What you need to know about kidney stones

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor of General Surgery and Anesthesia, Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
Kidney stones occur in the urinary tract. If not detected and treated promptly, it can lead to many dangerous complications. So what is kidney stone disease? How do I know if I have a kidney stone?

1. Kidney stone disease

Kidney stones, also known as kidney stones, disease occurs when minerals in the urine are deposited in the kidneys, bladder, ureters... into solid crystals, most commonly calcium crystals. The size of the gravel can be up to several centimeters.
Kidney stones are formed when urine output decreases and mineral levels in the kidneys increase. When either or both of these phenomena persist for many days, there is a risk of kidney stone formation.
For small kidney stones that can be expelled with normal urination. However, the large stones when moving in the kidney, ureter, bladder ... cause rubbing, leading to damage and even blocking the urinary tract, leaving very unpredictable consequences.

2. Causes of kidney stone disease

Arbitrary use of drugs Self-prescribing, indiscriminate use of drugs without the instructions of a doctor can lead to kidney stones. According to statistics of experts in the UK, the long-term abuse of antibiotics will increase the risk of kidney stones. Some groups of antibiotics are mentioned such as: Cephalosporin, Penicillin...
Improper diet Habit of eating salty and fatty foods increases circulating volume, which means that minerals are filtered through the kidneys more. increases the risk of kidney stones.
Habit of drinking less water When the amount of water put into the body is too little, it is not enough for the kidneys to filter and excrete, this makes the urine become concentrated, creating conditions for minerals to recrystallize and cause disease. kidney stones.

Prolonged insomnia Kidney tissue will be able to regenerate damage when the body falls asleep. Therefore, when you have prolonged insomnia, this function will not be performed, the longer you stay, the higher the risk of kidney stones.
Fasting for breakfast Bile juice plays an important role in the digestion of food. Especially in the morning, the body needs a lot of energy after a long night of sleep. However, skipping breakfast causes bile to accumulate in the gallbladder and intestines leading to kidney stones.
Abstain from urinating Frequent urination causes minerals not to be eliminated but leads to deposition. When the amount of calcium accumulates large enough, stones will form in the kidneys.

3. Symptoms of kidney stones

Back pain, pain in the lower ribs The ureter is the passageway for urine from the kidney to the bladder. When stones are formed here, it will cause rubbing or blockage of urine leading to pain in the back, pain can spread to the lower abdomen, flanks and thighs.
Pain when urinating Kidney stones that move from the ureter to the bladder or from the bladder to the urethra (the last part before the urine is out) will cause pain or even sharp pain when urinating.
Blood in the urine The rubbing of the stone as it moves leads to lesions. This is considered a common symptom of kidney stones. Depending on the lesions, hematuria can be seen with the naked eye or must be observed under a microscope.
Urinary incontinence, urinary incontinence When stones are in the ureter or bladder, the patient will feel the urge to urinate and often urinate, however, the amount of urine is very little. This makes the body feel tired. Especially when the stone is in the ureter and causes obstruction, urine cannot enter the bladder and accumulate in the kidney, causing renal colic pain.
Feelings of nausea and vomiting The kidneys and intestines are related by nerves. Kidney stones can affect the digestive tract and make you nauseous and even vomiting.
Fever and chills Kidney stones can easily lead to urinary tract infections. Because, when the stone moves, causing damage or blocking the stone, urine cannot be expelled. All of these will increase the risk of infection upstream.
Kidney stone disease has a silent progression and is also very easily confused with other diseases. However, through the above symptoms, we can see that the pain around the navel area is not a symptom of kidney stones. Quickly go to medical facilities for examination if you suspect you have one of the above signs.

4. Treatment of kidney stones

Surgical treatment Doctors will consider the direction of surgical treatment, remove the stone, when the stone size is too large, causing serious damage and complications, immediate emergency care is needed. Currently, there are many modern methods used, with priority given to less invasive surgery such as: endoscopic percutaneous lithotripsy without surgery, laparoscopic lithotripsy, laparoscopic surgery...
At the Hospital Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the few hospitals in the country that well implements the endoscopic percutaneous lithotripsy technique, helping patients shorten treatment time, minimize risks and recover in a short time. best.
Medical treatment For small stone size or early stage of kidney stone disease, doctors may consider medical treatment direction. The main purpose of medical treatment is to support and create conditions for the patient to urinate. This is considered a safe method, suitable for the majority of patients and also effective in treatment. To achieve that, it is necessary to have a combination of requirements when using drugs such as: Increase the ability to erode stones, shorten the treatment time. Increase the amount of urine passing through the kidneys to help pass stones more easily. Anti-inflammatory, anti-infective, prevent complications.

5. Prevention of kidney stones

Should drink enough water in 1 day (2-3 liters of water/day). Lemon juice is a good choice because it can help prevent uric acid stones as well as calcium oxalate. Use caffeine sensibly. Limit products that increase the risk of kidney stone formation such as soda, iced tea, strawberries, nuts... Eat bland, cut down on salt. Limit foods high in fat and cholesterol. Maintain a reasonable body mass. Kidney stone disease has a silent progression, people with kidney stones may not realize until they go to the doctor.. If not detected and treated promptly, it will most likely lead to complications of kidney failure. Therefore, it is important to provide fish with knowledge about kidney stone disease for early recognition and prevention.

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