What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones are solidified pieces of waste typically formed when too much calcium is not flushed out of the body.
The carbohydrates in the diet can cause these crystals to form, increasing the risk of kidney stone formation. They also create a build-up between the bladder and ureter, called uric acid stones, which cause problems like frequent urination, pain during urination, and difficulty starting urination.
Kidney stones are hard, round crystals that develop in the kidneys. Different substances can cause them. The most common type of stone is made of cholesterol and calcium oxalate. Other types include struvite (sulfuroxid de sodio), uric acid (hidróxido de cálcio), cystine (citrato de arginina), and other substances.
Symptoms of kidney stones
A kidney stone is a solid piece of mineral that can form in your kidneys. Symptoms of a kidney stone may include:
An intense urge to urinate.
High blood pressure.
Pain when you urinate.
Braxton-hicks contractions.
Pain in the lower back or side.
In many cases, you will need to drink lots of fluids and take medication to reduce the size of your stones.
Kidney stones are usually caused by too much calcium in the urine. This can cause the stone to form. The symptoms of kidney stones include persistent pain, blood in your urine, fever, nausea, vomiting, and decreased urination. If you have these symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately.
Causes of kidney stones
Kidney stones are complex formations that form in the urinary system. They typically consist of calcium oxalate (towards the center), urates, or cystine crystals. These crystals can grow into small rocks that cause the kidney to produce too much urine and form blood clots. The blood clots can block small vessels in the kidney, which can be fatal if left untreated. The causes of these stones are varied, but some risk factors include dehydration, obesity, high protein intake, low fluid intake, or family history.
Kidney stones are formed when mineral deposits collect in the walls of the kidney and block its ability to pass urine. The most common causes of kidney stones are high-fiber diets, dehydration, chronic urinary tract infection, and certain medications. The most common treatment for kidney stones is lithotripsy, which involves sending shockwaves into the stone to break it apart and allow urine to flow more easily.
Treatment options
Kidney stones are formed when minerals that are dissolved in the urine crystallize. They are most commonly found in the kidneys but can also be present in the ureters or bladder. Kidney stones can vary widely in size, shape, and composition.
Kidney stones are one of the most common types of kidney diseases. The stone forms in the kidney when too much uric acid builds up in the urine. This acid can also damage other organs in your body, like your eyes, heart, and brain. There are many treatment options for kidney stones, including shockwave therapy, endoscopic therapy, and surgery.
When to seek medical attention
Sometimes kidney stones form so slowly that symptoms are not noticeable until they have reached a specific size. If you have symptoms of kidney stones, it is vital to seek medical attention as soon as possible. The symptoms can be pain or pressure in the back, flank, or groin that gets worse with time. It is also essential to see your doctor if you experience blood in your urine, back pain without an apparent cause, vomiting after passing urine, or fever.
Signs of Kidney Disease
You’re more tired, have less energy, or are having trouble concentrating.
Many people find that their energy levels are not the same as they used to be. What is happening is that you are having trouble concentrating, your blood pressure levels are off, and you may even be experiencing kidney trouble. The causes of these problems can vary, but they stem from a severe decrease in kidney function in most cases.
Anemia is more common in people with kidney disease, especially those who are dealing with diabetes. The most common cause of anemia in kidney disease is the destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis). Chronic kidney failure also destroys erythrocytes more quickly than the body can make them. This means that all proteins used for building new red blood cells must come from the diet (transient erythropoiesis), resulting in anemia over time.
You’re having trouble sleeping.
The kidneys remove waste products from the blood and create concentrated urine excreted through the urethra. When they aren’t filtering properly, there isn’t enough fluid to stream out of the bladder during sleep. This can lead to sleep deprivation and also prevent toxins from leaving your body.
You feel the need to urinate more often.
If you’re a man, a possible cause could be prostate cancer. A build-up of fluid in the prostate can cause an increased need to urinate. If it happens around the time you wake up in the morning, it may be caused by low blood sugar levels. In women, a condition called idiopathic hyperuricemia is usually what causes frequent urination or nighttime urination.
You have a poor appetite.
Many people with kidney disease often experience a poor appetite, which is a very general symptom of the disease. Toxic buildup can be one of the causes of this decreased appetite, but it is also possible that the patient has simple depression due to their condition.
Your muscles are cramping.
If you are experiencing muscle cramps, it is vital to identify the cause. Electrolyte imbalances can result from impaired kidney function. For example, low calcium levels and poorly controlled phosphorus may contribute to muscle cramping. Sometimes this is related to high sodium intake or high/low blood sugar levels. If you are on medication that reduces blood pressure or causes drowsiness, you need to be aware of hypokalemia (low potassium).
