Your health: Kidney disease- No Warning Signs

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Kidney disease has become Australia’s new ‘silent killer’ killing 41 people every day. The death toll has doubled over the past 20 years and now exceeds breast cancer. Alarmingly, one third of Australians are at risk of kidney disease and around two million are already in the early stages without even knowing it. Much of this comes from the increase of lifestyle diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes, which are both major risk factors for kidney disease.

This fact sheet was written by Dr Harvey Lander, Director of Medical Services at HKHS. It is part of our Health Hotline series.

The kidneys are a vital player in keeping us healthy. Think of them as an extremely sophisticated, environmentally friendly, waste disposal system sorting non-recyclable waste from recyclable waste 24 hours a day, seven days a week whilst also cleaning our blood. Each day, our kidneys process around 190 litres of blood, with around one-to-two litres of waste leaving the body as urine. As kidney function decreases, this waste builds up in the blood.

Kidneys gradually lose their ability to function and there are often few symptoms. In many cases you can lose up to 90% of kidney function before feeling sick. In fact, over 25% of all patients going to dialysis and transplantation did not see a kidney specialist until less than 90 days before their treatment began.

Some signs may include:

• Change in frequency and quantity of urine passed, especially at night
• Blood in the urine
• Foaming urine
• Puffiness around the eyes and ankles
• Pain in the back, under the lower ribs where the kidneys are located
• Pain or burning when passing urine

When kidneys begin to fail, there is a build up of waste products and extra fluid in the blood as well as other problems, gradually leading to:

• Tiredness, inability to concentrate
• Generally feeling unwell
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Shortness of breath

Australia has one of the best success rates of kidney donor transplant survival in the world, but as always prevention is best and early detection and treatment can be lifesaving. Kidney disease is a common, under-recognised, progressive, preventable and highly treatable condition. If you have any of the following, you are at risk of kidney disease and should ask your GP for a simple kidney performance test:

• High blood pressure
• A family history of kidney disease
• Diabetes
• Over 50
• A smoker
• Obese
• Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander

For further information talk to your general practitioner, call the Kidney Info Line on 1800 682 531 or visit www.kidney.org.au.

Printable version

Related links:

• Printable version
• Hornsby GP Unit
• Nutrition & Dietetics
• Physiotherapy
• Fact sheets