Did you know that one in 20 people develops kidney stones at some point in life and that kidney stones are one of the most common disorders of the renal system?
How do kidney stones occur?
As we know, the kidneys have an important role in cleansing and filtering the blood from toxic substances or chemical compounds such as calcium, ammonia, sodium, uric acid or cysteine. If these accumulate in large quantities, so-called kidney stones can appear, i.e., deposits of minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys and that are eliminated through the urinary tract. Most of the time, kidney stones are small and their elimination is not felt. However, when they are larger, elimination can make it difficult or even block the flow of urine and can cause great pain. Moreover, inflammations or urinary tract infections may occur.
Risk factors
Among the risk factors for the formation of kidney stones there are:
Dehydration. When we do not drink enough fluids, the amount of urine is also low. Moreover, the urine is very concentrated, the salts and the minerals are not effectively dissolved and thus kidney stones can appear.
Digestive diseases. Conditions such as Crohn's disease or chronic diarrhoea and surgical interventions on the digestive system can cause changes in the digestion process. Thus, intestinal calcium absorption is reduced, the amount of mineral substances in the urine will be high, and the risk of kidney stones will increase.
Diet. High consumption of animal protein (beef, pork, chicken, fish) increases the level of acids, red meat contains a large amount of calcium oxalate, and fast food and carbonated drinks are rich in sodium. Also, a diet rich in salt leads to increased calcium levels and the formation of calcium stones.
Obesity. This can cause the acidity of urine to change and it can lead to the formation of kidney stones.
Heredity. The risk of having kidney stones is higher if there is a family medical history.
What are the main symptoms?
When they are small, kidney stones are eliminated without causing symptoms. These occur when stones become bulky and get stuck in the kidney or move along the ureter (the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder).
Among the most common symptoms, there are:
- continuous pain in the lower back, which can sometimes also be felt in the groin area. In the case of men, the pain can also extend to the testicular area.
- acute periods of pain in the stomach or in the sides of the abdomen, occasionally in the groin area, which can last from a few minutes to a few hours. The location of the pain can change over time, because the stone can change its position in the kidney or along the urinary tract.
- nausea and vomiting.
- the need to urinate often.
- pain or stinging during urination.
- the appearance of blood in the urine.
If not treated, kidney stones can lead to complications such as pyelonephritis or nephritis.
How are kidney stones diagnosed?
After the physician has all the information about the medical history and symptoms, he can ask for additional investigations. These include blood tests, urine tests and imaging tests.
How are kidney stones treated?
Most kidney stones are small (up to 4 mm) and that is why they are eliminated naturally, in the urine. For this, the physician can recommend drugs to relieve pain and relax the muscles of the ureter or urethra and an increased water consumption (until the urine becomes transparent).
If the stones are bulky, specific interventions are needed to treat them, such as ureteroscopy, extracorporeal lithotripsy (lithotripsy) with shock waves or percutaneous nephrolithotomy.
How to prevent the formation of kidney stones?
Hydration. This is the most important method to prevent the formation of kidney stones. Especially during the summer, the amount of fluids should be increased.
A balanced diet. Less salt and fewer foods rich in calcium and in these compounds are among the most important measures.