Health & Medicine
Kidney Stones
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Kidney Stones Causes
Kidney stones or renal calculi are not actually stones but are deposits of uric acid or minerals that build up in the kidneys. Because today's diet is high in protein and low in water and may contribute but doctors aren't quite sure why there is an increased amount of kidney stone formations. Kidney stones are extremely painful to pass and even dangerous if they cause infections and blockages in the kidneys. It is said that to pass a kidney stone is the only pain equal to that of childbirth, but certainly not as joyful. There are several types of kidney stones: calcium based attached to an oxalate (most common), uric acid, struvite (infection stones), and the extremely rare cystine stone.
Symptoms of Kidney Stones
Symptoms of kidney stones include painful urination, a fever, lack of urine, the urge to urinate, and back pain. The person will experience an acute onset of pain in their side and back which sometimes will move downward with the stone. Many small stones may pass with no symptoms but on occasion a larger one will be stuck and the severe cramping and sharp pains will begin. Sometimes there will be blood in the urine which will alert medical staff that their maybe a kidney stone. Even nausea and vomiting will occur. If a fever or pain is present, one should contact their doctor.
Kidney Stones In Women
Kidney stones in women are sometimes mistaken for menstrual cramps but are usually accompanied with symptoms of urinary tract infection. Kidney stones are three times more likely in men than in women. Unfortunately, the most common stone is associated with diet especially coffee, chocolate, spinach, and tomatoes. In addition, a woman maybe at higher risk for kidney stones if she has parathyroid problems. The parathyroid regulates calcium and sometimes a malfunction can cause the increased formation of kidney stones in women.
I Survived Kidney Stones
Kidney Stones Symptoms
Kidney stone symptoms are caused by the "stone" blocking the ureters, or tubes that flow from the kidneys into the bladder. The kidney stones may easily pass unnoticed but once a blockage occurs you will instantly know there's a problem. The pain is caused because a small opening is trying to pass a solid structure through it and unlike tissue in other parts of the body, the ureters are not elastic thus causing many of the kidney stone symptoms. They do not stretch easily, nor are do they have muscle tissue to support them. One has to rely on nature, time, and sometimes medicine or surgery to resolve the issue. Kidney stone symptoms can be painful but will often pass.
Uric Acid Kidney Stones
Uric acid kidney stones are actually hard crystals with sharp points. These stones can also damage the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra on the way down and out with the urine. Uric acid kidney stones are caused by an increase in uric acid in the blood stream, which can come from too much protein. An excess in uric acid also causes gout but in this case, the crystals form in the kidney for release. This means to stay away from meat and even red wines. At the very least, limit the amount of meat and red wines that you consume.
Books on Kidney Stones
Kidney Stones Treatment
Kidney Stone treatment does not always end in surgery. Much can be prevented by drinking enough water and limiting the amount of protein you eat. Once you have a kidney stone you need to follow the doctor's orders, which will most likely include lots of water and avoiding certain foods. If you pass the kidney stone naturally, you may want to get it and have it analyzed to see what kind of kidney stone it is. If it is a calcium based, uric acid kidney stone, or and infection caused kidney stone. You may want to lay with a heating pad to help relax the muscles around the back so that you can pass the kidney stone. Sometimes kidney stones get stuck and require ultrasonic surgery whereby a doctor will "explode" the stones with ultrasonic waves. This makes the kidney stones easier to pass. Here is one simple resource for Kidney Stones Treatment.
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Hi, I'm a homeschooling father of five with a wife in nursing school. All of my lenses are a mixture of business help and health topics. A great place to get help fo... more
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