The kidneys are organs placed high in the back of the abdomen that are responsible for filtering the blood and producing urine. After it is filtered out, the urine runs down two tubes (one from each kidney) into the bladder. These tubes are called ureters. Kidney stones are one of the more common problems with the kidneys.
There are minerals in urine that would usually tend to form crystals. Except that inhibitors are usually produced in the kidneys to prevent that. For people who don’t produce these inhibitors or don’t respond to them normally, crystals can form and become a problem. In those already susceptible, certain foods can exacerbate the problem, but there are no foods that appear to cause the problem in people without previous susceptibility.
A tiny stone can pass through the ureter and be excreted with the urine. People with these types of stones never even know they have them. However, larger ones are too big to pass through the small diameter of the ureter, and get stuck in the kidneys. When the stone gets stuck, the first symptom is extreme pain.
The typical treatment includes drinking lots of liquids, and if needed, taking painkillers. Patients are instructed to catch their stone with a strainer and give it to their doctor, to check that there is not something more serious occurring. In most cases, efforts to pass the stone this way are successful.
If the stone is too big to pass, surgery used to be the only option. Now, less invasive procedures are often done instead, such as using shock waves to break up the stone so that it can pass. Running a specialized tube up the ureter with a tool on it that then crushes the stone is also an option in some cases. Though they do have some side effects, these measures are less likely to cause problems than surgery.
For people who have gotten kidney stones, preventative measures are essential, as they are more susceptible to future ones. Limiting certain foods that are high in oxalates and not taking calcium supplements (though dietary calcium appears alright) are often prescribed. If this is not enough, medications can be added.
If you would like more information by Neil Baulch about Kidney Stone Treatment then head over to our Kidney Stones resources on site.
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