Kidney stones, or renal calculi, are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. They originate in your kidneys but can be found at any point in your urinary tract, which includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
They often form when the urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallize and stick together. Kidney stones can affect any part of your urinary tract — from your kidneys to your bladder.
Kidney stones vary in size. Some are as small as a grain of sand, others are as large as a pearl — or even larger. While small stones may pass unnoticed through the urinary tract, larger stones can cause significant pain, infection, and blood in the urine.
The symptoms of a kidney stone may not become apparent until the stone begins to move down the ureters. This severe pain is called renal colic. You may have pain on one side of your back or abdomen. In men, pain may radiate to the groin area. The pain is often severe enough to send people to the hospital.
Diet, excessive body weight, certain medical conditions, and certain supplements and medications are among the many causes of kidney stones. Kidney stones can affect people of any age, but they are more common in people between the ages of 30 and 60.
Causes of Kidney stones
Kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. Here are some of the main causes:
1. Dehydration: Insufficient water intake can lead to the formation of kidney stones. This is because low fluid volume in the body can cause the minerals to concentrate and crystallize in the kidneys.
2. Diet: Consuming too much protein, sodium, sugar, or vitamin C can increase the concentration of certain minerals in the body, leading to the formation of kidney stones.
3. Genetic Factors: If kidney stones run in your family, you’re more likely to develop them. Some genetic conditions can lead to an increased risk.
4. Obesity: High body mass index (BMI), large waist size, and weight gain have been linked to an increased risk of kidney stones.
5. Certain Medical Conditions: Conditions like hyperparathyroidism, urinary tract infections, cystic kidney diseases, and certain metabolic disorders can also increase the risk of forming kidney stones.
6. Medications: Some medications, and over-the-counter supplements can also increase the risk of kidney stones.
Remember, it’s always important to consult with a healthcare provider if you’re experiencing symptoms or have concerns about kidney stones.
Risk Factors of Kidney stones
Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys and can affect any part of your urinary tract — from your kidneys to your bladder. Several risk factors can increase your chances of developing kidney stones:
1. Dehydration: Not drinking enough water each day can increase your risk of kidney stones.
2. Dietary Factors: A diet high in protein, sodium (salt), and sugar may increase the risk, particularly in people who are predisposed to kidney stone formation.
3. Obesity: High body mass index (BMI), large waist size, and weight gain have been linked to an increased risk.
4. Family or Personal History: If someone in your family has kidney stones, you’re more likely to develop stones, too. And if you’ve already had one or more kidney stones, you’re at increased risk of developing another.
5. Certain Diseases: Medical conditions that can increase the risk of kidney stones include renal tubular acidosis, cystinuria, hyperparathyroidism, certain types of urinary tract infections, and diseases like Crohn’s, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
6. Certain Medications: Diuretics, calcium-based antacids, antiretroviral medicines, certain antibiotics, certain anti-seizure medications and certain treatments for HIV/AIDS can increase kidney stone risks.
7. Age and Gender: Though kidney stones can happen at any age, they’re more common in adults ages 40 and over, and they are more likely to occur in men than in women.
8. Certain Urinary Tract Surgeries or Treatments: Having urinary tract surgeries or treatments for diseases like cancer can increase the risk of kidney stones.
Remember, while these are risk factors, having one or more does not automatically mean an individual will develop kidney stones. At the same time, someone without these risk factors can still develop kidney stones. Changes in lifestyle, like staying hydrated and maintaining a balanced diet, can help reduce the risk of developing kidney stones.
Signs and Symptoms of Kidney stones
Kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. Signs and symptoms of kidney stones can include:
1. Severe pain in the side and back, below the ribs. The pain can also radiate down to the lower abdomen and groin. The intensity of pain can fluctuate as the stone moves in the urinary tract.
2. Pain on urination: When a stone moves into the ureter, it can cause a sharp, cramping pain in the back and side, often in the area of the kidney or in the lower abdomen.
3. Pink, red or brown colored urine: Blood in the urine (hematuria) can make urine appear pink, red, or brown.
4. Cloudy or foul-smelling urine: Kidney stones can cause the urine to be cloudy or have a strong odor.
5. Frequent urination: People with kidney stones might find they need to urinate more frequently.
6. Difficulty in urinating or a persistent urge to urinate: There may also be a sensation of incomplete bladder emptying.
7. Nausea and vomiting: These are common symptoms due to the shared nerve connections between the kidneys and the gastrointestinal tract.
8. Fever and chills: If there is an infection in the urinary tract along with the stones, you may experience fever and chills.
It’s important to note that these symptoms can also be signs of other diseases or conditions. Therefore, a thorough evaluation by a healthcare professional is critical to identify and effectively treat the problem. If the pain is severe, or if there’s fever or blood in your urine, seek immediate medical attention.
Diagnosis Kidney stones
Kidney stones, medically referred to as renal lithiasis, are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. They originate in your kidneys but can be found at any point in your urinary tract, which includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
Kidney stones are typically formed when your urine becomes concentrated, which allows minerals to crystallize and stick together. They can vary in size, with some being as small as a speck of sand and others growing to the size of a golf ball.
