6 common symptoms of kidney diseases, rising creatinine level in your body

With kidney diseases on the rise, understand how to listen to the warning signs your body sends, has become crucial. Creatinine is one of the earliest flags of kidney strain. It reflects how well the kidneys are filtering.

When creatinine levels rise, it often means the kidneys are struggling before other symptoms show. Dr Nitin Kumar, Consultant Nephrology, Manipal Hospital Patiala, tells  Moneycontrol, “Creatinine is formed as the muscles go about their usual business, breaking down creatine during movement and metabolism.”

Healthy kidneys filter it out. But once their efficiency dips, even slightly, creatinine lingers in the bloodstream and begins to climb. According to Dr Kumar, this rise is one of the earliest and most reliable clues of kidney health impairment. Detecting it early can prevent long-term complications.

Also read | Chronic kidney disease: Symptoms, prevention, management strategies for better health

Symptoms of kidney diseases

Dr Kumar shares 6 common symptoms of kidney diseases you must pay attention to:

Persistent fatigue

That dragging, all-day tiredness isn’t just modern life catching up with you. When kidneys fail to filter waste properly, toxins build up and oxygen delivery to tissues drops. Lethargy, weakness and exhaustion follow. Chronic kidney disease can bring anaemia too, worsening the slump.

Changes in urination

Going less, going more at night, or noticing dark or foamy urine? These may be early clues. Foamy urine often signals protein leakage due to damaged kidney filters, a typical companion of rising creatinine.

Also read | 3 common kidney conditions in older adults, and how to prevent ailments

Swelling in the body

If your ankles, feet or even your eyes look puffier than usual, fluid may be pooling in your tissues. This happens when the kidneys can’t regulate salt and water effectively. “Fluid retention is strongly linked to high creatinine,” says Dr Kumar.

Loss of appetite and nausea

A surprising number of patients report a metallic taste, queasiness or a sudden disinterest in food. With waste circulating instead of being excreted, digestion is disrupted, a classic sign of reduced filtration.

Muscle cramps and weakness

Kidneys keep minerals like potassium and calcium in balance. When creatinine rises, these electrolytes wobble. As a result cramps, twitching, numbness or general weakness occur. High potassium levels can be especially dangerous.

Breathlessness

Shortness of breath, particularly while resting or lying down, may suggest fluid in the lungs. This is a major warning sign and often appears when creatinine levels are significantly elevated.

High creatinine signals reduced kidney filtration, often due to chronic kidney disease, uncontrolled diabetes or blood pressure, dehydration, urinary obstruction, infections or medication-related kidney injury. Doctors rely on blood tests, urine analysis and ultrasound to confirm the cause.

How to reduce creatinine levels

Management may involve clinical nephrology care, dialysis for advanced cases, or kidney transplantation. Lifestyle changes, low-salt diets, controlled protein and potassium, good hydration and regular monitoring — play a crucial supporting role.

If you notice two or more of these signs, especially with diabetes, hypertension or a family history of kidney disease, don’t delay. “Timely nephrology care can slow disease progression and may even prevent the need for dialysis,” Dr Kumar stresses.

FAQs on Chronic Kidney Diseases

1. What are the early warning signs of chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

Common early signs of CKD include persistent fatigue, changes in urination patterns, swelling in the body, loss of appetite, muscle cramps, and breathlessness.