What Is a Bladder Stone?
Bladder stones are small mineral deposits in your bladder. They are similar to kidney stones but much less common. Nearly all cases of bladder stones occur in men, mostly as a result of an enlarged prostate. They can be uncomfortable or even painful and the only treatment is to remove the bladder stone from your body.
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The Bladder and the Urinary System
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The bladder is hollow sac-shaped organ that is a part of the urinary system along with the kidneys, the ureters and the urethra. It is located in the pelvis and functions as a storage area for urine. The kidneys filter urea, excess water and other waste products from the circulatory system and use them to create urine. The ureters, small thin tubes that are connected to each kidney, continuously contract and release, drawing the urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The bladder holds the urine until it is full and then expels the urine through the urethra outside of the body.
Causes
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When your bladder does not empty completely, the urine left inside can crystallize and eventually develop into bladder stones. This can be caused by any number of conditions, including an enlarged prostate or neurogenic bladder disease. Enlarged prostate glands push down on the urethra and make it hard to empty the bladder. A neurogenic bladder, or a bladder with damaged nerves, cannot communicate properly with your brain to tell it to release the urine. Inflamed bladders from urinary infections can also develop bladder stones.
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Symptoms
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If you have a bladder stone, you may notice changes in your urine. It may appear darker than normal or have blood in it. You may also notice a sudden increase in the urge to urinate or a sudden difficulty urinating at all. There may even an interruption of your urine stream. Bladder stones can be painful, too. You may feel abdominal pain or pain in your penis.
Treatment
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After your health care provider has diagnosed bladder stones, it is just a matter of passing the stone out of your body. You can do that naturally by drinking lots of fluids while taking an over-the-counter pain medicine for the symptoms. If that isn't possible, your health care provider can use a tube to draw the stones out or ultrasonic waves to break up the stones and allow them to be flushed out with urine. For severe cases, the bladder stone may have to be surgically removed.
Prevention
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The best way to prevent bladder stone is to promptly treat any urinary system disorders. Be observant of symptoms of urinary tract infections or kidney troubles. Any changes in urine can be a sign of a urinary problem. You should also stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and allowing your urinary system to flush itself out naturally. You may also try cranberry or vitamin C supplements to promote a healthy urinary system.
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References
- Photo Credit Steven Fruitsmaak: Wikipedia.org
