symptom of kidney stones : Preventing the Formation of Kidney Stones

If you are prone to kidney stones, or would like to avoid kidney stones in future, the most effective preventive measure is drinking a lot of fluids, especially water. Two to three liters of water a day is enough to flush your kidneys thoroughly of contaminants.

o It would help to learn the type of stones that are formed in the kidneys, and the cause of formation too. You could change your eating habits accordingly and adjust the intake of certain types of salts and minerals that help in the formation of kidney stones.

If you are prone to calcium stones, you could discuss the matter with your doctor, who may suggest you to lower your calcium intake. Foods that are rich in calcium are milk and milk products, and leafy vegetables.

If your kidneys have uric acid stones, then reducing your meat, poultry and fish intake will surely help. Your doctor may also prescribe medication to manage the uric acid level in the urine.

People, who get struvite stones, could be given antibiotics to help remove bacterial infection.

If you have had a kidney stone once, there is always a likelihood of its recurrence. Thus, it would be in your best interest to follow the advice on prevention.

Copyright Ashely Farrar

symptom of kidney stones : Types of Kidney Stones

The crystals in the urine are responsible for kidney stones. When there is an imbalance in the minerals and salts found in the urine, it may lead to their formation. Different types of stones are formed depending on the salts present in the urine.

Calcium Stones: These are the most commonly occurring kidney stones. 75% to 85% of all kidney stone cases are calcium stone based. These stones comprise of calcium and oxalate, which are introduced to the body through the food we eat. Excessive intake of calcium and oxalate can help form calcium stones. Besides, excessive vitamin D intake, and hyperactive parathyroid glands can also cause kidney stones.

Struvite Stones: These stones are not very common and are found mostly in women. The bacteria that cause urinary tract infection are responsible for the production of ammonia. Struvite stones, also known as infection stones, are formed when there is excessive ammonia in the urine.

Uric Acid Stones: People who eat meat products in excess run the risk of forming uric acid stones, as meat ingestion leads to production of uric acid, a by-product of protein metabolism.

Cystine Stones: These are the least common of all stones and are made from cystine, an amino acid. Cystinuria, a hereditary disorder, is responsible for the formation of cystine stones.

by Ashely Farrar

symptom of kidney stones : Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are hard stone-like substance that forms in the kidneys. They may not trouble you as long as they are settled in one or both the kidneys. It is only when a kidney stone moves out of the kidney and enters the ureter (the tube that carries urine) on its way to the bladder that the pain begins. The pain can be from mild to severe depending on the size and shape of the kidney stone. The stone can block the flow of urine, and may cause bleeding too.

Kidney stone formation is a common occurrence and the stones are so tiny that they pass out with the urine without any hindrance. The larger ones may cause pain and make things miserable before making their way out of the body. A large stone may get stuck in the ureter causing pressure and pain. Chances of infection rise if the stone remains stuck in the ureter for long. This may also lead to damage of the kidneys.

Types of Kidney Stones

The crystals in the urine are responsible for kidney stones. When there is an imbalance in the minerals and salts found in the urine, it may lead to their formation. Different types of stones are formed depending on the salts present in the urine.

Calcium Stones: These are the most commonly occurring kidney stones. 75% to 85% of all kidney stone cases are calcium stone based. These stones comprise of calcium and oxalate, which are introduced to the body through the food we eat. Excessive intake of calcium and oxalate can help form calcium stones. Besides, excessive vitamin D intake, and hyperactive parathyroid glands can also cause kidney stones.

Struvite Stones: These stones are not very common and are found mostly in women. The bacteria that cause urinary tract infection are responsible for the production of ammonia. Struvite stones, also known as infection stones, are formed when there is excessive ammonia in the urine.

Uric Acid Stones: People who eat meat products in excess run the risk of forming uric acid stones, as meat ingestion leads to production of uric acid, a by-product of protein metabolism.

Cystine Stones: These are the least common of all stones and are made from cystine, an amino acid. Cystinuria, a hereditary disorder, is responsible for the formation of cystine stones.

Preventing the Formation of Kidney Stones

o If you are prone to kidney stones, or would like to avoid kidney stones in future, the most effective preventive measure is drinking a lot of fluids, especially water. Two to three liters of water a day is enough to flush your kidneys thoroughly of contaminants.

o It would help to learn the type of stones that are formed in the kidneys, and the cause of formation too. You could change your eating habits accordingly and adjust the intake of certain types of salts and minerals that help in the formation of kidney stones.

o If you are prone to calcium stones, you could discuss the matter with your doctor, who may suggest you to lower your calcium intake. Foods that are rich in calcium are milk and milk products, and leafy vegetables.

o If your kidneys have uric acid stones, then reducing your meat, poultry and fish intake will surely help. Your doctor may also prescribe medication to manage the uric acid level in the urine.

o People, who get struvite stones, could be given antibiotics to help remove bacterial infection.

