|
What Are Kidney StonesKidney stones are formed of calcium oxalate and can form on their own when there is the presence of dissolved minerals in the lining of the kidneys.
These stones have a sharp and crystalline structure, and have the ability to grow to the size of golf balls. Fortunately, in most cases, the kidney stones remain small and passing a kidney stonethrough urine is not always the most difficult thing to do. They often cause extreme pain during exiting and may cause injuries to the lining of the kidneys as well. If they do remain inside the body, they could cause internal injuries, inflammation and severe pain in the ureter. It may even block the ureter and therefore, prevent urine from flowing out of the body. People who have kidney stones are usually at a very high risk of developing kidney infections and chronic diseases of the kidney. Being aware of these kidney stone facts would help one avoid as also treat such conditions. The internal organs inside your body are very essential, especially when it comes to keeping you healthy and free from diseases. Some of the most important organs inside you are: the heart, liver, stomach, intestines and the kidneys. Your kidneys strain waste materials from your blood, and pass these to the urine which the kidneys manufacture. But when these waste materials do not disintegrate completely, these have the tendency to turn into crystals or kidney stones.
What Causes Kidney Stones: The lack of water in the body is one of the major causes of formation of kidney stones.
For any normal person, eight to ten glasses of water is recommended during the day. If you do not drink enough water to dilute uric acid, the urine becomes extremely acidic, and the environment is ideal for formation of stones. There are some medical conditions that may lead to kidney stones. Hyperparathyroidism, urinary tract infection, renal tubular acidosis, Crohn’s disease, Dent’s disease, and medullary sponge kidney are some of the leading medical causes of formation of kidney stones. In some cases, addition of flourides to the water may also cause kidney stones. A kidney stone, which develops in your kidney, is a mineral deposit that hardened due to some factors. These come from particles which are so tiny that a microscope is needed to see them. As the particles keep on accumulating, they are likely to turn into stones. According to medicine, the development of the stones is referred to as renal stone disease.
These stones inside your kidney, which are also called as nephrolithiasis, can be very discomforting when they pass out from your body. No matter the size of the stones, they may still pass out from your kidney. These may get stuck inside the tube wherein your urine goes through. Because of this, the flow of the urine is blocked, leading to the build up of pressure within the kidney and the ureter.
Who is at Risk? Although anyone can develop kidney stones, they are two times more likely to occur in males than females. Also, kidney stones are most likely to occur between the ages of 30 and 50.If you have a history of kidney stones in your family that increases the likelihood that you will develop them as well. Kidney stones in the past can be an indication of a possible recurrence. There are certain medications, especially those prescribed for seizures,which may also cause kidney stones. A high protein and sodium diet or a low calcium diet may also result in the formation of kidney stones. A sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity may also put you at a higher risk of kidney stones. For people who have conditions that do not allow proper absorption of calcium in the body, kidney stones are an apparent risk.
Kidney Stone Facts: In a recent study published in the US, dehydration has been linked to kidney stones. It is believed that with global warming, as temperatures rise across the world, the cases of dehydration and therefore, the cases of kidney stones will also rise. Another recent study has shown that children too can develop kidney stones. Both gall stones and kidney stones incidences in children are very high. Nanobacteria, found in space, can also cause kidney stones.
This means astronauts are at a higher risk of developing kidney stones. These kidney stone facts need to be kept in mind so as to take proper prevention measures.
Kidney Stones Symptoms: Typically, a person may have kidney stones for years without knowing it.Unless the stones move in the body, it is almost impossible to know about their presence. The stuck kidney stone symptoms, therefore, are none. However, on movement, the symptoms of kidney stones include:
- Severe pain in the groin region as well as the sides;
- Urge to urinate repeatedly;
- Passing very low amounts of urine.
The kidney stones have chemical compositions which vary according to your urine's chemical imbalance. These stones have a lot of types, however, the most common are:
- Uric Acid Stone – This is due to the high level of uric acid in a person's urine. When the process of digestion excretes too much uric acid which can't be disintegrated, the stones will develop. An estimated ten percent of kidney stone patients have this type of disease.
- Calcium Stone – An estimated eighty-five percent of kidney stone development consists mainly of calcium compounds. When there is too much amount of calcium in a person's urine, it mixes together with other waste materials and develops into stones.
- Cystine Stone – This kind of kidney stone disease is hard to treat. When a person develops this type, he or she may need therapy all throughout his or her life. This is due to the production of cystine which is present in proteins. Cystine is a kind of amino acid which does not disintegrate well.
- Struvite Stone – This is due to the person's infection to the urinary tract which affects the urine's chemical balance. When an individual has UTI, the bacteria excrete chemicals which set off the urine's acid level.
Because of this, the bacteria will spread rapidly, resulting to the development of the struvite stones.
Diagnosis: There are many different tests that can help in verifying the existence of kidney stones. The doctor may perform a physical examination to check for colic-like pain in the sides. A urinalysis could also help determine the presence of calcium or pus in the urine. The urine test can also determine presence of infection as well as blood. Blood tests may be done to check for infection. A CT scan of the abdomen can also help identify kidney stones in the kidneys. It can also help ascertain the spread of infection, if any, and damage, if any, in the renal system. If there are kidney stones in the kidneys, the exact size and location of it is important to ascertain for performing treatments for kidney stone.
Kidney Stone Treatment: The primary focus of the treatment of kidney stones is on the management of pain and symptoms. Passing a stone into the urine can be very painful. However, this is one of the primary kidney stone treatment methods. The doctors try to ascertain that the stone is passed from the kidneys through urine naturally.
Hard renal stones may not be able to pass naturally through the urine and therefore, may require other treatment. Ureteroscopic stone removalis a process with which stones can be removed from the body without performing a surgery. If a person has had a history of kidney stones, home remedies and management of symptoms is possible.However, a person who consistently experiences pain, but has not been able to pass a kidney stone, should seek help from a doctor.
In a hospital, the doctor hydrates the patient through IV fluids and then administers medications, most of which are anti-inflammatory. Pain medication may be given to make the passage of stone easier. For patients who are suffering from pain and nausea, anti-emetic medications may be given. A shock wave therapy, known as lithotripsy, can also be performed in order to extract stones. This causes the kidney stones to break into smaller pieces so that they can be extracted easily.
Prevention: Kidney stones can be prevented by simply staying hydrated. When the urine is diluted enough with water, the minerals in the urine remain in diluted form and are not able to form kidney stones. When the urine is yellow, there are chances of kidney stone formation. However, people with clear urine have a very low risk of kidney stones. For some people, who are at a high risk of developing kidney stones, doctors may prescribe medications to prevent that from happening.
|
