised you to restrict fluids.
Avoid taking electrolyte supplements or high-dose mineral products without medical guidance, especially if you have kidney disease.
If you take medications that may affect potassium or other electrolytes, discuss recurring muscle symptoms with your doctor.
Seek urgent medical attention if severe weakness, palpitations, chest discomfort, fainting, or difficulty breathing occurs.
WARNING SIGN #5: UNUSUAL CHANGES IN SKIN COLOR
Another possible change to notice is a difference in the color of the skin on your hands.
In some people with advanced chronic kidney disease, the skin may develop a pale, yellowish, or grayish appearance.
These changes can have several explanations and should not be treated as a reliable kidney disease test.
Why Might Skin Color Change?
One possible reason is anemia.
The kidneys produce a hormone called erythropoietin, which signals the bone marrow to make red blood cells.
When kidney function becomes significantly impaired, erythropoietin production may decrease. This can contribute to anemia, a condition in which the body has too few healthy red blood cells or insufficient hemoglobin.
Anemia can cause the skin to appear paler than usual.
People may also experience fatigue, weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath during activity, and reduced exercise tolerance.
Another possible change is a yellowish or dull skin tone, which may occur in some people with advanced kidney disease.
The reasons can involve several metabolic changes, including the accumulation of certain pigments and alterations in the body's internal chemistry.
However, yellow skin can also be associated with liver disease, jaundice, medication effects, and other medical conditions.
What About Gray or Darker Skin?
Some individuals with advanced kidney disease may develop changes in skin pigmentation.
The skin may appear darker or more grayish in certain areas.
Chronic inflammation, metabolic disturbances, and changes in pigment handling may contribute.
But many other conditions can cause similar changes, including sun exposure, hormonal disorders, skin inflammation, and certain medications.
A sudden or unexplained change in skin color deserves medical assessment rather than self-diagnosis.
When Is a Color Change an Emergency?
If your skin or the whites of your eyes suddenly become yellow, seek prompt medical evaluation because jaundice can indicate a liver, bile duct, or other serious medical problem.
If your fingers suddenly become blue or gray, especially when accompanied by pain, numbness, or breathing difficulties, seek urgent medical care because impaired circulation or oxygen delivery may be involved.
The important lesson is that changes in skin color can have many causes.
They should be interpreted alongside other symptoms and medical findings.
CHAPTER 6: HOW TO CHECK YOUR KIDNEY HEALTH BEFORE SERIOUS SYMPTOMS APPEAR
The five changes discussed in this article may sometimes occur in people with kidney problems, but none of them can confirm a diagnosis.
In fact, many people with early chronic kidney disease have no noticeable symptoms at all.
This is one reason kidney disease can go undetected for years.
The most reliable way to assess kidney health is through appropriate blood and urine tests, particularly for people who have risk factors.
1. Understand Your Creatinine and eGFR Results
One of the most common blood tests used to evaluate kidney function measures creatinine.
Creatinine is a waste product produced by normal muscle activity. Healthy kidneys remove it from the bloodstream and excrete it in urine.
When kidney function declines, blood creatinine levels may rise.
Doctors use creatinine together with other information, including age and sex, to estimate the glomerular filtration rate, commonly known as eGFR.
The eGFR provides an estimate of how effectively the kidneys filter blood.
An eGFR below 60 milliliters per minute per 1.73 square meters that persists for at least three months may indicate chronic kidney disease.
However, one abnormal result does not automatically establish a diagnosis.
The result must be interpreted in context, and additional testing may be needed.
2. Check Your Urine for Albumin
Another important test looks for albumin in the urine.
Albumin is a protein that normally remains in the bloodstream. Healthy kidneys generally prevent large amounts from passing into the urine.
When the kidney's filtering structures become damaged, albumin may leak into the urine.
The urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, or UACR, is commonly used to assess this.