If you have had a kidney stone once, there is always a likelihood of its recurrence. Thus, it would be in your best interest to follow the advice on prevention.

by Ashely Farrar

symptom of kidney stones : Kidney Cleansing For Good Health

Why is kidney cleansing important? Every day, your kidneys process the blood and helps to sift out waste products (like mercury, copper, arsenic-bound chemicals and other toxins) and extra water. The waste and extra water become urine. The urine then flows to your bladder through the ureters. Your bladder stores urine until you go to the bathroom. When your kidneys become overloaded with toxins, diseases of the kidneys and bladder can happen as you are unable to discharge the waste and urine from your body.

When you do kidney cleansing, you help to cleanse the toxin built-up from the kidneys and the bladder. A cleansed kidney works optimally in its function to filter out pollutants, drugs, chemicals and other harmful materials. When you do a kidney cleanse, you also help to eliminate urinary tract infections and dissolves kidney stones.
What are some of the other functions of the kidneys? Other than being vital in the elimination of metabolic wastes, your kidneys also help to regulate your blood pressure, maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, activates Vitamin D, helps in maintaining acid-base balance (excretes alkaline salts).

What are the signs and symptoms of an ailing kidney? Lower back pain, edema ("water holding") in the lungs, legs, abdomen, etc, pains that are manifested elsewhere due to poor kidney health.

How do you do a kidney cleanse? There are hundreds of herbal recipes, and many different homeopathic remedies used for cleansing kidney stones. One popular way to cleanse kidney is to a watermelon cleanse. Just purchase 20 - 100 kg of watermelon (which will make up a few huge melons) and sit in a bath filed with water. Eat all the watermelon throughout a day (as much as you can), while continually empting your urinary bladder into the water.

You will need a lot of liquid to cleanse the insides of your body. You can also choose to do water fast or a juice fast to help you produce a gallon of urine a day.

During fasting, avoid strenuous exercise. Light yoga, walking, gardening are all excellent means to stimulate your body metabolism.

However, do note that before you embark on any program, please first consult your health practitioner on how you can best do a kidney cleanse.

How to have good kidney health? It is possible to dissolve all your kidney stones in 3 weeks, but if you continue to drink tea, coffee, carbonated drinks and eat unhealthily on a consistent basis, you will begin to make new ones.

To maintain a healthy kidney, begin a regular exercise regime and also avoid alcohol, red meat, smoked meats, canned fish and canned pork. Continue to drink plenty of water and fluids everyday!

by Sandra Kim Leong

symptom of kidney stones : What Happens

A kidney stone begins as a tiny piece of mineral in the kidney. When the urine leaves the kidney, it may carry the mineral out, or the mineral may stay in the kidney. If the piece of mineral stays in the kidney, over time more small pieces of mineral join it and form a larger kidney stone.

Most stones leave the kidney and travel through the urinary tract when they are still small enough to pass easily out of the body. No treatment is necessary for these stones. Larger stones, however, may become stuck in the tubes that carry urine from the kidney to the bladder (ureters). This can cause pain and possibly block the urine from flowing to the bladder and out of the body. The pain often becomes worse over 15 to 60 minutes until it is severe and constant. The pain may ease when the stone no longer blocks the flow of urine, and it often goes away when the stone passes into the bladder. Medical treatment is often necessary for larger stones.

The smaller a stone is, the more likely it is to exit the body (pass) on its own. About 90% of stones smaller than 5 mm(0.2 in.) and about half the stones 5 mm(0.2 in.) or larger pass on their own.1 You need more than home treatment for only 10% to 20% of stones.1
The average time a stone takes to pass ranges between 1 and 3 weeks, and two-thirds of stones that pass on their own pass within 4 weeks of the symptoms appearing.2, 1
Almost half of all people who get kidney stones will get more stones within 5 years unless they take preventive measures.3 When you have kidney stones several times over a period of years, the length of time between stones tends to get shorter. It is not possible to say who will have more stones in the future and who will not.

© 1995-2006, Healthwise, Incorporated, P.O. Box 1989, Boise, ID 83701. All Rights Reserved.

symptom of kidney stones :Kidney stones treatment

Treatment depends on the type and cause of the stone. Most stones can be treated without surgery. Drinking lots of water (two and a half to three litres per day) and staying physically active are often enough to move a stone out of the body.

