Kidney Stones

In the recent years, Kidney stones are becoming a common complaint with people. On an average each year, seven to twenty one in every 10,000 of the population are suffering from kidney stones problem.

Kidney stones are more common in males than females. 80% of the cases are reported from males.

What are Kidney stones

In medical terms, Kidney stones are called 'Calculi'. These are generally formed in the kidneys, but they have been observed in the Bladder and in the Urinary tract (Ureter) also.

The excessive salts of Calcium oxalate, Phosphorus and Uric acid in the blood, crystallise and settle on the inner membranes of the Kidneys and form stones.

On the other hand, Kidney stones are also formed when the urinary tract is infected.

These stones, which range from the size of a sand particle to that of an orange, do not trouble us as long as they are stationary, on the respective parts. We don't even feel their presence.

But, when the smallest stone starts moving from the kidney to the bladder, the sensitive lining inside the Ureter is damaged, resulting in pain.

Symptoms

The pain starts in the loins and extends up to the abdomen. From there, it spreads up to the scrotum and penis in males and vagina in females.

The pain will be in spurts, as the stone moves in the Ureter (the tube from the kidney to the bladder)

The intensity of pain reaches its peak, stays for a minute and then subsides. But starts again after some time.

Retching sensation, fever accompanied by shivering, vomiting may also be present. Pain while urinating. Blood streaks in the urine. Pain from the bottom of spine to the abdomen at the slightest touch of the hand.

How long do they take to form?
Big stones may take years to form. However, the small ones can take anywhere from one to two months.

Reasons for Kidney Stones

In general, the chemicals in the urine get concentrated and crystallise into stones. The reasons for such concentration are:

Genetic predisposition of the body to form stones. Presence of excess calcium and other salts in the food and water (due to their presence in the soil and water in some areas). Due to the Uric acid becoming excess. Sometimes due to excessive intake of vitamin C or vitamin D. Due to insufficient intake of water in the daily life. Due to infection of urinary tract ‘Ureter’. In people living in tropical areas with excessive perspiration. In patients who are bed ridden for a considerable amount of time. In people who have sedentary life with almost no work for the body.

Complications

Damage of the Kidneys due to pus.

Treatment

If the stone is less than 5mm in size, it escapes in the urine without any particular treatment.

Since the stones above 5mm keeps growing and cannot go out in urine on their own, they have to be removed through surgery or lithotripsy.

Lithotripsy

The presence of stone is ascertained through X rays and high energy shock waves are focussed on the stones. This treatment may take 2 to 3 hrs. Due to these shock waves, the stone gets disintegrated into smaller particles, enabling them to pass out in the urine.

Do not neglect till the kidneys are damaged. The patients of kidney stones, generally try to get rid of them through either medicines or injections. Once the pain subsides, they neglect the stones without further medical care. Pain occurs only when the stone travels in the Ureter

Once the stone gets stuck in the Ureter tube, it obstructs the urine flow, damaging the kidneys and by infecting the urinary tract. Some times the stone may not cause any pain. So if the stones are present, get them removed through surgery or Lithothipsy.

Surgery

In surgery, the kidney is opened up and the stones are physically picked and removed. The problem with surgery is that the kidneys loose about 20% of their effectiveness for every surgery.

There are some more modern techniques like Ureteroscopy, Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy, Lithoclast, Lasers for removal of stones out of Kidneys.

Precautions

Drink sufficient water: The urine gets diluted due to this and salts and mineral salts etc do not concentrate & crystallise into stones.

On an average, 2/3 litres of water is to be consumed per day increasing this quantity further in summer. The stones are formed in 92 percent of the cases due to calcium and its products. Therefore the patients who are vulnerable for stone formation should consume calcium products in a limited quantity. They can consult their doctor for advise in this regard. The items which have calcium in abundance are Milk, Butter and other dairy products.

Other Recourses

These Work

In curing urinary tract infections tender coconut water is very effective. However, it contains substantial amount potassium. Hence, kidney failure patients should not drink it. For such patients, more potassium in blood leads to complications.

In the rainy season, winter or when we are in AC. rooms we relieve frequently. Do you know why?

The fluides in the body go out in two ways. One of them is through kidneys i.e. urine.The second one is through perspiration and exhalation. In summer, lot of water goes out via perspiration.

But, in winter and rainy season, we do not perspire much. In such cases the water has to go out more through urination, therefore in these seasons and when we sit in AC. rooms we frequently urinate.

These Don't

When the uric acid percentage in the patient’s blood is more, the kidney stones are formed from uric acid. By controlling the diet and through medicines, the uric acid can be kept under the limit and stone formation can be avoided.

Meat, liver, kidney and brain contain more uric acid. It is adviceable for the patients to avoid such foods. Similarly fish, chicken, beans, country beans, custard apple, mushrooms and alcohol have uric acid in sufficient quantity. Hence, their intake should be occasional and not regular.

Help of medicines should be taken if dietary control does not reduce uric acid in the blood. Almost all types of antacids contain high calcium. If you have kidney stones and also use antacid tablets, please see to it that they are not calcium based. Consult a doctor for a different brand.

Whatever be the kind of kidney stones you have, food containing high vitamin A can prevent further formation by affecting some changes on the lining of urinary tract. But one should only take, diet containing vitamin A and not the vitamin A tablets without the advice of the doctor.

For the people who do not work physically, there is a danger of calcium getting precipitated in the blood stream. But people who indulge in some or the other physical activity, the calcium in blood goes into the bones. So, daily exercising is a good habit.

There is a close relation between the quantity of protein intake and the formation of kidney stones. Proteins increase the quantity of uric acid, calcium and phosphorous in the urine. This effect gives raise to the formation of stones in some people.

In case you already have calcium stones, especially the uric acid ones (crystalline stones), please reduce the protein intake from meat.

Kidney stone patients should limit the vitamin C & D, as vitamin C' increases formation of calcium oxalate stones and D' increases the calcium all over the body.

When a stone comes out in the urine, carefully collect it and show it to the doctor, who gets it analysed and advise you on the remedy.