Different types of kidney stones occur in different parts of the
world, and dietary factors probably play a part in determining the
varying patterns. There are four major types of kidney stones. The most
common type of stone contains calcium. A struvite stone may form after
an infection in the urinary system. These stones contain the mineral
magnesium and the waste product ammonia. A uric acid stone may form when
there is too much acid in the urine. If you tend to form uric acid
stones, you may need to cut back on the amount of meat you eat. Cystine
stones are rare. Cystine is one of the building blocks that make up
muscles, nerves, and other parts of the body. Cystine can build up in
the urine to form a stone. The disease that causes cystine stones runs
in families.
Kidney Stones Symptoms
Initially, a person who is suffering from kidney stones will not
experience any serious symptoms of the disease. Kidney stone symptoms
get serious as time passes and can turn disastrous if ignored for a
longest duration. These stones are hard multitude of substances, which
may include the foreign substances, as well as those from the body
itself as dead tissues.
Until the size of these stones is small, they do not create any
problems. However, if they grow in size and start block the passageway
of the substances through the kidneys. Consequently kidney stones give
rise to some problems, which may be either simple or they can be very
severe too.
However, in the initial stages the kidney stones do not show any
symptoms. On the other hand, the symptoms may be very modest or only one
of them may occur. If just one of the kidney stones symptoms appears,
the people do not take it too seriously. Some other reasons are
accounted for it. However, when some of the other symptoms too, start
appearance then the people get mindful of that something is wrong with
them.
Due to the happening of the kidney stones, the patients feel pain in
the abdomen. This is the most common kidney stones symptom. Generally,
this pain begins from a mild one and it goes on increasing as the stone
may grow in size.
The second symptom that the patient of kidney stone faces is the pain
during urination or the menstruation. This happens if the stone blocks
the flow of the urine form the kidney to the urinary tract. This hurting
can be very serious depending on the blockage that the stone proves to
be for the urine. Similar thing happens during the menstruation. If it
becomes very painful then there is a need of medication.
In addition to the hurting during the urination, other problems with
the urine also occur. One of them is the gain in the frequence of the
urine and in addition to that, it becomes difficult to hold the urine.
Most of the times, this occurs along with the hurting during the
urination. Because of this, the problems of the patients increase.
Some people also experience coming out of blood with the urine. This
happens due to the injury that the stone may cause to the nearby
tissues. Sometimes due to the same reasons, some other secretions are
also observed in the urine. This changes the color of the urine.
Therefore, the change in the color of the urine is also a kidney stones
symptom.
In addition to the problems with the urination, the other parts in
the pelvic region i.e. the genital parts also experience pain.
The kidney stone also causes infections and inflammations in the
surrounding region and thence these may lead to the other problems too.
In such cases, the patient feels dull and unenergetic. He may develop
nausea. This Sickness and vomiting without any, other reason is also a
symptom of the kidney stones.
In addition to this, they patients sometimes experience fever and
chills. During this fever the hurting in the bones and other parts of
the body also occur. The bones of the back and abdominal parts are
affected. Especially the back hurting is a severe happening during the
kidney stones. This hurt may be modest in the beginning but in most of
the cases, it becomes very high in the later stages.
Kidney stone facts
- A kidney stone is a hard, crystalline mineral material formed within the kidney or urinary tract.
- Nephrolithiasis is the medical term for kidney stones.
- Symptoms of a kidney stone include flank pain (which can be quite severe) and blood in the urine .
- Kidney stones form when there is a decrease in urine volume and/or an excess of stone-forming substances in the urine.
- Dehydration is a major risk factor for kidney stone formation.
- People with certain medical conditions, such as gout, and those
who take certain medications or supplements are at risk for kidney
stones.
- Dietary and hereditary factors are also related to stone formation.
- Diagnosis of kidney stones is best accomplished using a CT scan.
- Most kidney stones will pass through the ureter to the bladder on their own with time.
