WHAT IS KIDNEY STONE?

Kidney stones are a painful disorder of the urinary tract, affecting about 10% of Americans. Stones occur 2 times more often in men than in women. The pain of having a stone has been compared to that of childbirth. The stones grow slowly over several months or years and are made of hard deposits of various minerals, including calcium, uric acid, and oxalate.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS?

Asymptomatic stones may be found by an x-ray for an unrelated condition. Or you may have symptoms such as :

Sudden onset of excruciating pain in the buttocks area
Abdominal pain
Nausea and vomiting
Constant movement to relieve the pain
Pain in the genital area as the stone moves
Fever and chills
Increased age
Obesity

WHAT CAUSES IT ?

People develop kidney stones because :

Their small bowel absorbs too much calcium
Their diets are too high in calcium or another mineral
They have intestinal problems
Urinary tract infections
They may have inherited a certain disorder that makes their bodies more likely to form kidney stones
Other factors that increase the risk of kidney stones include:
Not drinking enough fluids (especially in the summer)
Not exercising enough, or a sedentary lifestyle
Hypertension, which makes people nearly 3 times more likely to develop kidney stones
Stress
Poor dietary habits
Metabolic syndrome
Obesity
Family history of kidney stones
Continual exposure to high temperatures, which makes people nearly 8 times more likely to form kidney stones
Other medical conditions, such as gout, chronic diarrhoea, certain cancers, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS?

In about 85% of cases, kidney stones are small enough to pass during urination. Passing usually occurs within 72 hours of the first symptoms. Taking pain relievers and drinking at least 6 to 8 glasses of water a day, plus one at bedtime and another during the night, usually enables the stone to pass more easily. You may need to urinate through a strainer to collect the stone and give it to your doctor for analysis. Surgery may be required for stones that are too large to pass on their own, or that may cause bleeding or tissue damage.

WHAT ARE THE SURGICAL PROCEDURES INVOLVED?

Surgery is recommended for patients with severe pain that does not respond to medications, for those with serious bleeding, and persistent fever, nausea, or significant urinary obstruction. If no medical treatment is provided after surgery, stones recur in 50% of patients within 5 years. Some of the methods of surgery are :

Urethroscopy: A diagnostic procedure for identifying stones in the lower third of the ureter
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL): An outpatient procedure in which shock waves are used to shatter stones under 1 cm so they can pass more easily
Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy: A surgical procedure for removing large or dense kidney stones during which the doctor inserts instruments into the kidney to break up stones

HOW TO PREVENT KIDNEY STONES?

These nutritional tips may help promote overall health and prevent recurrence of kidney stones :

Eat antioxidant-rich foods. Low antioxidant intake is associated with stone formation.
Eat more high fibre foods, including beans, oats, and root vegetables.
Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold-water fish, tofu (soy, if no allergy is present) or beans for protein.
Avoid coffee and other stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco.
Drink 6 to 8 glasses of filtered water daily. Some experts recommend doubling previous fluid intake after a stone diagnosis.
Exercise at least 30 minutes daily, 5 days a week.
Reduce sodium and sugar intake, both of which are linked to increased risk of stone formation.
Complementary and Alternative Therapies
Kidney stones require conventional medical attention. Do not treat kidney stones with alternative therapies. Alternative therapies may help aid in reducing the risk of recurrent episodes and increasing the overall vitality of the urogenital system.

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