However, if there is infection, blockage, or a risk of kidney damage, a stone should always be removed. Any infection is treated with antibiotics first. Stones that are too large to pass can be removed in several ways:

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)
This is the most common method and does not involve a surgical operation. Instead, shock waves are used to break the stones into crystals small enough to be passed in the urine. The shock waves do not hurt, although some people feel some discomfort at the time of the procedure and shortly afterwards.

Ureteroscopic stone removal
If a stone is lodged in the ureter, a flexible narrow instrument called a cystoscope can be passed up through the urethra and bladder. The stone is "caught" and removed, or shattered into tiny pieces with a shock wave. This procedure is usually done under a general anaesthetic.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)
If ESWL doesn't work or a stone is particularly large, it may be surgically removed under general anaesthetic. The surgeon makes a small cut in the back and uses a telescopic instrument called a nephroscope to pull the stone out or break it up with shock waves.

Parathyroid surgery
A small benign tumour in the parathyroid glands (in the neck) can be the cause of the chemical imbalance resulting in kidney stones. If this is the case, the tumour can be surgically removed.

Prevention
Knowing the exact cause and type of stone enables people to make changes that can help prevent further stones.

To help prevent any type of stone, fluid intake should be two to three litres per day - water is best.

People who get calcium stones should cut down on foods that have high levels of calcium (dairy products and leafy green vegetables), and oxalate (chocolate, tea, rhubarb, cooked spinach and asparagus). It's important to discuss dietary changes with a doctor – not everyone finds them helpful.

People who get uric acid stones should eat less meat, fish and poultry. Also to help prevent uric acid stones, medicine may be prescribed to control the level of uric acid in the urine.

People who get struvite or "infection" stones need to keep the urine free of bacteria that can cause infection. This may mean taking long-term antibiotics.

National Kidney Federation (UK)

symptom of kidney stones ; What causes kidney stones?

Kidney stones form when the salts and minerals that are normally found in the urine become out of balance. Different kinds of kidney stones are formed from salts in the urine.

Calcium stones
These are the most common type of kidney stones. They are made of calcium and oxalate, which are chemicals found naturally in certain foods (see "Prevention", below for examples of these foods). A diet with a high content of calcium and oxalate can increase the concentration of these chemicals in the urine and make it more likely for stones to form. Other factors include:

excess vitamin D,
overactive parathyroid glands,
medical conditions such as cancer, some kidney diseases, or a disease called sarcoidosis.
Uric acid stones
Excess amounts of uric acid can be caused by eating a lot of meat. Conditions such as gout and treatments such as chemotherapy can also increase the risk of getting uric acid stones.

Struvite stones (infection stones)
These are caused by too much ammonia in the urine. Ammonia is a chemical produced by the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections. This kind of stone is most often found in women.

Cystine stones
These are caused by a hereditary disorder called cystinuria, which affects about one per cent of men and women.

National Kidney Federation (UK)
0845 6010209

symptom of kidney stones ; How kidney stones are diagnosed

Doctors can usually diagnose kidney stones by asking about symptoms and doing a physical examination. Further tests may be done to confirm the diagnosis, reveal the size, location and identity of the stone. These include:

Blood tests: to identify excess amounts of certain chemicals related to the formation of stones.
Urine analysis: patients are asked to give a urine sample for testing, and may be asked to collect urine over 24 hours to analyse it for the chemicals that cause stones.
X-rays: stones that contain calcium show up white on the X-ray.
Intravenous urogram (IVU): an X-ray involving an injection of special dye to show up stones that can't be seen with X-rays alone.
Ultrasound scan: this uses high frequency sound waves to produce an image of the internal organs.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the type and cause of the stone. Most stones can be treated without surgery. Drinking lots of water (two and a half to three litres per day) and staying physically active are often enough to move a stone out of the body.

However, if there is infection, blockage, or a risk of kidney damage, a stone should always be removed. Any infection is treated with antibiotics first. Stones that are too large to pass can be removed in several ways:

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)
This is the most common method and does not involve a surgical operation. Instead, shock waves are used to break the stones into crystals small enough to be passed in the urine. The shock waves do not hurt, although some people feel some discomfort at the time of the procedure and shortly afterwards.