- Treatment includes pain control medications and, in some cases, medications to facilitate the passage of urine.
If needed, lithotripsy or surgical techniques may be used for stones
which do not pass through the ureter to the bladder on their own.
What is a kidney stone?
Kidney stones are made of salts and minerals in the urine that stick
together, creating small “pebbles” formed within the kidney or urinary
tract. They can be as small as grains of sand or as large as golf balls.
Kidney stones are a common cause of blood in the urine and often severe
pain in the abdomen, flank, or groin. One in every 20 people develops a
kidney stone at some point in their life.
A kidney stone is a hard, crystalline mineral material formed within
the kidney or urinary tract. Kidney stones are a common cause of blood
in the urine (hematuria) and often severe pain in the abdomen, flank, or
groin. Kidney stones are sometimes called renal calculi.
The condition of having kidney stones is termed nephrolithiasis.
Having stones at any location in the urinary tract is referred to as
urolithiasis, and the term ureterolithiasis is used to refer to stones
located in the ureters.
1. Calcium stones : These stones can be formed by
excess salt in your diet that can arouse excretion of calcium in the
urine and reduce in intake of salt can prevent formation of such stones.
Many people came to know about their kidney stones until stones enters
the ureter and cause severe pain. Nausea, vomiting and back and
abdominal pain are the symptoms of kidney stones.
2. Uric acid stones : These stones can be formed
from uric acid. Uric acid is a waste product of body and is excreted out
of body through urine. In the beginning they come together in the urine
and may get larger over time. High protein diet may also cause uric
acid stones.
3. Struvite stones : These stones can be formed due
to kidney or urinary tract infections. They are also called stag-horn
stones because they are large and look like antlers on a deer.
4. Cysteine stones : These stones are likely to
develop in people who have family history with and inherited condition
that can lead to an excess of the cysteine chemical in the urine. These
stones make up less than one percent of kidney stones.
Learn about additional risk factors you can control.
Weight gain can result in both insulin resistance and increased
calcium in the urine, which can result in a greater risk for kidney
stones. In one study, weight gain since early adulthood, a high body
mass index (BMI), and a large waist size increased a person’s risk for
kidney stones. People who are not very active may also have problems
with kidney stones. Additionally, some medicines, such as acetazolamide
(Diamox) or indinavir (Crixivan), can cause kidney stones to form.
What are risk factors you can control?
If you think that your diet may be a problem, schedule an appointment
with a dietitian and review your food choices. Vitamins C and D can
increase your risk of kidney stones when you take more than the daily
recommendations. Levels of calcium in the diet may also affect your risk
of kidney stones. Getting the recommended amounts of calcium combined
with a low-sodium, low-protein diet may decrease your risk of kidney
stones. Diets high in protein, sodium, and oxalate-rich foods, such as
dark green vegetables, also increase your risk for developing kidney
stones.
How can kidney stones be prevented?
The most common cause of kidney stones is not drinking enough water.
Try to drink enough water to keep your urine clear (about eight to 10
glasses of water a day). Drinking grapefruit juice may increase your
risk for developing kidney stones.
What is the treatment for stones that do not pass on their own?
For kidney stones that do not pass on their own, a procedure called
lithotripsy is often used. In this procedure, shock waves are used to
break up a large stone into smaller pieces that can then pass through
the urinary system. Surgical techniques have also been developed to
remove kidney stones. This may be done through a small incision in the
skin (percutaneous nephrolithotomy) or through an instrument known as a
ureteroscope that is passed through the urethra and bladder up into the
ureter.
What is the treatment for kidney stones?
Most kidney stones eventually pass through the urinary tract on their
own within 48 hours, with ample fluid intake. Pain medications can be
prescribed for symptom relief. There are several factors which influence
the ability to pass a stone. These include the size of the person,
prior stone passage, prostate enlargement, pregnancy, and the size of
the stone. A 4 mm stone has an 80% chance of passage, while a 5 mm stone
has a 20% chance. Stones larger than 9-10 mm rarely pass on their own
and usually require treatment.
