Formally known as Renal Calculus, kidney stones are formed from the dietary minerals that collect in the kidney and work their way into the ureter or bladder. They are formed aggregately from the following minerals and chemical compounds:
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Zinc
- Iodine
- Struvite (phosphate mineral)
- Uric acid (heterocyclic compound [carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen])
Interestingly, kidney stones while being a source of poor health or morbidity in both men and woman, mainly (80% of cases) afflict men in the 30 to 40 year age group; women more commonly develop the malady later in life.
The stones are usually passed thru the urinary tract without causing problems but can cause blockages in the ureter if larger than 3 millimeters in diameter. Once blockage occurs the condition Renal Colic may develop; consisting of swelling, Atrophy (the wasting away of human tissue) and ureter spasms that come in waves of 20 to 60 minutes.
The picture shows the size they can grow to.
Symptoms
Renal colic is one of the severest pain sensations known to distress the human condition. It is described as radiating from the kidney area to the groin and inner thigh. The source of the pain comes from peristaltic contractions from the ureter as it tries to dislodge the stone. This conditions is usually accompanied by:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Blood or pus in the urine
- Painful urination
- Urinary urgency
- Restlessness
- Sweating
Causes
The main cause in developing kidney stones is abnormal dietary intake and low fluid intake. Calcium (supplements) seem to be one of the main culprits in this anomaly; some studies have shown that people taking supplementary calcium tablets have a higher than normal risk of kidney stones development. Higher consumption of dietary calcium does not seem to contribute to kidney stones development and may actually act as a preventive catalyst in the process. Similarly, high dietary intakes of potassium and magnesium promote the increased excretion of citrate in the urine, an inhibitor of crystal formation in the urine. Other electrolytes may influence the formation of kidney stones such as high dietary sodium and fluoride in drinking water. Surplus sulfurous amino acids, uric acid along with other types of acidic metabolites in animal protein acidifies urine, which will promote kidney stones the formationation by drawing calcium from bones. This Supersaturating of urine solution contain more solutes than the solvent can hold, forming seed crystals or the beginning of a kidney stone, but calcium based stones may be more complex. Kidney stones most likely are the result of a combination of factors, rather than one specific cause; however, they may be more common in people who do not consume enough water, have a diet high in animal protein and low in calcium.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of kidney stones is made on the basis of the location, severity and nature of the pain. (comes and goes in spasmodic waves) The conclusion is based on the following evidence:
- Health history
- Physical examination
- Urinalysis
- Radiographic studies
- Ultrasound exams
- Blood tests
Treatment
The first phase of treatment is usually pain control in hopes a small stone will eventually pass; up to 98% of small stones are expelled within four weeks of the initial symptoms.[1] If this is not successful, stone size and location are the deciding factor in further treatment. Another form of expulsion therapy involves the use of medicinal agents such as tamsulosin and nifedipine.[2] These agents may also be used in conjunction with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy,[1] a non-surgical, externally applied treatment that makes use of focused acoustic pulses to break up the stone. More invasive forms of treatment (minimal invasive surgery [local]) may be needed such as cystoscopic procedures (optical fibers and lens [Laser lithotripsy]) that use a laser pulses to break up stone or percutaneous techniques that utilize a needle puncture and catheter to insert a Ureteral stent to bypass the obstruction. Prompt surgery may be require if the patient has only one working kidney, a urinary tract infection or bilateral obstructing stones.
Dietary Preventive Measures & Natural Kidney Stones Treatment
These measures are meant to be suggestive and by no means should be a substitute for your doctor’s advice. If you are displaying any symptoms of this ailment consult your doctor at once. A normalized diet can be both a preventive mechanism and a therapy model for the avoidance of kidney stones. The following recommendations will minimize the risk of the forming of kidney stones:[3]
- Increase fluid intake in things that are rich in citrate (such as orange juice and lemonade), the aim is to increase the output of urine in excess of two liters a day
- Limit the daily intake of sodium to 2300 mg or less
- As best you can, keep up an intake of calcium somewhere around 1000 – 1200 mg daily
- Limit the daily intake of vitamin C to 1000 mg or less
- Limit the amount you eat of foods such as dark chocolate, nuts, wheat germ, strawberries, spinach, brewed tea, rhubarb, cocoa, as they are high in oxalate
- Limit meals of animal protein – 2 or less daily, with a total of less than 6 – 8 ounces (For males, a connection has been found between animal protein and recurring kidney stones, but this was not found in females.)[4]
Footnotes
- Miller, NL; Lingeman, JE (2007). “Management of kidney stones”. BMJ 334 (7591): 468–72. doi:10.1136/bmj.39113.480185.80. PMC 1808123. PMID 17332586.
- Seitz, C; Liatsikos, E, Porpiglia, F, Tiselius, HG, Zwergel, U (2009 Sep). “Medical therapy to facilitate the passage of stones: what is the evidence?”. European urology 56 (3): 455–71. PMID 19560860.
- Paterson, R; Fernandez, A; Razvi, H; Sutton, R (2010). “Evaluation and medical management of the kidney stone patient”. Canadian Urological Association Journal 4 (6): 375–9. PMC 2997825. PMID 21191493.
- Taylor, EN; Curhan, GC (2006 Sep). “Diet and fluid prescription in stone disease.”. Kidney international 70 (5): 835-9. PMID 16837923.