Ureteroscopic stone removal
If a stone is lodged in the ureter, a flexible narrow instrument called a cystoscope can be passed up through the urethra and bladder. The stone is "caught" and removed, or shattered into tiny pieces with a shock wave. This procedure is usually done under a general anaesthetic.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)
If ESWL doesn't work or a stone is particularly large, it may be surgically removed under general anaesthetic. The surgeon makes a small cut in the back and uses a telescopic instrument called a nephroscope to pull the stone out or break it up with shock waves.

Parathyroid surgery
A small benign tumour in the parathyroid glands (in the neck) can be the cause of the chemical imbalance resulting in kidney stones. If this is the case, the tumour can be surgically removed.

Prevention
Knowing the exact cause and type of stone enables people to make changes that can help prevent further stones.

To help prevent any type of stone, fluid intake should be two to three litres per day - water is best.

People who get calcium stones should cut down on foods that have high levels of calcium (dairy products and leafy green vegetables), and oxalate (chocolate, tea, rhubarb, cooked spinach and asparagus). It's important to discuss dietary changes with a doctor – not everyone finds them helpful.

People who get uric acid stones should eat less meat, fish and poultry. Also to help prevent uric acid stones, medicine may be prescribed to control the level of uric acid in the urine.

People who get struvite or "infection" stones need to keep the urine free of bacteria that can cause infection. This may mean taking long-term antibiotics.

National Kidney Federation (UK)
0845 6010209

symptom of kidney stones : How can I avoid developing kidney stones?

People who have had more than one kidney stone are likely to form another. Therefore, prevention is very important. To prevent stones from forming, their cause must be determined. The urologist will order laboratory tests, including urine and blood tests. He or she will also ask about the patient's medical history, occupation and dietary habits. If a stone has been removed, or if the patient has passed a stone and saved it, the lab can analyze the stone to determine its composition.

A simple and most important lifestyle change to prevent stones is to drink more liquids -- water is best. A recurrent stone former should try to drink enough liquids throughout the day to produce at least 2 quarts of urine in every 24-hour period.

Patients with too much calcium or oxalate in the urine may need to eat fewer foods containing calcium and oxalate. Patients may be told to avoid food with added vitamin D and certain types of antacids that have a calcium base. Not everyone will benefit from a low-calcium diet, however. Some patients who have high levels of oxalate in their urine may benefit from extra calcium in their diet.

Patients who have a very acid urine may need to eat less meat, fish, and poultry. These foods increase the amount of acid in the urine.

Certain medications prevent calcium and uric acid stones. Another way a doctor may try to control hypercalciuria, and thus prevent calcium stones, is by prescribing certain diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide. These drugs decrease the amount of calcium released by the kidneys into the urine.

Some type of surgery may be needed to remove a kidney stone if the stone:

does not pass after a reasonable period of time and causes constant pain,

is too large to pass on its own,

blocks the urine flow,

causes ongoing urinary tract infection,

damages the kidney tissue or causes constant bleeding, or

has grown larger (as seen on follow up x-ray studies).

Until recently, surgery to remove a stone was very painful and required a lengthy recovery time (4 to 6 weeks). Today, treatment for these stones is greatly improved. Many options exist that do not require major surgery, like lithotripsy, or sending shock waves to break up the stones.

Copyright © 2000-2006 Adviware Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

symptom of kidney stones : How do you know if you have a kidney stone?

Usually, the first symptom of a kidney stone is extreme pain. The pain often begins suddenly when a stone moves in the urinary tract, causing irritation or blockage. Typically, a person feels a sharp, cramping pain the back and side in the area of the kidney or in the lower abdomen. Sometimes nausea and vomiting occur with this pain. Later, the pain may spread to the groin.

If the stone is too large to pass easily, the pain continues as the muscles in the wall of the tiny ureter try to squeeze the stone along into the bladder. As a stone grows or moves, blood may be found in the urine. As the stone moves down the ureter closer to the bladder, a person may feel the need to urinate more often or feel a burning sensation during urination.

If fever and chills accompany any of these symptoms, an infection may be present. In this case, a doctor should be contacted immediately.

Copyright © 2000-2006 Adviware Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

symptom of kidney stones : What are kidney stones

Most people have two kidneys which "clean" the blood. They filter out water and waste products, making urine.
Kidney stones are formed out of crystals found in the urine. In most cases, the crystals are too tiny to be noticed, and pass harmlessly out of the body. However, they can build up inside the kidney and form much larger stones.

If a stone becomes large enough to block the flow of urine out of the kidney, it can cause pressure, pain and infection. If a stone moves out of the kidney with the flow of urine, it can cause severe pain as it moves through the ureters ?the tubes that carry urine from the kidney to the bladder. If a stone gets stuck, an infection can occur. Depending on its size and position, an untreated kidney stone could cause permanent damage to the kidneys.

