Kidney Stone – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment Options & More

November 22, 2021by admin-mewar
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Kidney Stone – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Types, Prevention & Diagnosis

Many of us are aware of several illnesses that can happen at any point of life. Sometimes, they can also affect us and we find ourselves in a problematic situation. Here, the talk will be regarding kidney stone that can be an irritating event for people of different ages. The team of Mewar Hospitals will mention some important things related to it. Like how it happens, things a person can face during this period, and measures that can be taken in such cases.

Firstly, let’s begin with the meaning of kidney stone.

About Kidney Stone

As the name indicates, a kidney stone refers to a solid substance that usually begins in the kidneys. It is produced from the chemicals in the urine. Although, it is not only limited to the kidneys and may grow anywhere along the urethra, bladder, and ureters. These things and kidneys come in the urinary tract. The urinary tract has the job role of making, storing, and transporting urine in the body.

Our kidneys have an important role in the well-functioning of the body. They handle the chemical and fluid levels and clear out waste from the blood to make urine. The urine goes to the ureters into the bladder in which it is stored and then comes out from the body through the urethra.  When there is a presence of extra waste in the blood and the body cannot generate adequate urine, there can be a formation of crystals in the kidneys. Such crystals along with other elements develop a kidney stone that will keep on growing except it passes from the body through urine.

Yes, a kidney stone is a painful situation. But, it doesn’t give rise to any permanent damage particularly if diagnosed on time.

Some Vital Points To Know About Kidney Stone
  1. You can identify it with other names like renal calculi, urolithiasis, or nephrolithiasis.
  2. It is regarded as a common painful medical problem.
  3. The stone are combined with millions of small crystals.
  4. The size of a kidney stone can range from a grain of sand to even a golf ball.
  5. It is said that men are more at risk of facing kidney stone than women.
  6. A single or multiple stones can exist in the kidney or ureter simultaneously.
  7. It can initiate with smaller size, but may grow larger as well.
  8. If the stone attains the bladder, it can go away from the body through urine.
  9. Many kidney stones can depart from the body without bringing any kind of damage.

Types of Kidney Stone

The main types of kidney stone are as follows:

 1. Calcium

You can recognize it as the most common type of kidney stone. It is of two types, namely calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate. Out of these two, calcium oxalate proves to be the most common. This kind of kidney stone can occur more in men of 20 to 30 years. This condition can take place due to insufficient intake of calcium and fluid along with some other conditions.

 2. Uric Acid

You can identify it as the second most common kind of kidney stone. It refers to a waste product that can appear from chemical changes in the body. Men have more possibility of suffering from this type of kidney stone as compared to women. Those who suffer from conditions like obesity, gout, diabetes, or taking chemotherapy may suffer from uric acid stone. It generally takes place when the urine seems to be too acidic. The acidic level of urine can increase due to a diet high in purine. Purine refers to a natural chemical compound that is present in fish, meats, or shellfish.

 3. Struvite

Struvite stones aren’t as common as the upper two. They can be caused due to the presence of infections in the upper urinary tract. Such kinds of stones can be larger in size and may develop with a speedy approach. Additionally, they can contribute to urinary obstruction.

 4. Cystine

It proves to be a rare kind of kidney stone. Cystine refers to an amino acid present in some foods. Cystine stone arise when the kidneys get unable to reabsorb cystine from the urine. This problem runs in families and may develop in men and women. Even it can begin to form at an early age.

Causes of Kidney Stone

Anybody can suffer from this condition. But some people are more at risk of suffering from it. Like, as we mentioned that men are more likely to suffer from it than women. Many other risk factors and causes of kidney stone are there to observe. Let’s know about them.

 1. Family History

If someone close to your family (father, mother, or sibling) has already suffered from a kidney stone, you can also be at risk of suffering from it.

 2. Inadequate Levels Of Fluid

Water is an important asset to keep us away from certain problems. Like, if you don’t include sufficient intake of water in life, it can give rise to kidney stone. Therefore, make sure to stay away from dehydration by drinking enough water or other sources of fluid throughout the day.

 3. Diet

A diet rich in sugar, sodium, or protein sometimes can increase the possibility of kidney stone.

 4. Overweight

Being overweight or obese can also contribute to bringing this kind of problem. This condition can lead to change the acid levels in the urine by which the stone can form. That’s why it is important for us to stay in a balanced weight and save ourselves from various troubles.

 5. Intake Of Medicines

Some medicines can become the cause of kidney stone, like calcium-based antacids, antiseizure drugs, vitamin C, or calcium supplements. Kindly take medicines under the guidance of an expert healthcare provider. Otherwise, it can be a reason for you to suffer from a kidney stone. You can visit Mewar Hospitals and talk to our specialist doctors.

 6. Other Conditions

If a person is suffering from a condition due to which there can be a presence of high levels of uric acid, calcium, oxalate, or cystine in the urine, he may suffer from kidney stone. Apart from that, conditions that affect the thyroid or parathyroid glands or distal renal tubular acidosis can also uplift the possibility of kidney stone. And yes, an infection in the urinary tract can also be one of the causes of kidney stone.

