Medically known as Renal Calculi and originating from the Latin word renal which means “kidney” and calculi which means “pebble,” Kidney Stones are crystallized solid masses of scattered minerals in urine which are deposited in the kidneys and attach to their walls. These crystal deposits accumulate and grow to sizes that vary from tiny as grains of sand to large as gulf balls.
Typically, through the course of a lifetime, most people would have developed many Kidney Stones that pass out of the body in the urine stream and go unnoticed. However, those Kidney Stones that grow too large to be flushed out cause obstructions in the ureters (the tubes that lead urine from the kidneys to the bladder). Such obstructions expand the upper part of the ureters and renal pelvis, the surrounding muscles spasm in an attempt to move the obstructing stones and these result in renal colic; a condition that is experienced as very sharp intermittent pain in the flanks, the lower abdomen and the groin area. The movement of the stones may damage the delicate lining of the urinary tract and, therefore, blood may often appear in the urine (hematuria). Additional symptoms include but are not necessarily limited to the appearance of pus in the urine and its reduced volume but increased frequency; nausea and vomiting; fevers and chills; loss of appetite and, therefore, loss of weight.
Causes of Kidney Stones
The causes of Kidney Stones are not always known but they seem to be ubiquitous in patients with certain other underlying clinical conditions such as renal tubular acidosis, Dent’s disease, medullary sponge kidney and Crohn’s disease. There is some medical evidence that points to water fluoridations as a possible cause for the formation of Kidney Stones; as some studies revealed that patients with symptoms of skeletal fluorosis were nearly five times as likely to also develop stones. Although there is little scientific evidence to back up this belief, many in the medical community believe that vitamin C causes Kidney Stones.
Varieties of Kidney Stones
• Calcium oxalate crystals are the most common types of Kidney Stones as they occur in approximately 80% of all diagnosed cases. Contrary to common sense and the belief that the intake of calcium leads to calcium oxalate crystals, recent studies have shown that it is calcium deficiency that promotes the development of some Kidney Stones.
• Kidney Stones formed from uric acid appear in 5 to 15% of diagnosed cases where urine is markedly acidic.
• Struvite stones form in the presence of bacteria such as Proteus mirabilis, Klabsielal, Serratia and Providencia which are capable of splitting urea into ammonia and thus reducing the acidity of the urine.
• Cystine stones are exclusive to patients who amass cystine in their urine (a.k.a. cystinuria).
• Calcium phosphate stones are associated with such condition as hyperparathyroidism and renal tubular acidosis.
Diagnostic Measures of Kidney Stones
Based on the location and intensity of the pain, clinical diagnosis may include:
• Computed tomography (CT) is the most accurate means by which to detect Kidney Stones but it is also the most costly and emits the highest amounts of radiation. It detects all Kidney Stones except the very rare ones consisting of specific drug deposits.
• Traditional X-rays detect Kidney Stones with dense masses.
• Ultrasound is safe during pregnancy as it does not involve radiation.
• Other diagnostic procedures include microscopic study of urine, analysis of culture of urine samples, full blood counts, 24-hour urine collection and catching passed stones at home.
Treatments of Kidney Stones
Treatments of Kidney Stones may include the encouragement of their passing by increasing hydration, administration of diuretics to boost the flow of urine, prescribed medications to heal the infection while reduce the pain and other symptoms, various appropriate diet plans and, in extreme cases, surgery to remove the stones.
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Comments
Symptoms for kidney stones says:
If some one who has a kidney stones he or she could consult with doctors, however if one would go surgical it would cost a lot of money, the best recommended choose it to try home remedies. Person should also change his or her life style like consuming too much animal food, a lot of supplements, sugar, coffee and so on. I would recommend to check for the guide called Kidney Stones Guide or some other practical material.