Having spent half his life enjoying salted fish and dried seafood, 52-year-old Sang from Ho Chi Minh City never imagined his high-sodium diet would lead to the risk of kidney failure, forcing him to change his lifestyle.

Among cooking methods like stir-frying, making soup, boiling, steaming, or braising, which one is most harmful to health, especially to the kidneys? (Hoa, 35, Hanoi)

Mr. Minh's, 65, family dinners are always rich with the flavors of tradition, featuring dishes like pickled vegetables and braised fish.

Kidney damage can cause foamy urine, swelling in the legs or face, frequent nighttime urination, dark-colored urine, chronic fatigue, and a metallic or ammonia taste in the mouth.

Kidney failure stages one and two cause mild fatigue and frequent nighttime urination. From stage three, symptoms may include anemia, loss of appetite, and nausea. In the final stage, symptoms progress to full-body swelling and coma.

Mr. An, 55, living with HIV for 15 years, developed end-stage renal disease after taking herbal remedies of unknown origin. He received medical treatment instead of dialysis.

A 37-year-old man, who had previously suffered from kidney stones but did not seek complete treatment, was hospitalized with a ruptured kidney after experiencing back pain.

Facial swelling, pale skin, itching and redness, dark circles under the eyes, and swollen neck veins can be warning signs of kidney disease, requiring immediate medical attention.