The key factors that determine a diagnosis of kidney stones include:
1. Symptoms: Pain (typically severe, sharp, cramping pain in the lower back or side, often moving to the groin area), blood in urine, frequent urination, nausea, and sometimes fever if an infection is present.
2. Medical history: If you had prior incidences of kidney stones or there’s a family history of the condition, the chances of you getting kidney stones are higher.
3. Urine tests: These can reveal if you have high levels of minerals that form kidney stones.
4. Imaging tests: These may include an ultrasound or CT scan to see if stones are present in the kidney or urinary tract.
5. Analyzing passed stones: If you pass a stone, analyzing it can help determine the type of stone and indicative treatment.
The varying types of kidney stones, including calcium stones (most common), struvite stones, uric acid stones, and cystine stones, can also influence diagnosis.
Treatment could range from changes in diet, taking enough water or fluids, certain medications to pain control and, in more severe cases, could involve various procedures to remove or break down larger stones.
Treatment of Kidney stones
Kidney stones are hard deposits that form in the kidneys. The stones must usually be passed or removed, and the process can be very painful. Treatments for kidney stones focus on pain management, removing the stones, and preventing future stones from forming.
1. Medication Management: The first approach to treating kidney stones is often through medication. If stones are small, they might pass through the urinary system spontaneously. For this process, your physician may prescribe pain medications to help manage the discomfort. Also, medication to relax the muscles in your urinary tract can help you pass the stones more easily.
2. Increase fluid intake: Drinking 2 to 3 liters of water a day will dilute your urine. If your urine is light and clear, you’re drinking enough water. This is often the first step in preventing kidney stones from forming.
3. Medical Procedures: Minimally invasive treatments such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) use sound waves to break up kidney stones into small pieces that can then pass through the urinary system.
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) involves a small incision being made in your back and a telescopic instrument (nephroscope) used to remove or break up the stone.
Ureteroscopy involves a thin telescopic instrument being passed through the urethra and bladder and into the ureter. The stone can be either pulled out or broken into smaller pieces using a laser.
4. Surgery: Surgical management might be required in cases where the stone is too large to pass, or if the stone is causing other complications. A urologist might remove the stone through a procedure known as ureteroscopy, or in rare cases, through open surgery.
5. Dietary Changes: To prevent kidney stones from forming again, you need to understand why you developed a kidney stone in the first place. This can be done by testing the kidney stone’s composition. Once you know this, changes can be made to your diet. Generally, eating a diet that’s low in sodium, protein, especially from animal sources, and sugar can help reduce your chance of forming new stones.
6. Medication Therapy: In the case of recurrent stone formations, medication might be recommended. Different medications can be prescribed based on the composition of the stone.
It’s important to consult with a healthcare provider or urological specialist to discuss the best treatment options for your specific situation.
Medications commonly used for Kidney stones
Kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. They can affect any part of the urinary tract, from the kidneys to the bladder. Pain caused by kidney stones often comes in waves and can be extremely severe. Various types of medications are used to treat this condition, either to relieve the symptoms or help to pass or prevent the stones.
1. Pain relievers: Perhaps the most immediately important medication when dealing with kidney stones is pain relief. Over-the-counter pain relievers (like Tylenol, Advil) are often the first line of defense, but in many cases, stronger opioid-based painkillers may be prescribed.
2. Alpha-blockers: These medications relax the muscles in the urinary tract, allowing for easier passage of the stone. Drugs like Tamsulosin (Flomax) are commonly used for this purpose.
3. Calcium channel blockers: These are sometimes used to help pass the stone. They work by relaxing the ureter, the tube that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder, which can aid in making the passage of the stone less painful.
4. Thiazide diuretics: These medications help prevent certain types of stones. They work by reducing calcium in the urine and decreasing the amount of crystal-forming substances.
5. Allopurinol: For people who suffer from stones formed by excessive levels of uric acid (uric acid stones), Allopurinol may be prescribed. This medication helps to reduce the amount of uric acid in the body, therefore reducing the chance of stone formation.
6. Potassium citrate: This medication makes the urine less acidic, which helps to prevent stones made of cystine and uric acid.
7. Antibiotics: These may be prescribed if an infection is present.
8. Hydration: While not a medication, increasing water intake is often recommended as a method of both passing existing stones and preventing further stone formation.
Remember, medications should always be prescribed by a professional healthcare provider. Always follow the prescribed dosage and never self-medicate. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any concerns about your medication. Different treatments can be more or less effective based on the type of stone or the patient’s individual health circumstances, so make sure your doctor is aware of your full medical history.
Prevention of Kidney stones
Certainly, here are some strategies to help prevent kidney stones:
1. Hydrate: Drink plenty of liquids, especially water, throughout the day. This helps dilute the substances that lead to stones. Try aiming for about 8 glasses or more per day.
2. Limit Sodium: A diet high in salt can increase your chance of calcium kidney stones.
3. Limit Protein: Eating less animal-protein, like red meat, eggs, and seafood, can help reduce the chances of developing kidney stones.
