Kidney Stones: Common Causes, Symptoms & Prevention

Kidney stones can be an excruciatingly painful condition that affects millions of people globally. Moreover, these small, hard deposits forming in the kidneys cause pain and discomfort, affecting your quality of life. So, understanding the basics can help you manage and prevent them.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into Kidney Stones 101, explore the causes of kidney stones, identify the symptoms of kidney stones, and provide effective strategies for kidney stones prevention.

By reading the blog you can gain insights into these areas, and take steps to protect your kidney health. 

Kidney Stones 101 You Need To Checkout

• What are kidney stones? : When hard collections of salt and minerals made of calcium or uric acid form inside the kidney, they are kidney stones. Also, they travel to other parts of the urinary tract.
• Kidney stones size: Kidney stones can be tiny like a dot — a fraction of an inch. At the same time, others can grow to be a few inches across. Sometimes kidney stones can become large enough to take up the entire kidney.
• Stone formation: When too much of certain minerals accumulate in your urine, kidney stones build up. Also, poor hydration leads to your urine becoming more concentrated with higher levels of certain minerals. Consequently, if mineral levels are higher, it’s more likely that a kidney stone will form.
• Risk factors: People who have diabetes or obesity and a genetic condition called cystinuria are at risk.
• Symptoms: Smaller kidney stones are often harmless and do not show symptoms. Tiny stones continue from your bladder to your urethra and exit your body through your urine. It may take 31 to 45 days. 
• Medical help: You should seek medical help if the stone hasn’t passed within this timeframe. 
• Water intake: Drink a lot of water to help with the process of expelling the stone naturally. Doctors analyse the stone to determine the underlying cause. Large stones need medical procedures to be expelled from the body.
• Concerns: If you have a fever with a kidney stone or a urinary tract infection (UTI). seek medical attention. 

What are the symptoms of kidney stones?

If you have a 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 may have some symptoms like:

1. Pain in the back or side

Renal colic or kidney stone pain is extremely severe. The severe pain hits when a stone moves into the narrow ureter, creating a blockage and pressure in the kidney. The severe pressure activates nerve fibres sending pain signals to the brain. Also, the sudden pain changes in location and intensity as the stone moves.

Moreover, the kidney stone pain occurs in waves and gets worse by the ureter contracting as it tries to push the stone out. If you have kidney stones, you will feel the pain along the side and back, below the ribs, belly and groin as the stone moves through the urinary tract. Larger stones can be severely painful, however, even small stones can cause significant pain.

2. Pain or burning during urination

You will feel pain when the stone reaches the junction between your ureter and bladder while you urinate. Moreover, it is a sharp or burning pain often mistaken as a UTI. 

3. Urgent need to go

Kidney stone patients need to go to the bathroom more urgently or frequently than usual. At times urinary urgency can also mimic a UTI symptom.

4. Blood in the urine

Hematuria or blood in the urine is a common symptom in people with kidney stones. Also, the colour can be red, pink, or brown. Moreover, the blood cells are too small to see without a microscope.

5. Cloudy or smelly urine

Cloudy or foul-smelling urine indicates an infection in your kidneys or another part of your urinary tract. Very often, it is a sign of pus in the urine or pyuria. 

6. Going a small amount at a time

Large kidney stones create blockage when they get stuck in a ureter and can slow or stop urine flow. Consequently, you may only urinate a little bit each time you go. 

7. Nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting happen because of shared nerve connections between the kidneys and the GI tract. Moreover, kidney stones trigger nerves in the GI tract, leading to an upset stomach.

8. Fever and chills

Fever and chills indicate infection in your kidney or urinary tract. Moreover, it could lead to other serious problems besides kidney stones. 

Common Causes of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones can form due to various factors, including:

• Dehydration: If you have insufficient fluid intake, it can lead to concentrated urine, increasing the risk of stone formation.
• Dietary Factors: A diet high in sodium, oxalate, and animal protein can increase the chances of stone formation.
• Family History: If you have a family history of kidney stones, chances are there for developing them.
• Medical Conditions: Urinary tract infections, gout, and inflammatory bowel disease also increase the risk of stone formation.
• Obesity: The likelihood of kidney stones increases if you are overweight or obese.

Kidney Stones Prevention Guide

It is heartening that lifestyle modifications can help prevent the formation of kidney stones. According to nephrology experts, you can avoid kidney stones by following these changes:

Drink plenty of water

Water is the best remedy for numerous diseases. However, in the case of kidney stones, water is a boon. Therefore, aim to drink about 8 bottles of water each day. Also, drinking plentiful water allows for tiny stones to pass through urine. You may also choose to drink energy drinks, healthy soups, juices etc. 

Decrease the intake of sodium

Higher levels of sodium can lead to the development of kidney stones. Therefore, to prevent these stones, you should aim to reduce salt in your diet. 

Restrict your consumption of animal protein

Try to keep your intake of red meats, poultry, eggs, seafood etc to a minimum. Moreover, excess meat increases the amount of uric acid in your body and causes the formation of renal stones.

Avoid eating oxalate-rich foods

Oxalate is directly accountable for kidney stones. Therefore, restrict stone-forming food products like spinach, tea, chocolate, beets, rhubarb, sweet potatoes, black pepper and more. 

Maintain a healthy body weight

Keep an eye on having a healthy body weight. Therefore, to maintain a healthy weight you should focus on weight loss, participate in physical activity and eat a well-balanced diet.

Eat calcium-rich foods

Take adequate Calcium for oxalate reduction in your body.

Kidney Stones Prevention Using Medication

Preventing kidney stones with medication depends on several factors, including the type of stone. Moreover, kidney stones come in various forms, including calcium stones, uric acid stones, cystine stones, and struvite stones. Therefore, experienced nephrologists tailor medications to address specific conditions related to each type.

Therefore, follow the prescribed medication regimen diligently to minimise the risk of future kidney stones. Also, some home remedies might offer benefits, however, they also have drawbacks. So, consult your doctor for the best preventive measures tailored to your needs.

Conclusion

Don’t let kidney stones sneak up on you. You can keep your kidneys healthy by making smart lifestyle choices, staying hydrated, and following medical advice. But if you notice any unusual symptoms, you must get checked out immediately. Regular health screenings are your best defence against serious kidney issues.

Ready to take charge of your kidney health? See us at Dispur Polyclinic & Hospitals. Our kidney specialists in Guwahati are experts at preventing and treating stone formation. Why suffer through pain or costly treatments when you can nip problems in the bud?

Give us a ring at +91 8822669275 to book your visit. At Dispur Polyclinic & Hospitals, we’re committed to keeping your kidneys – and you – in top shape.