Early symptoms of uremia in women

Written by Li Fang Xiao
Internal Medicine
Updated on September 02, 2024
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Uremia is a terminal stage of many kidney diseases. In the early stages of uremia, symptoms such as nausea and vomiting related to the gastrointestinal tract often appear. Other symptoms can include itchy skin and a dull complexion. For women, complications such as menstrual disorders and irregular menstruation may occur. In such cases, it is necessary to go to the hospital to check kidney function and determine the specific levels of creatinine and urea. If creatinine exceeds 700, it generally reaches the level of uremia, requiring renal replacement therapy such as hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. For uremia, it is most important to control the intake of salt and water in the diet, avoid high-salt food, and also avoid drinking too much water to prevent fluid retention in the body, thereby endangering life, as this can lead to heart failure or severe edema.

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What causes uremia?

Uremia is very common in clinical practice. It is mainly caused by abnormal kidney functions, leading to abnormalities in glomerular filtration, as well as in the reabsorption and secretion functions of the renal tubules, which results in a series of symptoms. Once uremia occurs, it can disrupt the internal environment of the body, cause electrolyte abnormalities, and even lead to life-threatening arrhythmias. Uremia is very dangerous in clinical practice and often requires regular hemodialysis treatment. Therefore, once uremia occurs, medical attention must be sought promptly.

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Precursors of uremia

The kidneys have a very strong compensatory ability. When kidney function is slightly impaired, they can generally still handle the basic physiological functions of the human body through compensation, so patients may feel that everything is normal. Despite the fact that the occurrence and development of uremia is a long and gradually worsening process, which can sometimes be very severe, it is still possible to detect early signs of uremia if one actively seeks them out early on. Early indications of uremia can be identified in time by going to the hospital for urine and blood tests. The early signs of uremia often manifest as general fatigue, which is the symptom most easily overlooked. Other symptoms of early uremia include edema, especially noticeable swelling of the eyelids and facial area after waking up in the morning. If it develops into systemic or persistent edema, the condition is already very serious. Additionally, early-stage uremia patients may also experience an increase in the frequency of nocturnal urination and more foam in the urine, as well as increased blood pressure, and even dizziness, headaches, and a lack of appetite. These are all early signs of uremia.

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Is high creatinine uremia?

High creatinine levels do not necessarily indicate uremia. High creatinine often implies that the patient is experiencing renal failure, which can be classified into acute renal failure and chronic renal failure based on factors such as the patient's medical history and course of the disease. Uremia is the final state of chronic renal failure. Thus, even if high creatinine levels suggest the possibility of chronic renal failure, it does not necessarily mean that the patient has reached the final stage. Uremia, also known as end-stage renal disease, generally requires a patient's blood creatinine to exceed 707 µmol/L. Additionally, patients often simultaneously present with clinical manifestations such as renal anemia, disorders of calcium and phosphorus metabolism, and reduction in kidney size.

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How do you get uremia?

Uremia is actually a state of disease, not an independent disease. It refers to the condition where, due to certain reasons, a patient has long-term chronic damage to the kidneys, leading to the destruction of kidney tissue. When about 90% of the kidney tissue is damaged, a large amount of metabolic waste accumulates inside the body because it cannot be excreted. There may also be retention of water and electrolyte and acid-base imbalances. This condition is referred to as uremia. Diseases that can damage kidney tissue to such a severe extent commonly include diabetes, hypertension, chronic nephritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and various forms of cancer in the elderly, including multiple myeloma. Obstructive factors in the urinary system can also cause this outcome, such as urinary system stones, tumor prostate hyperplasia, leading to urinary tract obstruction, and so on.

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How should uremia patients rest?

Adequate rest plays a very important role in the recovery of patients with uremia. If the condition of the uremia patient is in an acute phase, for example, if the patient feels palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath after activities, or even has obvious edema and high blood pressure, the patient should rest in bed and try to avoid getting out of bed. They should eat and take care of personal hygiene while in bed. If they feel chest tightness, they can also use oxygen. Once the condition of the uremia patient has stabilized, especially after undergoing hemodialysis treatment, and the symptoms of uremia have improved, they can rest out of bed and should ensure they get seven to eight hours of sleep daily. Only through sufficient sleep can the patient's mental state significantly improve. During the rest period, patients can also engage in appropriate recreational activities, such as outdoor walks, singing, and other activities.