KIDNEY STONES What are kidney stones?
Treatments and Strategies
What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones affect around 10% of men and 3% of women and are becoming increasingly prevalent. Stones can appear anywhere in the urinary tract, but the most common areas of formation are now the kidneys and upper urinary tract rather than the bladder, the previous number 1 hotspot.
The stones are mostly made up of calcium oxalate, with the addition of small amounts of uric acid and struvite. They are formed when the body is unable to excrete these compounds in the urine, leading to the build up of small particles or crystalsin the kidneys.
Signs and symptoms
- Some stones may be symptom-less (known as silent), and then cause sudden and extremely painful back pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- Blood in the urine
- Pain when urinating
- Chills
- Fever
Possible causes
- Drugs including Sulphasalazine (often used to treat rheumatoid arthritis), Furosemide (used to treat heart conditions), diuretics containing Triamterene, antacids containing Trisilicate and Acetazolamide (used to treat periodic paralysis and myotonia)
- Diet - a diet high in oxalic acid, such as rhubarb, spinach, leafy vegetables, and coffee may also play a part
- Genetics - a family history of kidney stones may predispose one to this condition
Diagnosis
X-ray or sonogram - carried out on people suffering from blood in the urine or sudden pain.
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