Severe pain nausea and blood and
urine are some of the symptoms of kidney stones. when it blocks the
urinary tube kidney stones are common one out of 10 people develop a kidney
stone sometime in their life. many times the stones are sitting silently
without causing any trouble but when they move grow bigger in size cause
symptoms or develop again and again they need to be treated appropriately
How are kidney stones formed?
Our kidneys are an amazing gift they
are constantly busy cleaning the blood and getting rid of waste material in
the urine.
We have about five liters of blood
that is cleaned by the kidneys almost 400 times every day. the urine made by
the kidneys passes through ureters into the urine bladder when the bladder
fills up we feel the urge to pee and empty it.
Our urine contains many types of chemicals
and waste products. if the amount of certain chemicals increases in the urine or
the urine becomes too concentrated due to less water these chemicals may start
to stick together and over weeks or months, they can form a kidney stone.
Kidney stones can develop due to
many different reasons. some medical conditions like gout, hormone imbalance,
or inflammatory bowel disease can cause kidney stones. certain medicines can
increase the amount of stone-forming chemicals in the urine. certain bacteria
and infections in the urine can also trigger the stone formation and at times the
cause of kidney stones is not clear.
The risk of developing kidney stones
increases with overeating salt or too much protein like meat or protein
supplements the risk is also higher if water intake is less
When the body is dehydrated the
urine is concentrated and there is more chance of forming a stone.
Kidney stones are made of different chemicals
the most common type is calcium oxalate stones other types are made of uric
acid, struvite, or other materials. based on the type of stone the treatment and
diet restriction may differ.
what are the symptoms of kidney
stones?
Many times stones stay in the kidney
silently without causing any problem other times they can move and block the ureter.
this can be very painful, pain is often felt in the flank or side and it may
feel that pain is moving downward or coming in waves.
The pain may be accompanied by
nausea or vomiting you may also notice blood in the urine making it pink or red
in color.
Most stones that are smaller than
half a centimeter will likely pass out by themselves you may notice a small
stone or gravel in the urine.
If the stone is bigger and blocks
the ureter then over time the back pressure may damage the kidney or cause
infection.
When Should Some One See a Doctor?
You should seek medical attention if
you develop severe pain uncontrollable nausea or vomiting, blood in the
urine, fever, or difficulty passing urine you should also seek medical
advice if you have silent kidney stones because in some cases over time it may
damage your kidneys.
How are kidney stones treated?
Treatment depends on the location of
the stone its size and what problems it is causing. your doctor will do an
ultrasound or a CT scan to find the location of the stone and blockage of the
tubes.
Some blood and urine tests will also
be needed to look for kidney damage and infection. most small stones will pass without
any procedures drink 2-3 liters of water every day to help dilute the urine. take
pain medicines as advised by your doctor to ease the pain doctors may also give
medicines that help relax the ureter and make it easier to pass the stone or
medicines that help dissolve the stone it may take three to five days to pass a
stone.
For large stones, there are different
ways to break and remove them your doctor will advise the best possible way
based on your condition and the location and size of the stone.
Remove kidney stones with shock wave lithotripsy.
one treatment is to use shock wave lithotripsy
which breaks the stones through shock waves and vibrations the broken pieces of the
stone will pass out in the urine.
By using a Scope
Which is a small telescope passed
from the urethra and bladder into the ureters or kidneys special tools are used
to break the stones and remove them a temporary stent or a tube is placed in the
ureter to allow the small particles to pass out easily.
For larger stones in the kidney, a
small tube is inserted in the kidney through a small incision in the side. a
telescope is then passed through the tube and the stone is broken and removed a temporary
stent may also be needed after this procedure for people with recurrent kidney
stones.
- Some changes in diet can help
prevent further stone formation the most important thing is to drink a lot of water
throughout the day. try to drink at least three to four liters every day to
keep your urine dilute. on hot days you may need to drink even more. - The second most important thing is
to cut down on the amount of salt in your diet. - Avoid salty foods like salted chips
and snacks pickles salted nuts, canned food, and food with added salt. - Eat meat in moderate amounts and avoid having
meat every day
Avoid This Types Of Food
The most common type of stone is
made of calcium oxalate you should cut down on foods that.
- Contain oxalates
- Okra spinach
- Turnips
- Beans
- Beets
- Nuts
- Tea
- Sweet potatoes
- Chocolate
- Black pepper
- Soy products
It's okay to eat them occasionally
or in small amounts. Remember eating foods that are rich
in calcium does not cause problems with stones. But you should ask your doctor
before taking calcium supplement pills. If you develop stones repeatedly
then you will need to consult your doctor to find the underlying cause.
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