WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT KIDNEY STONES

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

KIDNEY STONES

What is a Kidney Stones?

A kidney stone is a hard mass developed from crystals that separate from the urine within the urinary tract. Normally, urine contains chemicals that prevent or inhibit the crystals from forming. These inhibitors do not seem to work for everyone, however, so some people form stones. If crystals remain tiny enough, they will travel through the urinary tract and pass out of the body in the urine withour being noticed.

What Causes Kidney Stones?

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Certain food may promote stone formation in the people who are susceptible. Urinary tract infections, kidney disorders such as cystic kidney diseases, and certain metabolic disorders such as hyperparathyroidism are also linked to stone formation.

What are the symptoms of kidney Stones?

Kidney stones often do not cause any symptoms. Usually, the first symptom of a kidney stone is extreme pain, which begins suddenly when a stone moves in the urinary tract and block the flow of urine. Typically, a person feels a sharp, cramping pain in the back and side in the area of the kidney or in the lower abdomen. Sometimes nausea and vomiting occur. Later, pain may spread to the groin.

How Are Kidney stones Treated?

Fortunately, surgery is not usually necessary. Most kidney stones can pass through the urinary system with plenty of water -2 to 3 quarts a day- to help move the stone along.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is the most frequently used procedure for the treatment of kidney stones. In ESWL, shock waves that are created outside the body travel through the skin and body tissues until they hit the denser stones. The stones break down into small particles and easily passed through the urinary tract in the urine.