Depending on where they are located, kidney stones are also known as renal calculi, urinary calculi, urinary tract stone disease, nephrolithiasis, urolithiasis, and ureterolithiasis.

What causes kidney stones?
Kidney stones form when the salts and minerals that are normally found in the urine become out of balance. Different kinds of kidney stones are formed from salts in the urine.

Calcium stones
These are the most common type of kidney stones. They are made of calcium and oxalate, which are chemicals found naturally in certain foods (see "Prevention", below for examples of these foods). A diet with a high content of calcium and oxalate can increase the concentration of these chemicals in the urine and make it more likely for stones to form. Other factors include:

excess vitamin D,
overactive parathyroid glands,
medical conditions such as cancer, some kidney diseases, or a disease called sarcoidosis.
Uric acid stones
Excess amounts of uric acid can be caused by eating a lot of meat. Conditions such as gout and treatments such as chemotherapy can also increase the risk of getting uric acid stones.

Struvite stones (infection stones)
These are caused by too much ammonia in the urine. Ammonia is a chemical produced by the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections. This kind of stone is most often found in women.

Cystine stones
These are caused by a hereditary disorder called cystinuria, which affects about one per cent of men and women.

National Kidney Federation (UK)
0845 6010209
http://www.kidney.org.uk

symptom of kidney stones :Kidney Stones

A kidney stone is a solid mass, or crystal, that forms inside the urine. Kidney stones can be present in the ureters as well as the kidneys. They also vary in size from a spec of salt to the proportions of a golf ball. As long as the kidney stone is small enough, it is usually passed outside the body along with the urine stream. Kidney stones become extremely painful when the stone obstructs the flow of urine going out. In fact, passing a kidney stone can cause nausea, vomiting, and infection.

Kidney stone surgery is only done if the stone is too large and will not come out. The best way to treat a kidney stone is to never get one in the first place. To prevent a kidney stone from occurring, it is extremely important to watch your diet. First and foremost, you can avoid kidney stones by drinking plenty of water everyday. Additionally, a diet low in protein, salt, and nitrogen, and adequate in calcium will help to stop a kidney stone from appearing.

© 2005 MedicalHelpers.com

symptom of kidney stones : What is a kidney stone?

A kidney stone is a hard mass developed from crystals that separate from the urine and build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney. 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 the crystals remain tiny enough, they will travel through the urinary tract and pass out of the body in the urine without being noticed.

Kidney stones may contain various combinations of chemicals. The most common type of stone contains calcium in combination with either oxalate or phosphate. These chemicals are part of a person's normal diet and make up important parts of the body, such as bones and muscles.

A less common type of stone is caused by infection in the urinary tract. This type of stone is called a struvite or infection stone. A bit less common is the uric acid stone. Cystine stones are rare
Urolithiasis is the medical term used to describe stones occurring in the urinary tract. Other frequently used terms are urinary tract stone disease and nephrolithiasis. Doctors also use terms that describe the location of the stone in the urinary tract. For example, a ureteral stone (or ureterolithiasis) is a kidney stone found in the ureter. To keep things simple, however, the term "kidney stones" is used throughout this fact sheet.

Gallstones and kidney stones are not related. They form in different areas of the body. If you have a gallstone, you are not necessarily more likely to develop kidney stones.

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symptom of kidney stones : Kidney Stones in Adults

Kidney stones, one of the most painful of the urologic disorders, are not a product of modern life. Scientists have found evidence of kidney stones in a 7,000-year-old Egyptian mummy. Unfortunately, kidney stones are one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract. In 2000, patients made 2.7 million visits to health care providers and more than 600,000 patients went to emergency rooms for kidney stone problems. Men tend to be affected more frequently than women.

Most kidney stones pass out of the body without any intervention by a physician. Stones that cause lasting symptoms or other complications may be treated by various techniques, most of which do not involve major surgery. Also, research advances have led to a better understanding of the many factors that promote stone formation.

Introduction to the Urinary Tract
The urinary tract, or system, consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located below the ribs toward the middle of the back. The kidneys remove extra water and wastes from the blood, converting it to urine. They also keep a stable balance of salts and other substances in the blood. The kidneys produce hormones that help build strong bones and help form red blood cells.

Narrow tubes called ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, an oval-shaped chamber in the lower abdomen. Like a balloon, the bladder's elastic walls stretch and expand to store urine. They flatten together when urine is emptied through the urethra to outside the body

http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/stonesadults/index.htm