30/06/2024
kidney Stones:
The Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Stones. If you have any symptoms of kidney stones. The earlier you get treatment, the less likely you’ll have complications from kidney stones.
Kidney stones, also called nephrolith or renal calculi, are the most common health condition associated with the urinary system.The stones are hard mineral fragments that can form in your kidneys. Often, they’re small enough to exit your body through your urine. But if they’re too large, you may need medical assistance to have them broken up or removed.
If you think you might have a kidney stone, seek medical attention right away. In particular, a fever with a kidney stone or a urinary tract infection (UTI) with a kidney stone are surgical emergencies.
Serious complications from kidney stones are rare when addressed early but can be severe if left untreated.
Read on to learn more about the symptoms of kidney stones.
What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones are hard collections of salt and minerals often made up of calcium or uric acid. They form inside the kidney and can travel to other parts of the urinary tract.
Stones vary in size. Some are as small as the period at the end of this sentence a fraction of an inch. Others can grow to be a few inches across. Some kidney stones can become so large they take up the entire kidney.
A kidney stone forms when too much of certain minerals in your body accumulate in your urine. When you aren’t well-hydrated, your urine becomes more concentrated with higher levels of certain minerals. When mineral levels are higher, it’s more likely that a kidney stone will form.
Stones are more common in men, around 11 percent of men and 6 percent of women will develop kidney stones at least once during their lifetime.
Kidney stones are also more common in people who have diabetes or obesity. Kidney stones can also be caused by a genetic condition called cystinuria.
Smaller kidney stones that remain in the kidney often don’t cause any symptoms. You might not notice anything is amiss until the stone moves into your ureter — the tube that urine travels through to get from your kidney to your bladder.
If the stone is small enough, it’ll continue from your bladder to your urethra and exit your body through your urine. The smaller the stone, the more likely it’s to pass on its own, and the more quickly the process will happen.
Most stones that pass naturally will take 31 to 45 days. If a stone hasn’t passed within this timeframe, it’s important to get medical attention, as the stone could increase the risk of kidney damage and other complications.
A doctor may advise you to drink a lot of water to help with this process. They may also have you strain your urine in order to catch the stone. Analyzing the stone can help determine the underlying cause.
Kidney stones are typically very painful. Most stones will pass on their own without treatment. But you may need a procedure to break up or remove stones that don’t pass.
What are the symptoms of a kidney stone?
If you have a very small kidney stone, you may not have any symptoms as the stone passes through your urinary tract. But if your kidney stone is larger, you’ll likely have some symptoms.
Outlined below are 8 signs and symptoms of kidney stones.
1. Pain in the back, belly, or side.
2. Pain or burning during urination.
3. Urgent need to go.
4. Blood in the urine.
5. Cloudy or smelly urine.
6. Going a small amount at a time.
7. Nausea and vomiting
8. Fever and chills
What are the risk factors associated with kidney stones?
Although anyone can develop a kidney stone, there are some factors that can increase your risk. Some risk factors can’t be changed, while others can be controlled or modified.
You may be at a higher risk of developing kidney stones if:
you’re male
you’ve had kidney stones before
somebody in your family has had kidney stones
you don’t drink enough fluids
your diet is high in protein, salt (sodium), and/or sugar
you have overweight or obesity
you have diabetes
you have gout
you have polycystic kidney disease
you take calcium-based antacids or diuretics (water pills)
you’ve had gastric bypass surgery or other gastrointestinal surgery
you’re of reproductive age and have had one or more pregnancies
you eat a diet that’s high in red meat or high in oxalates
you have a condition that causes high levels of cystine, uric acid, calcium, or oxalate in your urine
When to see a doctor
Call your doctor if you have any symptoms of kidney stones. Get medical help right away if you have the following symptoms, which could indicate that you have an infection or other serious complication:
pain so severe that you can’t get comfortable
nausea, vomiting, fever, or chills with the pain
blood in your urine
trouble urinating
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