Kidney stones are caused due to chemical reactions which occur when urine is concentrated and certain substances join together. These create an object which is too large to pass through the urine. Substances like Calcium oxalate, calcium and ammonium phosphate, uric acid, cystine, calcium carbonate, magnesium, lysine, arginine and ornithine crystallize to form a hard mineral deposit known as a kidney stone. Severe alcohol abuse is considered as a major cause for kidney stones.
An important fact about kidney stones is that it can form without showing any symptoms. However, the major symptoms of kidney stones are severe pains that start suddenly and may last for minutes or hours. This may followed by long periods of relief. The pain generally starts at the lower abdomen and then moves to the groin. Apart from this, nausea, vomiting, burning, the urge to pass urine and frequent urination are symptoms of kidney stones. Symptoms also include cloudy or foul-smelling urine, fever, chills, blood in the urine, bloating and pus in the urine.
Kidney stones can be treated without surgery in most of the cases.
In most cases, the kidney stones pass through the urinary system after the patient drinks plenty of water. Other than consuming water, the doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to fight infection. You can also take pain relievers to relieve the pain, an antispasmodic to relax the ureter muscles or diuretics to prevent urine from staying in the kidney. It takes three to six weeks for the stones to pass through the urine.
Surgical treatment in case of kidney stones is recommended in some cases. These include those cases in which the stones are too large to pass or have grown larger, have not passed after a reasonable period of time or are causing constant pain. Surgery may also be recommended if the kidney stones are blocking the urine flow, causing ongoing urinary tract infections or damaging the kidney tissues.
The surgeries for kidney stones are of various types. These include Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL), Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PNL), Ureteroscopic Stone Removal and Open (incisional) Surgery.
Kidney stones can be prevented if a proper lifestyle is followed. Some of the life style changes which will help you in preventing kidney stones include drinking 8 to 13 glasses of water, limited intake of calcium and oxalate-based foods. These foods include apples, black pepper, chocolate, coffee, cheese, grapes, ice cream, vitamin C, yogurt, tomatoes and oranges. Apart from this limited intake of animal protein, salt intake, vitamin C and D is suggested to prevent the formation of kidney stones. You should also consult the doctor before taking vitamin supplements. Limited alcohol consumption is a must in order to prevent kidney stones.
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