The function of kidneys is to filter waste from the blood which creates urine. Occasionally salts and other minerals can stick together to form small kidney stones. Kidney stones can range in size from a sugar crystal or a ping pong ball, typically the only time these are noticed is when they cause blockage.
Some symptoms of kidney stones include severe pain in the back, belly or groin; frequent or painful urination, blood in the urine or nausea and vomiting. Smaller kidney stones may pass without causing symptoms. Kidney stones are rarely diagnosed before causing pain, the pain is usually severe enough to send patients to the ER. A variety of tests can be done to uncover the stones such as a CT scan, X-rays, etc.
A doctor may recommend you take pain medicine if the stone appears small enough to pass out of the body on its own. Your doctor will also recommend drinking about 8-10 glasses of water/fluids a day to keep urine clear. A form of treatment however is shock wave therapy. This therapy uses high energy shock waves that break the kidney stone into little pieces to allow the pieces to travel through the urinary tract easier. Side effects of this can be bleeding, bruising or pain after the procedure.
Kidney stones can form when there's a change in the normal balance of the water, salts and minerals found in urine. Drinking too little water is the most common cause of kidney stones. Diet also plays a key role in the development of kidney stones. Eating a lot of protein and sodium such as chocolate, or dark green vegetables can boost the risk of kidney stones for some.
White men in their 40's as well as women in the 50's have a higher risk of developing kidney stones or if you have a family history of kidney stones. Soldiers are also at high risk for kidney stones. Soldiers in desert environments are in hot climates, protective clothing and don't drink enough water. This puts them at risk for kidney stones.
Some symptoms of kidney stones include severe pain in the back, belly or groin; frequent or painful urination, blood in the urine or nausea and vomiting. Smaller kidney stones may pass without causing symptoms. Kidney stones are rarely diagnosed before causing pain, the pain is usually severe enough to send patients to the ER. A variety of tests can be done to uncover the stones such as a CT scan, X-rays, etc.
A doctor may recommend you take pain medicine if the stone appears small enough to pass out of the body on its own. Your doctor will also recommend drinking about 8-10 glasses of water/fluids a day to keep urine clear. A form of treatment however is shock wave therapy. This therapy uses high energy shock waves that break the kidney stone into little pieces to allow the pieces to travel through the urinary tract easier. Side effects of this can be bleeding, bruising or pain after the procedure.
Kidney stones can form when there's a change in the normal balance of the water, salts and minerals found in urine. Drinking too little water is the most common cause of kidney stones. Diet also plays a key role in the development of kidney stones. Eating a lot of protein and sodium such as chocolate, or dark green vegetables can boost the risk of kidney stones for some.
White men in their 40's as well as women in the 50's have a higher risk of developing kidney stones or if you have a family history of kidney stones. Soldiers are also at high risk for kidney stones. Soldiers in desert environments are in hot climates, protective clothing and don't drink enough water. This puts them at risk for kidney stones.