Kidney stones can be a problem that many people will find themselves facing at some point during their lives. While kidney stones are a relatively common problem for individuals to experience, there are many misconceptions and questions that patients might need to have addressed so that they can be better informed about this relatively common health problem.
How Will You Know If You Are Suffering From Kidney Stones?
Unfortunately, kidney stones can have relatively subtle symptoms when they first start to develop. In particular, patients will often experience pain in their backs, nausea, more frequent urination, and pink or very dark urine. In some instances, it can be possible for the kidney stone to get stuck in the tract leading from the kidneys to the bladder. When this happens, you may experience an intense and sharp pain in your back or side. If you experience these symptoms, you will want to schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. Kidney stones will often continue to grow until they are treated or passed, which can complicate treatment.
What Causes A Person To Develop Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones form when calcium or uric acid starts to crystallize in the kidneys. Unfortunately, there are numerous factors that will play a role in a person's propensity to develop kidney stones. For example, diet, lifestyle, and genetics can all play a role in making a person vulnerable to this problem. If you find yourself especially vulnerable to developing kidney stones, you will want to make sure that you are drinking plenty of water, as this can help to prevent calcium or uric acid from crystallizing by keeping it diluted. Exercise can be another effective way of combating this problem, as sweating can help to remove some uric acid from the body.
How Are Kidney Stones Treated?
Sadly, when you develop a kidney stone, the best treatment option may be to wait and allow you to pass the stone naturally. While this can be painful, it may be the only practical option. However, there will be some people that develop kidney stones that are simply too large to pass naturally without causing serious damage. When this is the case, it may be possible for your doctor to break up these stones with the use of ultrasonic waves. While you will still need to pass the stone fragments, it will be easier for the smaller fragments to travel out of the body. In some cases, it may take multiple ultrasonic treatment sessions to fully break up the stone.
For more information on kidney stones, contact a urologist.
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