Symptoms Of Kidney Stones For Women And Affects On Kidney Functions

Functions Of Kidney

The kidneys play a vital role in the elimination of liquid wastes from the body. They assist in the purification of blood by drawing out chemicals and other harmful matter from the blood and disposing it off through the urine that they produce. Sometimes, the chemicals present in the urine crystallize and form small stones similar to grains of sand mainly made of calcium. Over a period of time, a tiny stone gradually increases to a noticeable size. If left unattended to, the stone may become the source of excruciating pain, serious infection and kidney disorders.

Kidney Stone Symptoms

There are no symptoms as long as the stone stays put. When the stone moves within the kidney, a mild pain is often experienced in the lower back and it gradually progresses towards the lower abdomen, similar to the pain experienced during menstruation. Hence, the pain usually goes unnoticed. However, as the stone starts moving towards the ureters, excruciating pain is experienced. When in the ureter, the stone tends to block the flow of urine thus causing a backlog of urine in the kidneys and a buildup of pressure that result in the swelling of the kidneys and bacterial infection. Sometimes, blood may be seen in the urine as the stone scraps against the walls of the ureter as it proceeds towards the urinary bladder. Pain during urinating, urinary tract infections and change in urine color could be linked with kidney stones. Dullness, nausea, vomiting and a low grade fever could also be caused by the existence of renal calculi.

Diet For Kidney Stone

Water plays a vital role in the treatment of kidney stones. Kidney stones are usually caused by dehydration which leads to a concentration of calcium in the urine. Hence, drinking plenty of water throughout the day ensures that the chemicals do not remain in the kidney. It also helps in dissolving or flushing out already formed calculi. Barley water and tender coconut water are also useful in flushing out calculi. Calcium renal stones can be dissolved through the intake of citrus fruit juices like grapefruit and lemons, as these juices have the ability to increase the excretion of chemicals. High protein diets should be avoided as they can cause crystallization of salts in the urine. A person prone to kidney stones should avoid the intake of foods rich in calcium as it may result in an increase in size of an existing stone or may be the cause of the formation of a fresh one. The consumption of alcohol and aerated beverages can also aggravate the condition.