How Are Kidney Stones Formed in the Body?
Other People Are Reading
-
In General
-
Kidney stones form in the body due to excess minerals passing through to the urinary tract. Sometimes the kidneys cannot filter large amounts of calcium, sodium or uric acid, for instance. Instead, they get caught in the kidneys, and after a long period of time, become concentrated together and crystallize, forming the actual stone. The stone itself can be extremely small (about the size of a grain of sand and passed in the urine naturally), or very large (stones 6 mm in size and up require intervention and will not pass with the urine).
Symptoms
-
A kidney stone can be extremely painful. Lower back and groin pain is very common with a kidney stone. There may be blood in the urine as well, due to the stone damaging the wall of the kidney, which may cause a slight burning sensation when urinating. Some patients may experience fever, nausea and even vomiting due to the kidney stone. There may also be less urination than usual due to the stone blocking the passage of urine either slightly or completely. If you experience some or all of these symptoms, go to the doctor immediately. Stones can be detected using either X-ray technology or through an ultrasound, and from there the medical team can advise you on the steps to take.
-
Prevention
-
There is speculation that alcoholics are at higher risk than other people, due to dehydration and lack of a balanced diet. It is not the alcohol that causes the stone per se, but rather the lifestyle that enhances the risk. Cutting down on proteins and calcium can surely reduce the chances of a stone forming, as well as significantly watching your sodium intake. One of the first things any doctor will probably tell you is to increase the amount of water and fluids taken daily. Nothing prevents a kidney stone better than a lot of water. Each particular case is different, and your doctor's advice will depend on the materials your kidney stone is comprised of. If you are able to keep your kidney stone after it passes (sometimes through the use of a filter when urinating), the doctor can have it analyzed to see what caused it to form in the first place. This information can help greatly with the prevention of further stones.
-
