What Are Kidney Stones?
As the kidneys filter waste from the
blood, they create urine. Sometimes, salts and other minerals in urine stick
together to form small kidney stones. These range from the size of a sugar
crystal to a ping pong ball, but they are rarely noticed unless they cause a
blockage. They may cause intense pain if they break loose and push into the
ureters, the narrow ducts leading to the bladder.
Kidney
Stone Symptoms
When kidney stones move through the
urinary tract, they may cause:
- Severe pain in the back, belly, or groin
- Frequent or painful urination
- Blood in the urine
- Nausea and vomiting
Small stones may pass without
causing symptoms.
Kidney
Stone or Something Else?
If you have sudden, severe pain in
the back or belly, it's best to seek medical care right away. Abdominal pain is
associated with many other conditions, including emergencies like appendicitis
and ectopic pregnancy. Painful urination is also a common symptom of a urinary
tract infection or an STD.
The CT scan here shows a stone blocking the ureter, the duct that empties into the bladder.
Home
Care for Kidney Stones
If a kidney stone seems small
enough, your doctor may recommend you take pain medicine and wait for the stone
to pass out of the body on its own. During this time, your doctor may recommend
that you drink enough water and fluids to keep urine clear -- about eight to 10
glasses a day.
How
Small Is Small Enough?
The smaller the kidney stone, the
more likely it will pass on its own. If it is smaller than 5 mm (1/5 inch),
there is a 90% chance it will pass without further intervention. If the stone
is between 5 mm and 10 mm, the odds are 50%. If a stone is too large to pass on
its own, several treatment options are available.
Treatment:
Medication
There are prescription medications
that can help the body pass a kidney stone. Drugs known as alpha-blockers relax
the walls of the ureter. This widens the passages so a stone can fit through
more easily. Side effects are generally mild and may include headache or
dizziness. Other types of medications can help prevent new stones from forming.
Treatment:
Shock Wave Therapy
The most common medical procedure
for treating kidney stones is known as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy
(ESWL). This therapy uses high-energy shock waves to break a kidney stone into
little pieces. The small pieces can then move through the urinary tract more
easily. Side effects can include bleeding, bruising, or pain after the
procedure.
Treatment:
Ureteroscopy
When a stone has made its way out of
the kidney and is close to the bladder, the most common procedure is
ureteroscopy. A thin tube is passed through the urinary tract to the location
of the stone. A surgeon breaks up the stone and removes the fragments through
the tube. No incisions are made in the body. For very large stones, surgical
procedures may be needed.
Kidney
Stone Analysis
Once a kidney stone has passed or
been removed, your doctor may want to know what it's made of. Nearly 80% of
kidney stones are calcium-based. The remainder are made primarily of uric acid,
struvite, or cystine. A chemical analysis can determine which type of stone you
have. Once you know, you can take steps to prevent new ones from forming in the
future.
What
Causes Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones may form when there's
a change in the normal balance of the water, salts, and minerals found in
urine. Different kinds of changes result in different types of kidney stones. There
are many factors that can trigger changes in the urine, ranging from chronic
medical conditions to what you eat and drink.
Risk
Factors You Can Control
Drinking too little water is the
most common cause of kidney stones. Diet also plays an important role. Eating a
lot of protein, sodium, and high-oxalate foods, such as chocolate or dark green
vegetables, can boost the risk for kidney stones in some people. Other risk
factors include putting on weight and taking certain medications.
Risk
Factors You Can't Control
White men have a greater risk for
kidney stones than other groups, starting in the 40s. Women see their risk rise
in the 50s. And your odds also go up if you have a family history of kidney
stones. Certain medical conditions can boost the risk -- high blood pressure,
gout, urinary tract infections -- but treating or controlling these conditions
generally helps prevent stone formation.
Soldiers
at Risk
Kidney stones have become a problem
for soldiers deployed in desert environments, such as Iraq. Doctors say
dehydration is the culprit. Between the hot climate, protective clothing, and a
tendency to drink too little water, soldiers are prone to dehydration. This
results in urine with high levels of mineral deposits, which can clump together
to form stones.
Preventing
Future Kidney Stones
If you had a calcium stone, your
doctor may suggest cutting back on salt and sodium, which cause the body to
dispense more calcium into the urine. You may also be advised to avoid
high-oxalate foods, including chocolate, instant coffee, tea, beans, berries,
dark leafy greens, oranges, tofu, and sweet potatoes. The best way to ward off
new kidney stones is to drink enough water to keep urine clear.
The
Calcium Debate
While most kidney stones contain
calcium, you may not need to avoid calcium-rich foods. In fact, eating moderate
amounts of dairy products and other calcium-rich foods may lower the risk of
forming new stones. This does not apply to calcium supplements, which have been
linked to kidney stones in some people. Ask your doctor or dietitian what role
calcium should play in your diet.
Source: Web MD
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