Kidney stones get deposited as renal calculus inside your kidneys and nearby parts. Well-timed treatment of this disease is important, otherwise it could be life-threatening for the patient.
Now, presenting Dr. Chandra Shekhar with his expert medical views on the disease.
What are kidney stones?
Unlike the name, kidney stones are not associated with the presence of stones just in the kidneys, but also in the entire urinary system. They could be present in the bladder, urethra, or ureter.
What are the symptoms of kidney stones?
- Pain which occurs in the flank or lower abdomen radiating towards the groin or genitals. It is so intense that it can be coupled with nausea (tendency to vomit) or simultaneous or associated fever
- Burning micturition or burning sensation while passing urine
- Pus or blood in urine
How to diagnose kidney stones?
- Take the detailed history of the patient
- Conduct clinical or physical examination
- Conduct urine examination
- Perform radiographic studies (X-ray diagnosis)
- Optionally conduct ultrasound and blood tests
How to treat kidney stones?
- Depending on the size of kidney stones, they could be treated. Stones less than 5mm (<5mm) spontaneously pass out of the body through urine in less than 4 weeks from the onset of the symptoms. If more than 5mm (>5mm), the stones could be dealt with through medical or surgical treatments
- Depending on the size and location of kidney stones, the conservative mode could be resorted to. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a popular conservative treatment for removal of kidney stones
Which factors can cause kidney stones?
- Dehydration
- High dietary intake of animal protein, refined sugar, or sodium
- High intake of grape or apple juice
- Genetic makeup with an erroneous inborn metabolism
- Hyperparathyroidism (excess thyroid function)
- Incidence of renal tubular acidosis
What food habits can reduce the chances of kidney stones?
- Increase fluid intake
- Increase citrus fruit intake
- Reduce sodium intake in the form of salt to less than 2.3gms/day (<2.3gms/day)
- Limit animal protein intake to 2 meals/day, which should be less than 230gms per 24hrs (<230gms/24hrs)
- Limit soft drink intake to less than 1ltr per week (<1ltr/week)
