Dr. Venkata Raman Raju

Kidney Stones

What are kidney stones

Kidney stones are tiny, hard masses that form inside the kidneys. These stones are made of acid salts and minerals.

Causes

Kidney stones may get created when an imbalance of minerals, salts, water and other materials found in urine occurs. Things that cause the imbalance include:

Insufficient drinking of water
Different types of medical conditions

A person can form kidney stones due to his/her family history as stones frequently occur within the family over several generations.

In rare cases, kidney stones are formed due to excessive production of a hormone by the parathyroid glands.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a kidney stone may not be found until it proceeds to the ureter or moves around inside the kidney. When any of these occur, the following symptoms can be noted:

Pain that advances to the groin and lower abdomen
Acute pain in back and side, beneath the ribs
Brown, pink or red colored urine
Pain on urination
Vomiting and nausea
Foul-smelling or cloudy urine
More urination than normal
Continual need of urination
Urinating little amounts of urine
Fever and chills when there is an infection
Diagnosis

If the presence of a kidney stone is suspected by the doctor, the following diagnostic procedures and tests may be prescribed:

Blood tests
Imaging tests
Urine tests
Examination of passed stones
Diagnosis

Treatment

Treatment for kidney stones differs, depending upon the cause and type of stone. Most kidney stones can be cured by home treatments and don't require invasive treatment. Home treatments include:

Drinking enough water
Use of pain relievers

If conservative measures fail to treat kidney stones, extensive treatment may be required. Such procedures can include:

ESWL (extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy)
Surgery
Use of ureteroscope
Parathyroid gland surgery

Prevention and controllable risk factors

A merger of medications and lifestyle changes may help prevent the formation of kidney stones.

Medications can help maintain the balance of acid and minerals in the urine. They can also be helpful for those having certain types of stones.

Lifestyle changes too can help prevent this disease. They include:

Drinking water round the clock.
Having diets low in animal protein and salt.
Avoiding oxalate-rich foods.

Controllable risk factors that elevate the risk of forming kidney stones include:

Intake of diets high in sodium, protein and sugar. A high-sodium diet is especially risky as excessive sodium in your diet increases the quantity of calcium your kidneys must filter, thus significantly boosting your risk of kidney stones.
Dehydration: Inadequate intake of water increases your risk of kidney stones. People who sweat a lot and those living in warm climates are at higher risk than their counterparts in other, more comfortable regions.
Being obese: Several studies have linked weight gain, large waist size and high BMI (body mass index) to an increased risk of kidney stones.

A merger of medications and lifestyle changes may help prevent the formation of kidney stones.

Medications can help maintain the balance of acid and minerals in the urine. They can also be helpful for those having certain types of stones.

Chronic kidney disease or CKD is the decreased function of the function of the kidney for a minimum of three months or more. In this the end stage renal disease usually refers to the end of the kidney function where the kidneys work for less than 15% of what they are supposed to. The kidneys play a vital role in the human body and if they do not function properly then a person can die. The functioning of many organs depends on the kidneys. However, the main function of the kidneys is to remove the products and regulate blood and water, control blood pressure, promote healthy and strong bones, and produce hormones.

Here are 5 facts about kidney disease you should know about:

1. Causes of the kidney disease: There are two main common causes of the end-stage kidney disease. These are preventable causes. These are diabetes and high blood pressure, but then kidney disease can be caused by other inherited diseases such as infection, trauma or polycystic kidney disease.

2. Serious Stages: The kidney disease has five stages and stage 5 is known as the end stage renal disease; this is the point where patients usually need dialysis or kidney transplant to lead a sane life. The stages of kidney disease are:

Stage 1 – Slight kidney disease
Stage 2 – Mild decrease in kidney function
Stage 3 – Moderate decrease in kidney function
Stage 4 – Severe decrease in kidney function
Stage 5 – End stage renal disease

3. Detection of the disease: Kidney disease is usually difficult to detect because of the presence of very few symptoms. Age, gender along with the blood test is one way to determine information regarding kidney function. The people who are at a risk of getting kidney disease are:

• Over the age of 55 years
• People who suffer from hypertension and diabetes
• Ethnic groups such as Asians, Africans, Americans, Pacific Islanders and Hispanics

4. Signs and Symptoms: CKD is usually considered to be a silent disease and many people don’t know that they are suffering from the disease. The signs and symptoms of the disease are:

• Fatigue and weakness
• Nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite
• Dizziness
• Numbness and headaches in hand and feet
• Frequent urination

5. Renal Replacement Treatment: This is the treatment for the end stage of the kidney disease. Dialysis involves the replacement of some part of the lost function of the kidneys and is usually continued throughout life. There are 2 types of dialysis:

• Hemodialysis: This cleans the blood via an artificial kidney which is hooked to the machine
• Peritoneal Dialysis: This removes the excess water and waste products and cleans the blood of the body by using the peritoneal cavity as a filter.

If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult the doctor and ask a free question.