How are kidney stones diagnosed?
The diagnosis of kidney stones is suspected by the typical pattern of
symptoms when other possible causes of the abdominal or flank pain are
excluded. Imaging tests are usually done to confirm the diagnosis. A
helical CT scan without contrast material is the most common test to
detect stones or obstruction within the urinary tract. In pregnant women
or those who should avoid radiation exposure, an ultrasound examination
may be done to help establish the diagnosis.
What are symptoms of kidney stones?
Kidney stones often cause no pain while they are in the kidneys, but
they can cause sudden, severe pain as they travel from the kidneys to
the bladder. Symptoms and signs include excruciating, cramping pain in
the lower back and/or side, groin, or abdomen as well as blood in the
urine. If infection is present in the urinary tract along with the
stones, there may be fever and chills. A doctor should be called
immediately.
Who is likely to develop a kidney stone?
For unknown reasons, the number of people in the United States with
kidney stones has been increasing over the past 30 years. The prevalence
of stone-forming disease rose from 3.8% in the late 1970s to 5.2% in
the late 1980s and early 1990s. White Americans are more prone to
develop kidney stones than African Americans, and they occur more
frequently in men. The prevalence of kidney stones rises dramatically as
men enter their 40s, and it continues to rise into their 70s. For
women, the prevalence of kidney stones peaks in their 50s. Once a person
gets more than one stone, others are more likely to develop.
What causes kidney stones?
Kidney stones form when a change occurs in the normal balance of
water, salts, minerals, and other substances found in urine. Other
chemical compounds that can form stones in the urinary tract include
uric acid and the amino acid cystine. Dehydration through reduced fluid
intake and strenuous exercise without adequate fluid replacement
increase the risk of kidney stones. Some people are more likely to get
kidney stones because of a medical condition or family history, as the
tendency to form kidney stones may also be inherited. If other people in
your family have had them, you may have them too.
Prevention of any more Kidney Stones
Kidney Stones can be prevented by drinking more water. Try to drink
12 full glasses of water a day. Drinking lots of water helps to flush
away the substances that form stones in the kidneys. If you have a uric
acid stone, eat less meat, because meat breaks down to make uric acid.
Can kidney stones damage the kidney?
Kidney stones can cause kidney damage. Whether there is damage and,
if so, how much there is depends on the location of the stone in the
urinary system. To avoid or minimize damage, it is important to
eliminate stones that form and to prevent new ones from developing.
therefore, your family doctor may refer you to a urologist, a doctor who
specializes in urinary diseases.
What are the treatment choices?
Although kidney stones, espacially calcium stones, are very hard,
most of the 20% to 30% that do not pass out of the body on their own can
be eliminated without surgery. A process called lithotripsy(from the
Greek word for ” stone cushing”) breaks into tiny fragments most stones
that are less than three-quarters of an inch across.
Lithotripsy has been used in the U.S. since 1984. A urologist
performs the treatment using a machine called a lithotripter. It is the
most common method of treating stones in the US. There are different
types of lithotripters, but all focus shock waves from outside the body
on the kidney stone. Repeated shock waves cause the kidney stone to
disintegrate into tiny particles. These particles pass easily out of the
body in the urine
What are the advantages of Lithotripsy?
Lithotripsy offers many advantages over stone removal through surgery. Some of those advantages include:
1. Reduction in complications
2. Reduction in pain
3. Reduced recuperation time
4. Performed on outpatient basis 95% of the time
5. Able to resume normal activities much sooner
6. Reduced cost
7. No incision
Uteroscopic Stone Removal uses a small tool to remove stones stuck in the ureters.
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy uses surgery to remove large stones from the kidneys.
Please discuss these options with your urologist to determine which is best for you.
