Spotting Patterns: When to Connect the Dots
Sign What It Feels Like Why Kidneys? Quick Check
Fatigue Bone-deep tiredness Toxin/anemia buildup Track energy dips daily
Swelling Puffy extremities/eyes Fluid retention Press skin—does it dent?
Urination Changes Frequent night trips/foamy urine Filter damage Note color/volume shifts
Itchy Skin Relentless dryness Mineral imbalance Moisturize—does it persist?
Nausea Food aversion Gut irritation Log meal reactions
These cluster often—two or more? Time for tests. Ever tallied yours?
Blood vs. Urine Tests: Your Detection Toolkit
Test Type What It Measures Early Sign Threshold Frequency for At-Risk
eGFR Blood Kidney filtration rate Below 60 mL/min Annual if diabetic
Urine ACR Protein leakage Over 30 mg/g With routine checkups
Urine Dipstick Blood/protein presence Positive traces Quick office screen
Simple, covered by insurance for many. Hesitant? One draw could reveal volumes.
