Kidney Stones

What are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are hard collections of salt and minerals often made of calcium or uric acid. They form inside the kidney and can move to other parts of the urinary tract.The stones vary in size. Some are as small as the period at the end of this sentence - a fraction of a centimeter. Others can grow up to a few centimeters. Some kidney stones can become so large that they occupy the entire kidney.

A kidney stone is formed when too much of the minerals in the body accumulate in the urine. When you are not well hydrated, your urine becomes more concentrated with higher levels of certain minerals. When the mineral level is higher, a kidney stone is more likely to form.

Types of Kidney Stones

Not all kidney stones are made of the same crystals. Different types of kidney stones include:

Calcium

Calcium stones are the most common. They are often made of calcium oxalate (although they may consist of calcium phosphate or maleate). Eating less oxalate rich foods can reduce the risk of developing this type of stone. Oxalate rich foods include:

• Chips
• Peanuts
• Chocolate
• Beets
• Spinach

However, although some kidney stones are made of calcium, taking enough calcium in the diet can prevent the formation of stones

Uric Acid

This type of kidney stones is more common in men than in women. They can occur in people with gout or those undergoing chemotherapy.

This kind of stone forms when urine is too acidic. A diet rich in purines can increase the level of uric acid. Purine is a colorless substance in animal proteins, such as fish, shellfish and meat.

Struvite

This type of stones is found mainly in women with urinary tract infections (UTI). These stones can be large in size and may cause urinary obstruction. They derive from a kidney infection. Treatment of a basic infection can prevent the development of stony stones.

Cystine

Cystine stones are rare. These occur in both men and women who have cystinuria in their genetic disorder. With this type of stones, cystine - an acid found naturally in the body - comes out of the kidneys in the urine.

Symptoms of Kidney Stones

Symptoms of kidney stones may not appear until the stone begins to move into the ureter. This severe pain is called renal colic. You may experience pain on one side of your back or abdomen. In men, pain can radiate into the groin area. Renal colic pain comes and goes, but it can be intense. People with renal colic tend to be restless.

Other symptoms of kidney stones may include:

• Blood in the urine (red, pink or brown urine)
• Nausea
• Discolored or odorless urine
• Chills
• Temperature
• Frequent urination to urinate
• Urination of small amounts of urine

In the case of a kidney stone, you may not have pain or symptoms as the stone passes through the urinary tract.

Causes of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones often do not have a single unique cause, although several factors can increase the risk. Kidney stones are formed when urine contains more substances that form crystals - such as calcium, oxalate and uric acid - than how much fluid in the urine can dilute. At the same time, urine may not have substances that prevent the crystals from sticking together, creating an ideal environment for kidney stones.

Diagnosis of Kidney Stones

Following tests can help in the diagnosis of kidney stones:

• Blood examination for calcium, phosphorus, uric acid and electrolytes
• Blood urea nitrogen (bun) and creatinine to assess kidney function
• Urine test to check for the presence of crystals, bacteria, blood and white blood cells
• Examining the stones of the past to determine their type
• Abdominal radiographs
• Intravenous pyelogram (IVP)
• Retrograde pyelogram
• Kidney ultrasound (preferred test)
• MRI scan of abdomen and kidneys
• CT Scan of abdomen

Treatment of Kidney Stones

The treatment is tailored to the type of stone. Urine can also be narrow and stones collected for evaluation. Consumption of 6-8 glasses of water a day increases urine flow. People who are dehydrated or have severe nausea and vomiting may need intravenous fluids.

Other treatment options include:

Lithotripsy

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy uses sound waves to break large stones, so that it can more easily transmit ureters into the bladder. The process can be uncomfortable and may require a light anesthesia. It can cause bruising of the abdomen and back and bleeding around the kidneys and nearby organs.

Tunnel Surgery (Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy)

A surgeon removes the stones through a small incision in the back. A person may need this procedure when:

The stone causes obstruction and infection or damages the kidneys

The stone became too large to pass

Pain cannot be controlled

Ureteroscopy

When a stone is blocked in the ureter or bladder, the doctor can use an instrument called a ureteroscope to remove it. A small wire with a connected chamber is inserted into the urethra and passed into the bladder. The doctor then uses a small cage to catch the stone and remove it. For the purpose of analysis, the stone is then sent to the laboratory.

How to Prevent Kidney Stones

Proper hydration is an important preventive measure. Drink enough water to pass about 2.6 liters of urine per day. The increase in the amount of urine you pass helps to free the kidneys.

You can replace ginger, lemon soda and fruit juice with water to increase your fluid intake. If the stones are related to low levels of citrate, citrus juices can help prevent the formation of stones.

Eating foods rich in oxalates in moderation and reducing salt and animal protein intake can also reduce the risk of kidney stones.

Your doctor may prescribe medicines to prevent the formation of calcium stones and uric acid. If you have a kidney stone or have a risk of kidney stone, talk to your doctor and discuss the best ways to prevent it.