Kidney stones.. All you need to know about their types, symptoms and treatment methods

What are kidney stones?

How is it formed?

And what are its symptoms?

What are its treatment options?

What is the relationship between food and kidney stones?

What is the meaning of kidney stones?

Kidney stones are hard, pebble-like pieces that form in one or both kidneys when there are high levels of certain minerals in your urine.

Kidney stones rarely cause permanent damage if treated by a healthcare professional, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in the United States.

Kidney stones vary in size and shape.

It may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pea.

Some kidney stones are rarely the size of golf balls.

Kidney stones may be smooth or rough, and are usually yellow or brown.

Small kidney stones may pass through the urinary tract on their own, causing little or no pain.

Large kidney stones may stop or get stuck along the way. Trapped kidney stones can block urine flow, causing severe pain or bleeding.

If you have symptoms of a kidney stone, including severe pain or bleeding, seek health care immediately.

A doctor, such as a urologist, can treat any pain and prevent further problems, such as a urinary tract infection.

Do kidney stones have another name?

The scientific name for kidney stones is renal calculus or nephrolith.

You may hear health care professionals call this condition "nephrolithiasis," "urolithiasis," or urinary tract stones.

kidney stones in english

Kidney Stones' English name, also known as Nephrolithiasis.

What are the symptoms of having kidney stones?

Symptoms of kidney stones include

• Sharp pain in your back, side, lower abdomen or groin.

• Blood in the urine, also called hematuria.

• Constant need to urinate.

• Pain during urination.

• Inability to urinate or only urinate a small amount.

• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine.

See a health care professional right away if you have any of these symptoms.

These symptoms may mean you have a kidney stone or a more serious condition.

Your pain may last a short or long time, or it may come and go in waves.

Along with the pain, you may have:

• nausea

• vomiting

• Fever

• goosebumps

What causes kidney stones?

Kidney stones are caused by high levels of calcium, oxalate, and phosphorus in the urine.

These minerals are normally found in urine and do not cause problems at low levels.

Certain foods may increase the chances of developing kidney stones in people who are at high risk of developing them.

How do you treat kidney stones?

Health care professionals usually treat kidney stones based on their size, location, and type.

Small kidney stones may pass through the urinary tract without treatment.

If you are able to pass a kidney stone, your health care professional may ask you to collect the kidney stones in a special container.

A health care professional will send the kidney stones to a laboratory to find out what type it is.

Your specialist may advise you to drink plenty of fluids if you are able to help move the kidney stones, and he or she may also prescribe pain relievers.

Large kidney stones, or kidney stones that block the urinary tract or cause severe pain, may need urgent treatment.

If you're vomiting and dehydrated, you may need to go to the hospital and get intravenous fluids.

Kidney stone removal

A urologist can remove kidney stones or break them into small pieces using the following treatments:

Shock wave lithotripsy

The doctor can lithotripsy with a shock wave to blast and break the kidney stones into small pieces.

The smaller portions of the kidney stones then pass through the urinary tract.

Your doctor can give you anesthesia during this outpatient procedure.

Cystoscopy and ureteroscopy

During cystoscopy, the doctor uses the scope to see inside the urethra and bladder to find a stone in the urethra or bladder.

During a ureteroscopy, the doctor uses a ureteroscope, which is longer and thinner than a cystoscope, to view detailed images of the lining of the ureter and kidneys.

The doctor inserts a cystoscope or ureteroscope through the urethra to view the rest of the urinary tract.

Once the stone is found, the doctor can remove it or break it into smaller pieces.

The doctor performs these procedures in a hospital under sedation.

You can usually go home the same day.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy

The doctor uses a thin instrument called a nephroscope to locate and remove the kidney stones.

The doctor inserts the instrument directly into your kidney through a small incision made in your back.

For large kidney stones, the doctor may also use a laser to break the kidney stones into smaller pieces.

You may have to stay in the hospital for several days after this procedure.

After these procedures, the urologist may sometimes leave a thin, flexible tube, called a ureteral stent, in the urinary tract to help urine flow or pass a stone.

Once the kidney stones are removed, your doctor sends the kidney stones or pieces to a laboratory to find out what type it is.

Laser Lithotripsy

Laser lithotripsy is a method of treating kidney stones.

This treatment uses a laser to break up kidney stones into small pieces, according to the myhealth.alberta website.

For several hours after the procedure, you may feel a burning sensation when urinating.

You may feel the urge to urinate even if you don't need to.

This feeling should go away within a day.

Drinking plenty of water can help.

Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic.