Symptoms of Kidney Stone

A wide range of symptoms of kidney stone are there to see. A person doesn’t experience any kind of symptom if the stone moves effortlessly through the urinary tract. Even the person will not realize he had a kidney stone. Symptoms usually occur when the stone proves to be larger.

* Pain

One of the common symptoms of kidney stone is pain. Like, when it initiates to move down the ureters, there can be an experience of severe pain which is known as renal colic. This pain can take place in the side or back, under the ribs. Even it can also occur in the lower abdomen. Sometimes, there can be an occurrence of constant pain or the stomach can continue to ache. Even pain can strike at the time of urination.

Apart from a painful occurrence, some other symptoms of kidney stone are also there. Like,

* A urine that smells bad or occurs in distinct colors like cloudy, brown, red, or pink.

* Occurrence of blood in the urine

* Nausea or vomiting

* Fever or chills (when there is a presence of infection)

* Urine that comes frequently

* Small amount of urination

Diagnosis of Kidney Stone

After reading the upper section, you must have got an idea of what happens when a stone develops. If you think you’re suffering from a stone that hasn’t moved out, consult an expert professional. For that, you can consult the doctors of Mewar Hospitals. Now, regarding the diagnosis, it usually initiates with knowing the medical history of the patient. He may also need to go through a physical examination or some tests.

For example, blood tests or urine tests. Thereafter, some imaging tests can take place like CT scans or X-rays. With the help of X-rays, larger stones can be identified. On the other side, a CT scan can show the smaller ones. A woman who is pregnant may not get a CT scan, especially in the first trimester as the upcoming child stays at risk of suffering from a radiation injury. People who take certain medicines may need to tell the radiologist before appearing for the CT scan as contrast dye is involved in it. And some medication in combination with the contrast dye can lead to damage to the kidney.

Treatment of Kidney Stone

The treatment in these conditions is usually based on the kind of stone and its size. Sometimes, the treatment of kidney stones can only be drinking too much water and taking pain medicines to pass a kidney stone. If a stone is larger in size, it may need advanced treatment, sometimes surgical assistance.

Surgeries can be helpful to break the larger stones into smaller ones, so they could move out easily. For example, ureteroscopy is there for the treatment of kidney stone. It is used when a stone is present in the kidney and the ureters. Here, the doctor takes help from a thin and flexible scope to detect and eliminate the stone.

Apart from that, a procedure called lithotripsy can also be used. It uses shock waves to break down the larger stone into smaller pieces so they could eliminate from the body easily through the urinary system. For those who have a known history of kidney stone; there can be a recommendation of home treatment. If less invasive treatments aren’t proving helpful for the patient, there can be a usage of advanced surgical options like open, laparoscopic, or robotic surgery.

Usually, smaller stone can pass away with urine without any treatment in one or two weeks. If they are supposed to be larger, a duration of two or three weeks may be required to move through the kidneys and into the bladder. And those who don’t pass automatically even after a month, medical assistance becomes necessary. If you’re also having a concern regarding kidney stone, kindly visit Mewar Hospitals for better assistance.

Preventing Kidney Stone

If you want to know about the measures that could save you from this painful condition, have a look at these points.

  1. Start drinking enough fluid even if it is any part of the year. Apart from water, you can try fruit juice or lemon-lime soda for increasing the amount of fluid in the body.
  2. Limit the intake of sodium and things like meat or eggs.
  3. If you don’t feel any change even after a change in the diet, some medicines can help to better the condition.
  4. You may also need to avoid some other foods and soft drinks. For example, salty snacks, frozen meals, some dairy items like cheese, yogurt, or milk, chocolate, nuts, spinach, or colas.
  5. The doctor may also suggest enhancing the amount of calcium in the diet. But here, you need to focus on taking neither too much nor too little. You can talk to our doctors for better help. Consume fruits and vegetables as they are sources of magnesium, fiber, and antioxidants and can help to keep away the formation of stone.

The problem of kidney stone can also appear in children of 4-5 years. That’s why; parents should keep an eye on what they eat. Foods that are high in salt or fructose must be avoided. Additionally, right from the beginning, make a habit of your children to drink enough water throughout the day. As lack of fluids is one of the reasons for appreciating kidney stone.

Remember

If you take help from the doctor for the treatment of kidney stone, he may ask for the stone that came out from the body. This is to detect the cause of the stone. He may also test the blood for uric acid, calcium, and phosphorous. The patient may also be suggested to collect his urine for 24 hours for testing uric acid and calcium. The reason behind examining the contents of the stone is to recognize why the person suffered from it. With the help of evaluation, they can decide the options that prevent the risk of further stones. And yes, try not to initiate or stop any kind of treatment without asking the doctor.

The Concluding Message

The presence of kidney stone can sometimes lead to a risk of developing serious kidney problems. A person who has already suffered from this condition has the likelihood to face it again in some part of life. That’s why try to be attentive. Make sure to discuss your problem if it doesn’t settle automatically. Mewar Hospitals is enriched with some specialists and expert doctors who can provide relevant suggestions and treatment recommendations in such circumstances. So, you can contact us or visit the centers for more help.

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Udaipur, Rajasthan 313001

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