Kidney stones consist of salts and minerals that crystallize into small stones that vary in size, as they can be the size of sand grains, or as large as a golf ball. The stones may remain inside the kidneys or may move outside the body through the urinary system (Urinary system).
The urinary system is the system responsible for producing urine in the body and delivering it to the outside of the body. It consists of the kidneys, ureter, bladder, and urethra.
You likely won't feel any pain when the stones pass through the bladder, but sometimes this process can be accompanied by severe pain in addition to other symptoms.
Kidney stones symptoms:
Most of the time, the symptoms of kidney stones do not appear if they are in the kidneys, but they cause sudden and sharp pain when they move out of the kidneys towards the bladder, so you should go for immediate medical treatment if some symptoms appear that indicate the presence of stones in one or both kidneys, Like the following:
Sudden and sharp pain on one side of the body, in the abdominal cavity, or in the groin.
* The tendency of the color of the urine to be red or pink.
* Feeling sick and vomiting.
Kidney stones causes and risk factors:
Kidney stones form as a result of a disturbance in the levels of fluids, salts, minerals and some other compounds in the urine, and the main reason for this is not consuming enough fluids.
Some people are more susceptible to the formation of stones in the kidneys than others, and this may be due to genetic factors if a family member has it.
Complications of kidney stones:
The complications that kidney stones may cause are related to the symptoms they may cause, of which chronic pain is one of the most important.
Diagnosis of kidney stones:
A person may notice that he has kidney stones when he visits the treating doctor, or when he goes to the emergency room because of pain on one side or in the abdominal cavity.
The attending physician asks some questions about the nature of the pain and the patient's lifestyle, then performs a comprehensive physical examination. He may also order various imaging tests, such as: X-rays to examine the kidneys and urinary tract system of the patient.
In such a case, a person may need to perform other additional tests, especially when more than one stone is discovered, or if there is a medical or family history of kidney stones.
The doctor may recommend blood and urine tests to find out the cause of the stone formation. These tests also help determine whether a person is at risk of developing kidney stones in the future.
Kidney stones treatment:
In most cases of kidney stones, the doctor may request that the patient be treated in his home environment by taking pain relievers, in addition to making sure to drink sufficient amounts of water and other fluids in order to prevent dehydration, and the treating doctor may prescribe some medications that will help in The expulsion of stones from the body.
In some cases, when the size of the stone is so large that it cannot pass on its own, or if the stone is stuck in the urinary tract, the patient may need additional treatment that differs from simple home remedies.
The most common medical treatment for kidney stones relies on sound waves. This method of treatment is called Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL).
This treatment uses ultrasound or shock waves to break up stones in the kidneys, turning them into tiny crumbs that are so small that they can pass through the urinary system and be expelled from the body.
In other cases, the urologist may need to remove the stones through a surgical procedure called ureteroscopy, or by inserting a stent (Stint) into the bladder to create a passage that allows the stones to pass through the bladder.
Prevention of kidney stones:
Some measures and procedures can be taken to prevent kidney stones, such as the following:
* Make sure to drink enough fluids: You should try to drink enough water, about 8-10 cups a day, gradually.
Take care to change the diet: The diet is highly associated with the formation of kidney stones.
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