What are the symptoms of kidney failure?

Symptoms of kidney failure may begin so slowly that you don’t notice them right away.

Healthy kidneys prevent the buildup of wastes and extra fluid in your body and balance the salts and minerals in your blood—such as calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium. Your kidneys also make hormones that help control blood pressure, make red blood cells, and keep your bones strong.

Kidney failure means your kidneys no longer work well enough to do these jobs and, as a result, other health problems develop. As your kidney function goes down, you may

have swelling, usually in your legs, feet, or ankles
get headaches
feel itchy
feel tired during the day and have sleep problems at night
feel sick to your stomach, lose your sense of taste, not feel hungry, or lose weight
make little or no urine
have muscle cramps, weakness, or numbness
have pain, stiffness, or fluid in your joints
feel confused, have trouble focusing, or have memory problems
Following your treatment plan can help you avoid or address most of these symptoms. Your treatment plan may include regular dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant, a special eating plan, physical activity, and medicines