4. Calcium Intake: Despite what may seem logical, low calcium diets have not been shown to be beneficial. Instead, be sure to get an adequate amount of calcium in your diet, ideally from foods, to help prevent kidney stone formation.
5. Limit Oxalate: Oxalate is a natural compound found in foods that binds with calcium in the urine to form kidney stones. Limiting foods rich in this compound, such as rhubarb, beetroot, okra, spinach, Swiss chard, sweet potatoes, nuts, tea, chocolate, and soy products, can help.
6. Avoid Vitamin C Supplements: High doses of Vitamin C can increase the amount of oxalate in your urine, increasing the risk of kidney stone formation.
7. Ideal Body Weight: If you’re overweight, losing weight may decrease the risk of certain types of kidney stones.
Please note this advice isn’t exhaustive, and it’s always worth discussing any dietary changes or concerns with a healthcare professional.
FAQ’s about Kidney stones
1. What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones are hard mineral and salt deposits that form inside your kidneys. They are a common urinary tract disorder and can range in size from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball.
2. What causes kidney stones?
Kidney stones are caused by a lack of water in the body, leading to certain substances in the urine to crystallize. Other factors contributing may include dietary factors, weight, certain medical conditions and some medications.
3. What are the symptoms of kidney stones?
The most common symptoms are severe pain on either side of the lower back, blood in urine (hematuria), nausea, vomiting, urinary urgency, and frequency. Symptoms may vary depending on the stone size and location.
4. How are kidney stones diagnosed?
Kidney stones are often diagnosed through a combination of medical history, physical examination, urine, blood tests, and imaging tests (like a CT scan or ultrasound).
5. What is the treatment for kidney stones?
Treatment depends on the size and location of the kidney stone. Small stones can often pass on their own with fluid intake, while larger stones might require medication, lithotripsy (a procedure that breaks the stone into smaller pieces), or even surgical removal.
6. Can kidney stones be prevented?
Yes, drinking plenty of fluids (preferably water), consuming less sodium and adopting a diet rich in fruits and vegetables while limiting animal protein intake can help decrease your risk of developing kidney stones.
7. Do kidney stones recur?
Unfortunately, yes. If you’ve had a kidney stone once, you are at risk of developing another unless the causative factors are addressed.
Remember, seeking professional medical advice if you think you may have a kidney stone is always the best course of action.
Useful links
Kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. Diet, excess body weight, some medical conditions, and certain supplements and medications are among the many causes of kidney stones. Kidney stones can affect any part of your urinary tract.
Please note that while these links contain useful information, it is always a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional for medical advice.
Complications of Kidney stones
Kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. While often painless when stationary, they can cause severe pain and discomfort when they begin to move or pass into the ureter. Some complications associated with kidney stones are:
1. Severe Pain: This is the most common complication involving kidney stones. The pain is typically on the side or in the back below the ribs and can radiate to the lower abdomen and groin.
2. Hematuria: This refers to blood in the urine, which can occur if a stone causes damage as it passes down the ureter.
3. Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Kidney stones can scrape the ureters and cause minor internal damage or even blockage, which increases the risk of bacterial infection.
4. Obstruction of the Urinary Tract: Larger stones might block the flow of urine, which can cause a severe backup of urine in the kidneys, leading to swelling (hydronephrosis), and possibly kidney damage, if not treated in time.
5. Recurrence: Once a person has a kidney stone, they are at a higher risk of developing more stones in the future.
6. Kidney Damage or Failure: In severe cases, especially where diagnosis and treatment are delayed, kidney stones can cause the kidneys not to function properly or even fail – although this is rare.
In rare cases, kidney stones can also lead to severe infection (sepsis) that can be life-threatening. Prompt diagnosis and treatment help to manage most of the complications effectively. Always consult with a healthcare professional if you think you might have kidney stones.
Home remedies of Kidney stones
Kidney stones can be rather painful, and while expert medical care is always recommended, there are some home remedies that can help manage smaller stones and prevent new ones. Please note these are not a substitute for doctor’s advice.
1. Water: Drink plenty of water. This can help flush out toxins and move the stones through your system.
2. Lemon Juice: The citrate in lemon juice can help break down the calcium deposits that make up kidney stones.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar: It contains acetic acid which can help dissolve kidney stones and also prevent new ones from forming.
4. Pomegranate Juice: Pomegranates are not only delicious but also have several health benefits, including possibly helping to prevent and treat kidney stones.
5. Avoid certain foods: If you’ve already had kidney stones, certain foods can lead to the stones forming again. These include certain vegetables like spinach and rhubarb, and drinks like coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
6. Basil Juice: Basil can help induce stone expulsion from the urinary tract.
7. Celery Juice: Celery juice and seeds can increase urine production, which may help pass kidney stones.
8. Kidney Beans: Kidney beans are high in magnesium, which helps reduce symptoms associated with kidney stones.
9. Exercise: Regular exercise is good for overall health and can help your body pass kidney stones.
Remember to always consult your doctor before trying any home remedies, as they can potentially interfere with other medications or conditions you may have. Kidney stones can be very painful and sometimes only medical procedures can remove or dissolve large ones.
