Chinese doctors warn of 5 signs of late-stage kidney disease

Sheet ET Today On March 18, Dr. Tran Manh Tai, a nephrologist at Dai Thien General Hospital (Taiwan), said that chronic kidney disease is increasing rapidly with the aging population. Globally, the incidence ranges from 8-16%, but only about 10% of sufferers recognize their condition.

The doctor said that once the body begins to show 5 symptoms including persistent foamy urine, swelling of the limbs or face, increased blood pressure, anemia and prolonged fatigue, it is a sign that the disease has progressed to the final stage. This is the reason why many people, as soon as they receive the diagnosis, immediately face the risk of hemodialysis.

However, kidney function decline progresses extremely silently, with almost no symptoms in the early stages. Therefore, people need to proactively test blood and urine periodically instead of waiting for the body to speak up to protect this biological “filter”.

Mr. Tai also pointed out 10 groups facing the highest risk of chronic kidney failure. This list includes people with high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, proteinuria and gout. People who smoke, have a family history of kidney disease, are over 65 years old or maintain a long-term habit of taking painkillers are also in the risk group.

When diagnosed with kidney disease, many people develop extreme fear and even abstain from eating meat completely due to their obsession with protein control. Nutrition expert Tran Y San warns that this habit of excessive abstinence directly pushes the body into a state of muscle loss, malnutrition and energy deficiency. On the contrary, consuming large amounts of protein produces a lot of nitrogen waste, increasing excretion pressure on the kidneys. Instead of eliminating it completely, experts advise patients to choose valuable protein sources from fish, eggs, tofu, and lean meat and consume them in sufficient quantities.

In order to ensure that patients eat a full meal without consuming too much protein, nutritionists suggest replacing white rice with low-protein starchy foods. Vermicelli, rice noodles, lotus root powder, radish cake or tapioca starch provide plenty of necessary calories but contain very little protein. This innovation in the menu helps patients avoid kidney overload, while also creating space to add other nutritious dishes.

Although chronic kidney failure is irreversible, doctors confirm that early screening combined with correct nutritional intervention will help patients maintain a stable physical condition and enjoy a long-term quality of life.