Kidney stones are crystallized waste products in urine that can cause severe pain if they block the ureter. The four most common types are calcium, cystine, struvite, and uric acid. Treatment involves increased fluid intake, pain medication, and shockwave or surgical procedures. Simple dietary changes can prevent kidney stones from forming.
Kidney stones, more commonly known as kidney stones, are crystallized formations of waste products in the urine. Stones can go unnoticed, passing easily through the bladder and urethra. Larger kidney stones can cause urine to become blocked by blocking the ureter, the central tube through which urine passes from the kidneys. This blockage causes severe pain, and while most stones pass on their own, medical treatment is often required to effectively break down or eliminate kidney stones.
The four most common types of kidney stones are cystine, struvite, uric acid and calcium. Of these, calcium formations are the most common, accounting for approximately 80% of all kidney stone cases. While the kidneys generally remove calcium from the body, excess calcium can combine with other chemicals to form kidney stones. A lack of the right amount of citrate, sometimes caused by kidney failure, can further lead to the creation of these stones.
Cystine stones are the least common of the kidney stones. A congenital condition, cystinuria, creates high levels of cystine, an amino acid, in the urine. Because cystine does not break down easily in urine, stone formation is common in people with cystinuria.
Unfortunately, cystinuria requires consistent treatment because it’s not curable. Treatment usually involves increasing fluid levels and taking various oral medications such as bicarbonate and penicillin to reduce the number of kidney stones formed. Larger stones may require surgical removal.
Urinary tract or bladder infections can cause struvite kidney stones. Struvite bumps are more common in women because women are more prone to bladder infections. These stones often grow quite large and have a jagged appearance. Treatment may include increasing fluids and antibiotics to address the urinary tract infection.
Uric acid kidney stones, more common in men, are caused by the kidneys processing excessive levels of digestive acid. The kidneys can form stones around these acids. The development of these kidney stones can be an inherited condition.
Kidney stones are usually diagnosed when a patient seeks treatment for severe pain in the kidneys or bladder. Such pain can be felt in the lower back on both sides of the spine. The pain may be accompanied by nausea, difficulty urinating, or blood in the urine. It is important to see a doctor as soon as possible, as with some kidney stones the pain does not improve and the stone may not pass without treatment. Diagnosis is usually made through urinalysis, X-rays, and occasionally ultrasound.
Treatment for most kidney stones involves increased fluid intake, pain medication if needed, and anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen to reduce swelling and help the stone pass. Most kidney stones pass within 3 to 4 days, although it is not uncommon for stones to take several weeks to pass. Doctors may start more aggressive treatment if the stone doesn’t go away, if the pain is constant, or if the presence of stones makes kidney or bladder infections worse.
Shockwave treatment uses electric shocks to strike and break the stone, creating an easier passage. Patients undergoing this outpatient procedure can resume activities within a few days. A larger stone in the kidney may require nephrolithotomy. Through an incision in the back, the stones are removed completely. When a stone is caught in the middle or lower ureter, a catheter called a ureteroscope is passed down the urethra and bladder to break up the stone.
Except in congenital cases, most people can easily prevent kidney stones from forming with some simple dietary changes. Staying well hydrated is essential. The increase in magnesium and citrate, found in most juices, can also limit the formation of kidney stones. High amounts of vitamin C and calcium can increase your risk. However, because calcium is so important in the prevention of osteoporosis, reducing your calcium intake or supplementation should only be done under the supervision of a doctor. Alcohol and richer or higher-calorie foods, such as ice cream, produce uric acid, so it makes sense to limit these foods to the occasional treat.
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