This will help prevent infection.

You may have some blood in your urine for 2 or 3 days.

What foods that cause kidney stones?

There are several types of kidney stones, and foods that are not good for one type may be a good idea to eat if you have another type, according to a report in WebMD.

If you have kidney stones, ask your doctor about it.

This will help you know which foods to avoid.

But if you're not sure — or if you just want to be careful about all kinds of kidney stones — a good rule of thumb is to stay away from plenty of salty foods, meat, and other animal proteins.

And don't forget to drink plenty of water.

It helps dilute the urine to make the stones more difficult to form.

Calcium Oxalate Stones

This type of stone forms when the calcium in your urine combines with oxalate, a chemical found naturally in many foods.

If you have or have had calcium oxalate stones, beware of the following foods:

Firstly.

High-oxalate foods: Many plants contain oxalate, so it's hard to avoid it completely.

But some foods contain it more than others. Try to limit:

• spinach

• Almonds and cashews

• miso soup

• Baked potatoes with peel

• beet

• cocoa powder

• okra

• Bran and shredded wheat grains

• fried potato

• Raspberries

• Sweetener Stevia (Stevia sweeteners)

• sweet potato

If you eat or drink calcium-rich foods at the same time, they can help your body deal with oxalate without turning it into kidney stones.

So pair this spinach salad with low-fat cheese.

Or mix nuts or berries with yogurt.

Drinking milk does not cause kidney stones.

Secondly.

the salt

If you eat a lot of sodium, which is a component of salt, it raises the amount of calcium in your urine.

Once you've finished eating, any extra oxalate "sticks" to the calcium in the kidneys.

It can produce gravel.

So reduce canned foods, canned meats, fast foods and spices in your diet.

Third.

animal protein

Limit beef, eggs, cheese, and fish, as they may increase your chances of developing most types of kidney stones.

Fourthly.

Vitamin C

Excessive intake of vitamin C can cause the body to produce oxalate.

So don't take more than 500 milligrams a day.

Calcium Phosphate Stones

They form when calcium in the urine combines with the mineral phosphorous.

If you have or have had a calcium phosphate stone, you don't have to worry about oxalate.

But watch out for:

First, foods rich in animal protein

• Organ meats such as chicken liver or beef liver

• Milk, cheese and other dairy products

• eggs

• sea ​​food

Second, foods that can make urine more alkaline, including:

• Fresh fruit juices (except orange, cranberry, and nectarine)

• vegetable juices

• molasses

• Processed foods

•  Phosphorous is a common additive and preservative.

  So cut back on junk foods, packaged colas, frozen foods, and lunch meats.

  Read the labels for ingredients beginning with "phos".

• Sodium.

Uric Acid Stones

You can get it if your urine is very acidic.

These stones contain uric acid, a substance produced by the body as it breaks down chemicals in food.

Unlike calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate stones, sodium is not a particular problem here.

If you have or have had uric acid stones, beware of the following foods:

1- animal protein

Eating a lot of red meat, poultry, eggs, and shellfish does two things: it makes your body make more uric acid.

It can rob your system of citrate, a substance that helps stave off kidney stones and may prevent existing stones from growing.

To get enough protein, you can skip meat and poultry and eat:

• Beans, dried peas, lentils and peanuts

• Soy milk, soy butter, and tofu

• Nuts such as almonds, walnuts and cashews

2- sugary drinks

Pungent drinks like lemonade, lime juice, and fruit juices are high in citrates that help keep kidney stones at bay.

But avoid foods and drinks flavored with sugar or especially high-fructose corn syrup, which can lead to stones.

3- wine

Alcohol can lead to high levels of uric acid in the blood.

Cystine Stones

This comes from a rare condition that runs in families called cystinuria.

The disorder causes the amino acid cystine to leak into the urine.

Cystine stones tend to be larger than other types.

If you have one, you may have another.

Some things to pay attention to in patients with cystine stones:

• Dehydration: Drink plenty of water to help discourage cysteine ​​from forming stones.

• Too much acid: cystine stones grow more easily in acidic urine.

  This is the opposite of calcium phosphate stones, which favor alkaline urine.

  So for this type of stone, reduce your hunger for meat, and eat more fruits and vegetables that have lower acid levels.

• Sodium: Again, try not to overindulge in french fries, canned soup, and canned meats.

Symptoms of kidney stones in women

They are the same symptoms as classic kidney stones.

Are there foods that break up kidney stones?

No, if kidney stones are formed, they cannot be broken down through food.

You should see your doctor to determine the appropriate treatment.