Kidney stones, also known as renal calculi, refer to solid masses made of crystals that can cause blood in the urine and severe pain. Usually, they originate in your kidneys, but they can also develop in other parts along the urinary tract, such as ureters, bladder and urethra. Nephrolithiasis is the medical term for the condition of having kidney stones.
It is estimated that 1 in 10 people will have a kidney stone at some time in their lives. The lifetime risk of kidney stones is about 19% in men and 9% in women. In men, the first episode is most likely to occur after age 30, but it can occur earlier.
There exists no definite, single cause for kidney stones. The causes of them may vary according to their types. Based on the crystal type of the stone, kidney stones can be divided into:
Calcium stones are the most common type of kidney stones. About 80% of patients with kidney stones fall into this category. They’re often made of calcium oxalate. Sometimes, they can consist of calcium phosphate or maleate.
The main cause of calcium stones is diet, more specifically, eating too much high-oxalate foods, including potato chips, peanuts, chocolate, beets and spinach.
This type of kidney stone is more common in men than in women. Having gout or receiving chemotherapy may put you at higher risk of developing uric acid stones. A diet rich in purines can increase urine’s acidic level. Purine are more common in foods like fish, shellfish and meats.
These stones are less common and are caused by infections in the upper urinary tract. Women with urinary tract infections (UTIs) are more likely to get them.
Cystine stones are rare and tend to run in families with cystinuria. In this condition, cystine, an acid that occurs naturally in the body, leaks from the kidneys into the urine.
Other risk factors for developing kidney stones include:
Some kidney stones are as small as a grain of sand. Others are as large as a pebble. A few can grow as large as a golf ball. Generally, the larger the stone, the more noticeable are the signs and symptoms. These symptoms include:
If the kidney stone in your body is small, you may not have any pain or symptoms as the stone passes through your urinary tract.
Diagnosing kidney stones needs a complete medical history assessment and a physical exam. Lab tests that can help doctors confirm the diagnosis include:
Furthermore, imaging tests can help show kidney stones and rule out other conditions causing similar symptoms, such as ultrasound of the kidney, which is the preferred test, abdominal X-rays and CT scan, MRI scan of the abdomen and kidneys, as well as intravenous pyelogram (IVP) and retrograde pyelogram.
Treatment options for kidney stones can be different depending on the specific type. Drinking enough water, about 6-8 glasses a day, is an important and effective method to increase urine flow. People who are dehydrated or have severe nausea and vomiting may need intravenous fluids.
Medications that can help relieve the symptoms of kidney stones include:
If medications don’t work and your kidney stones cause severe pain, you may need surgeries. These procedures may include:
To prevent kidney stones, you should change your lifestyles, for example, drinking more water and choosing a diet low in oxalate, salt and animal protein. Medications can also help control the amount of minerals and salts in your urine and may be helpful in people who form certain kinds of stones.
Keyword: kidney stones.
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