How to detect urinary stones?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Hung - Endocrinologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital. The doctor has 36 years of working experience.
Urinary stones are the most common pathology in the urinary system, accounting for 40-60% of urinary tract diseases. It belongs to the group of common diseases in Vietnam and is found in both men and women. If not diagnosed early and treated promptly, it will lead to extremely severe consequences, greatly affecting the work and quality of life of patients.

1. What is the cause of urinary stone formation?

The nature of the formation of stones in the urinary tract is due to the precipitation of certain substances in the urine along with the deposition of urine in the urinary system by some habits such as holding urine, drinking too little water or other things. Diseases that reduce the function of organs in the urinary system such as kidneys, bladder ... are also one of the factors that help stones develop smoothly. There are many causes and favorable conditions to help stones form and develop, which can be mentioned here such as:

1.1. Side effects of medications

Some patients are diagnosed with osteoporosis and have used a lot of calcium-containing functional foods, when the body cannot absorb all the calcium put into the body, it will be excreted through the kidneys, the amount of calcium will contribute to the formation of osteoporosis. urinary stones, typically calcium oxalate stones. In addition, the habit of abusing effervescent C tablets (containing a lot of vitamin C) when feeling tired is also a factor promoting the formation of kidney stones because Vitamin C increases the absorption of calcium from the intestines into the blood.

1.2. Living habits

Some bad habits such as trying to hold urine overnight, not drinking enough water every day makes urine stagnate and concentrated in the urinary system, making the process of stone formation more favorable.

1.3. Risk of stones from other diseases

Eating too much protein (using too much red meat, shrimp, seafood...) increases uric acid levels in the blood, when uric acid levels exceed the body's absorption threshold, it will be deposited in some areas. Organisms that cause Gout or deposition in the kidney will be a factor promoting the formation of urinary stones. Some other diseases such as prostate cancer or urinary tract infections are also risk factors for urinary stones.

2. How to detect urinary stones early?

The consequences of urinary stones are extremely serious, so early detection of the condition is extremely important. When experiencing some of the following symptoms, patients should see a urologist for an accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment.

2.1. Low back pain

When experiencing low back pain with a gradual intensity, gradually increasing and spreading to the groin and genitals on the same side, the patient must see a specialist immediately, this symptom suggests that your urinary tract is blocked. This leads to increased pressure on the kidney area, which is the cause of the pain.

2.2. Diarrhea, difficulty urinating or hematuria

Because when the stones are small and move in the urinary tract, the patient stimulates the patient's feeling of needing to urinate. In addition, because the stone is very hard and has many sharp edges, in the process of moving in the urinary tract it can cause rubbing and damage to the ureter and cause bleeding, which explains why the patient's urine is red. .

2.3. Painful erection of penis

When small stones move down the urethra combined with an erection that pumps blood and the cavernous body, the spongy body reduces the urethral cross-section, the stone rubs against the urethra, causing penile pain.

3. Screening for urinary stones

There are many suspicious signs that guide the appearance of stones in the urinary tract, but to be most accurate, it is necessary to visit a specialist to examine urolithiasis, where in addition to the clinical examination, the patient also used modern, accurate laboratory tests to diagnose urinary stones.
Some subclinical tests for urolithiasis can be mentioned such as:
Urinalysis
Urine test can detect components in urine such as white blood cells, red blood cells to help suggest the presence of The presence of bacteria or if the number of red blood cells is large is also one of the causes of urinary stones. Sedimentoscopy can detect crystals such as oxalate, phosphate, and calcium in the urine. Urine culture: A urine culture shows the exact status of urinary tract infection to provide the most appropriate treatment regimen. Urinary tract ultrasound:
Ultrasound is a safe, affordable method that not only evaluates the presence of stones in the urinary tract through characteristic images but also can evaluate the degree of dilation of the urinary tract. , renal pelvis, through which timely interventions can be obtained.

X-ray of the urinary system:
X-ray is one of the very valuable and highly sensitive measures in detecting urinary stones. Radiographs tell most of the problems of stones from location, number, size, shape... In addition, some X-ray techniques such as X-ray combined with intravenous contrast. Angiography or retrograde nephrography also assesses the excretory function of each kidney or the degree of dilation of the renal calyces... thereby helping the doctor to devise reasonable and effective strategies for each patient.
Quantification of PSA in the blood
PSA is an antigen secreted by the prostate gland, normal PSA levels in the blood are very small, but when the prostate has problems such as inflammation, enlargement, cancer PSA levels in the blood will change. Quantifying PSA helps doctors diagnose prostate enlargement early.
Vinmec International General Hospital deploys a package of urological examination and screening to help detect the possibility of urinary diseases early. Especially prostate diseases (benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostate cancer). The pathology of urinary stones .... thereby helping customers take preventive measures.

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