Why Renal Failure Patients Often Develop Puffiness

Puffiness or swelling is often associated with Renal Failure. It occurs when the body retains excessive fluid. This condition is medically called edema. It is often close related with Renal Failure or some other kidney diseases, puffiness acts as one of early signals of the disease.

Swelling can happen anywhere. However, the most common areas are ankles, feet, legs, face, chest and arms. It is caused by the leakage of fluid from small blood vessels. Aiming at this problem, one’s kidneys would retain water and sodium in the body. And then the small blood vessels release more fluid to the body, causing vicious cycles and makes fluid trap in the tissues. All those are responsible for the puffiness.

The puffiness can be caused by the following reasons:

▪ Nephrotic Syndrome

As one develops Nephrotic Syndrome, he or she would experience edema. This is caused by reduced urine protein. After low protein levels appear, the kidneys will retain more salt to build blood volume. As the result of this, excess fluid will be stored in tissues and causing swelling.

▪ Heart failure

Heart failure is defined as the heart fail to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. It can be caused by many reasons, such as heart diseases, high blood pressure or coronary artery disease etc. when the heart fail to work efficiently, the puffiness would appear.

▪ Hypernatremia

Hypernatremia, as the name denotes, is induced by increased concentration of sodium in the blood. Sodium is vital to the function of muscles and nerves in human body. But too much sodium causes systemic puffiness and reduced urine output.

Swelling is often involved in Renal Failure, and acts as one of the earliest symptoms of kidney disease. Compared with blood in urine, it is much easy to recognize. I sincerely suggest those who experience edema, you’d better talk with your doctor immediately. Of course, puffiness doesn’t always occur as the sign of Renal Failure, but you can never to be too careful. Isn’t it?