Kidney Stone Treatment
Symptoms And Treatment Of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are basically crystallized minerals that develop in the kidney. These stones are also known as renal calculi, and can occur in the urinary bladder too, but they are more dangerous when they form in the kidneys. Kidney stones increase the risk of kidney infections, and, if not treated, they can cause swelling of the kidneys and eventual kidney failure too. Pain is the main symptom of kidney stones, and it typically affects the groin area. This pain may be mild, but in many cases it is extremely painful and almost unbearable. In addition to this, there may be blood and white blood cells in the urine, frequent need to urinate (but not an increase in the amount of urine produced through the day), and abdominal bloating. Less frequent symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
How To Pass Kidney Stone
If the kidney stones are small, they usually pass in the urine without any medical treatment. However, large stones (more than 6 mm in size) usually require medical treatment, and do not pass in the urine. These stones can sometimes pass out of the kidney, but will then obstruct some other part of the urinary tract. However, the first course of action is always to try to get the patient to pass the stones in the urine. This mainly requires the consumption of plenty of water, which will help to flush out the stone in most cases. It is advisable to use a fine strainer every time you urinate, so that you can catch the stone and give it to a lab for analysis. This will help you identify the material that the stone is made of, which will in turn give you an indication of what caused the stone to develop. Urate stones are usually the result of high levels of uric acid in the blood, and the solution is to eat less meat, and possibly take some medication. If you have calcium stones, the solution is the opposite of what it would seem to be at first glance – these stones are usually the result of a calcium deficiency rather than excess. Your doctor will advise you about the specific diet and lifestyle changes that may be needed to prevent the stones from recurring.
If you are unable to pass the stone(s) in your urine, you will need to ask your doctor about viable medical procedures. Shock waves may be used to shatter the stone into small pieces that can be easily passed through the urinary tract, or a surgical procedure may be used to physically remove the stone.