Kidney stone, also known as nephrolithiasis, renal calculi, or urolithiasis, is a condition in which stones deposits consisting of minerals and salts occur inside your kidneys. Various factors can play a role in causing it, including diet, excessive body weight, and certain medical conditions.
Kidney stones can occur in any part of the urinary tract. It can occur in the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, or urethra. Often kidney stones can form when urine becomes concentrated. Therefore drinking plenty of water can help prevent it. If you have a complaint of recurrent kidney stones, make a habit of drinking loads of water. Moreover, also visit the healthcare provider frequently. To get an expert opinion, you can consult the Best Urologist in Lahore.
Passing kidney stones can be highly painful. If not detected at earlier stages, they can obstruct the urinary tract. It can also affect the urine flow. Therefore if you have any symptoms of kidney stones, you should not take it lightly as it can lead to various complications.
You might be prone to kidney stones. To prevent them from recurring, your healthcare provider will prescribe preventive medications. Make sure you take them on time.
What Are The Symptoms Of Kidney Stones?
Often a kidney stone does not cause any symptoms until they get dislodged from its position in the kidney. When it moves around in the kidney or the ureters, it can cause severe pain and discomfort.
If a kidney stone gets dislodged it can obstruct the ureters, causing urine obstruction. It can cause urine backflow in the kidneys, leading to their swelling and spasm of the ureters. It can be a very painful condition, causing the following symptoms:
- Severe sharp pain that radiates from lower abdomen to groin
- Severe sharp pain below the ribs and the abdomen
- Pain comes in intensity and fluctuates
- Burning sensation and pain while urinating
- Nausea due to intense pain
The other symptoms associated with kidney stones can be:
- Urine might turn into orange brown
- Foul smelling or cloudy urine
- A persistent urge to urinate
- You might be urinating in small amounts with urgency
- Fever and chills if infection occurs.
A kidney stone can put you at risk of developing a urinary tract infection. Therefore, often with a kidney stone comes a urinary tract infection. Your healthcare provider will perform diagnostic tests and prescribe you antibiotics to treat the condition.
If kidney stones change their position in the kidney or travel to the ureters, the pain can also shift. You might feel pain in some other place instead of where you used to.
When Should You See A Doctor?
You must make an appointment with the doctor if you have any symptoms of kidney stones. Moreover, you should visit the emergency department if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Severe pain that you are unable to find a comfortable position
- Severe pain that starts from the back and radiates forward, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Sometimes it can also cause fever and chills.
- When you feel like you can not pass urine properly and your bladder is not getting empty.
What Are The Causes Of Kidney Stones?
There is no exact cause for kidney stones. However, various factors can increase the risk. Your urine contains crystals. But in some people, the number of crystals might be greater than normal. Therefore they are predisposed to kidney stones. Along with that, your urine may not contain substances that prevent the clumping together of crystals that promote stone formation.
What Are The Risk Factors For Kidney Stones?
Factors that increase the risk of kidney stones formation are:
- If anyone in your family has a history of kidney stones, you might be at increased risk for it.
- Moreover, if you already have a history of one or two kidney stones, you are at risk of developing other.
- Not drinking enough water.
- Eating a diet rich in sodium, calcium, and sugar may increase the risk of developing kidney stones.
- Being obese can increase the risk of developing kidney stones.
- Other health conditions such as renal tubular acidosis, cystinuria, repeated urinary tract infections, and hyperparathyroidism can put you at risk of developing kidney stones. If you get recurrent kidney stones, your healthcare providers will make you undergo a detailed evaluation.
There can be various risk factors for developing kidney stones. If you have the same complaint, you must seek professional help. To get an expert opinion, you can consult an Online Urologist.
