ONP Hospitals

Kidney Stone

Every year more than half of the millions of people visit doctors for kidney stones problems. According to research, it is found that one out of 10 people is bound to have these stones at some point in their life cycles. These are thus concluded as the chronic problems an individual might face. 

The generality of kidney stones in the United States has witnessed a growth from the late 1970s with 3.8% to 8.8% till the 2000s. The kidney stone generality also witnesses a growth of 10% during 2013-2014. Apart from this, the risk of occurring kidney stones is quite higher in men with 11% compared to that of women with 9%. 

Several other problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, may affect the risk of having these stones in the kidney of individuals.

Everything You Need To Know About Kidney Stone

What is it?

A kidney stone can be defined as a hard object that is commonly found inside the kidney and is formed due to the chemicals and urines. Note all stones are made up of the same crystals, normally four types of kidney stones are available that include uric acid, calcium oxide, cystine, and struvite. This can be, however, be found in other places along the urinary tract including the following:

  • Uterus
  • Urethra
  • Bladder

Urine has various types of waste particles in the dissolved form and when the amount of waste particles gets high in too few liquid crystals starts to for. These crystals further attract other varieties of elements towards it and get bound with it to form a large solid. This will slowly increase until and unless these are removed from the body. Nevertheless, the chemicals are further passed in the urine with the help of the body master chemist, commonly called kidney. Furthermore, in most people, the amount of urinal liquid is high which further helps to wash these chemicals with the added urine. 

The stones that can move do not provide much pain and sometimes can be washed out with the help of urine. However, the stones that do not move are painful medical issues.

Causes

Anyone can get affected by these problems, but some people are more plausible compared to others. These are quite common in men rather than women and also the non-Hispanic white people are chronic to this compare t the other varieties of authenticities. 

Some of the common causes are further described below:

  • If you once had these stones. 
  • Consuming certain medications including diuretics (water pills), or calcium-based antacids.
  • Conditions that can create swelling r irritation in the bowel part or joint of the body. 
  • If you don’t drink enough water.
  • The hereditary problem can also lead to this. 
  • Overweight or obesity is another cause. 
  • High protein, sugar, or sodium diet intake. 
  • Conditions that cause the urine to carry a high amount of cysteine, calcium, uric acid, or oxalate. 
  • Some cystic kidney diseases including Polycystic kidney disease 
  • Intestinal surgery or gastric bypass surgery.

Symptoms

A kidney stone normally does not cause symptoms until it moves all over the kidney or passes through the kidney to the uterus from the tubes that connect the uterus and the kidney. Sometimes it can block the urine from coming out and then the kidney starts to swell while cramping the urethra. In this some symptoms that can occur includes the following:

  • Pain or burning sensation while urinating
  • Severe and intolerable pain in the back, side, and below the ribs
  • Fluctuating pain in the intestine
  • The lower abdominal and groin pain

Some other varieties of symptoms might include:

  • Sudden fever and cold chills can occur due to infection
  • Red, pink, or brown color urine
  • Vomiting or nausea
  • Foul-smelling or cloudy urine
  • Urinating more than usual with a continuous need to urinate or a small amount of urinating

Treatments

The treatments of kidney stones can occur after deciding the type of stone present in the body. Stones can evaluate by straining the urine. However, drinking 6-8 glasses of water daily can increase the urine flow. People who are persisted with vomiting and nausea or are dehydrated can think of intravenous fluids. 

Some other varieties of treatments include the following that is further described:

Medication

Some narcotic medications can help individuals to get relief; however, the presence of infection can further demand antibiotics. Some of the common medicines include in treating this condition are:

  • naproxen sodium (Aleve) for pain
  • allopurinol (Zyloprim) for uric acid stones
  • acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain
  • ibuprofen (Advil) for pain
  • phosphorus solutions are used to stop the formation of calcium stones
  • thiazide diuretics helps prevent calcium from stone-forming
  • urine less acidic by consuming sodium bicarbonate or sodium citrate 

Ureteroscopy

When the stone is stuck in the urethra or bladder you doctor can think of surgery performed with the help of the ureteroscope, it is further an instrument that helps to remove the stone. 

This device further contains a small wire that contains a camera that is inserted in the urethra and then passes over to the bladder. A small cage is used by the urologist doctor to hold and bring out the stone and remove it, after this it is further sent to the laboratories for further analysis.

Lithotripsy

This is an extracorporeal shock wave that uses sound waves to break up large stones. This is an uncomfortable procedure that might further require anesthesia. Bruising on the abdomen and the back and bleeding around the kidney can further be caused by this.

Tunnel Surgery

The doctor performs a small incision in the back and then the stones are removed with the help of this surgery. A person may demand this process under the following conditions:

  • Unmanageable pain
  • Excessive growth of the stone
  • Obstruction and infection or damage is caused by the stone

Conclusion

The Kidney stone can be dangerous and thus it can create severe problems in the body. Treatment for this is a must, thus if you notice any symptom you should immediately contact the doctor