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Kidney stones have been plaguing the human race for a long time. Archaeologists have discovered kidney stones along with human remains in 3,000 year old Egyptian mummies! It is estimated that three percent of the world's population will suffer from kidney stones in their lifetime. White American males are the most likely to have kidney stones, with a 1 in 8 chance.
Symptoms of Kidney Stones
Symptoms of kidney stones (aka, renal calculi) vary from person to person, but most people experience severe pain. Kidney stone pain is characterized by its severity. The excruciating pain is usually centralized in the back or sides and sometimes moves as the stone moves. During an attack, many sufferers experience nausea and vomiting. They may discover blood in their urine. About eighty percent of stones are small enough to be passed without symptoms and there are some people that have kidney stones but never experience pain. The other twenty percent of stones make renal calculi one of the most dreaded health conditions.
The size of the stone does not dictate the size of the pain. A small jagged stone can produce more distressing symptoms than a larger smooth stone. A great deal of the pain experienced while passing a stone is not the result of the stone ripping through the urinary tract (although it certainly can feel that way). Much pain is due to muscle contractions as the ureter attempts to force the stone into the bladder. If the sufferer experiences a fever along with these other symptoms, he or she may have an infection.
What are Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones are the result of crystals that form in your urine and they can be of several different compositions. There are three types of stones that are the most popular. The most common type of stone is the calcium stone. Seventy to eighty percent of all stone sufferers have calcium stones. Struvite stones make up about twelve percent of all kidney stones. Struvite stones are made of magnesium ammonium phosphate and are associated with UTI's (urinary tract infections). These stones can be especially damaging to the kidney. Ten percent of stones are made from uric acid which is related to metabolizing protein. These stones are often pear or diamond in shaped.
Kidney stones can usually be passed without doing any real damage to the kidneys. The biggest medical fear related to stones is an obstruction that leads to an infection. Once a person has a kidney stone attack, only ten percent have another episode within a year, but about have a reoccurrence within ten years.
What Causes Kidney Stones?
Many factors can make a person suspectable to kidney stones. Diet and genetics are two of the biggest culprits. Dehydration makes urine more concentrated and therefore more likely to produce stones. Urine that is acidic is more likely to form calcium and uric acid stones, whereas alkaline urine will form struvite stones.
Diets that are low in fiber and water, and high in protein can promote the formation of kidney stones. Uric acid stones can form when there is too much uric acid in the urine. This can be the result of severe dieting, excessive drinking, and certain illnesses. Fifteen percent of uric acid stone suffers have high levels of uric acid in their urine. Struvite stones are caused by urinary tract infections. Bacteria that infect the urinary tract secrete enzymes that increase the level of ammonia in the urine. The ammonia, in turn, creates the crystals. While, generally speaking, men are more likely than women to suffer from kidney stones, women are twice as likely to have struvite stones. In many cases, a true cause of the stones cannot be found.
How Do I Get Tested for Kidney Stones?
The easiest test for kidney stones is to retrieve a stone you have passed! If you believe you may be passing a stone for the first time, be sure to look for it in your urine and retrieve it. Having the stone will allow for your doctor to analyze the composition and offer you the most effective treatment. Other methods such as ultrasound and x-rays can also be used to check for kidney stones. Calcium stones will show up as white on an x-ray.
What Kinds of Treatments Are Available for Kidney Stones?
Treatment for kidney stones are often simply measures for pain control rather than treating the stones themselves. Antibiotics may also be prescribed if it is suspected that the stones have caused an infection. In the majority of cases, doctors opt to allow the stones to pass naturally, however in instances where the physician decides this is not possible or desirable, there are a couple of options. Lithotripsy is a procedure in which sound waves are used to break apart the stones, allowing them to pass naturally. Only in the most extreme cases would surgery be used to remove very large stones.
The best way to prevent new stones from forming and to pass already formed stones is to drink lots of water. Certain foods, such as apples, oranges, parsley, cheese, and ground pepper, should be consumed only in moderation. Which foods to avoid depends on which type of stone you suffer from. Your doctor can give you advice on dietary changes once your stones have been analyzed.
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