Kidney stones are clusters of minerals and other acid salts which form hard deposits in the kidney. Kidney stones are of various types and out of these calcium oxalate and uric acid stones are the common ones. Luckily this can be removed and nowadays many non-invasive methods are available too. But before getting there let’s know some other things about kidney stones.
KIDNEY STONES ARE SEEN IN?
- People who intake foods that contain lots of salt and sugar.
- People with unhealthy diets and lifestyles.
- Not drinking enough water can cause imbalance between water and the minerals in our body which eventually leads to the deposition of these minerals in the kidney and form stones.
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Increased level of uric acid
- Holding in urine for a long period of time.
SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:
- Severe abdominal pain
- Blood in urine
- Obstruction while urinating
- Painful urination
- Burning sensation on urination
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Dizziness
- Backache
Image Source: https://www.everydayhealth.com/kidney-stones/guide/symptoms/
HOW TO TREAT KIDNEY STONE?
- Drink plenty of water: When we drink a lot of water (water needed to form 3 to 3.5 litres of urine), it can help in the formation of a lot of urine which will help in urination. This is an effective way to eliminate small (up to 5mm) kidney stones. Now to drink water doesn’t mean that it can be tea or coffee.
- It takes about 1-3 weeks to remove this stone. The size of the stone is not so small and if it is located in the kidney then it can take around 4-6 weeks.
- Drugs like tamsulosin can be given to remove the kidney stone if it is in the ureter.
- Kidney stones which are greater than 5 or 10mm.
WHEN TO SWITCH TREATMENT?
- If water or medicines do not help in the removal of stones.
- Obstruction while urinating.
- Frequent urinary infections.
- Presence of blood whenever urinating.
- Severe pain or kidney problems caused by the kidney stone.
IS SURGERY THE ONLY OPTION OTHER THAN MEDS?
NO. While surgery is one option, today, with the advancement in technology there is no need for the knife to kiss our skin at all times. We can simply just break the stones.
- Open Stone Surgery: It is not done so often today.
- Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL): A small incision is made on the flank area and then a tube is passed through it to reach the kidney with x-ray guidance. Small telescope is also passed via tube to visualise. Kidney stones are broken using a laser and then removed from the body.
- Extra Corporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL): High energy shock waves also known as sound waves are passed through the body which helps to break the stone into small pieces. No need for any incision, non-incisional procedure. A drawback is that sometimes big stones won’t break. Evan after breaking the stones it can cause urinary obstruction if it is still big enough to cause an obstruction.
- Ureteroscopic Removal: A tube is passed via urethra which passes through the urinary bladder and reaches ureter to the area where the stone is located and removed. Stones formed away from the kidney or which are close to the ureter are removed via this method.
- Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS): Non-invasive, safe, faster and less painful procedure. A fiberoptic endoscope (which can be visualised) is passed through urethra and travels to the location of the stone and sends shock waves or with the help of laser it can be broken down and removed upon urination or on saline irrigation. Effective for 3-4 cm stones as well.
PREVENTING KIDNEY STONES
- Exercise regularly
- Drink plenty of water, 8 – 12 glasses per day
- Limit the intake of processed foods or high protein foods if uric acid level is high.
- Limit the intake of lemon juice (as it has the tendency to create stone in the kidney), make it less frequent.
- Bananas, pineapple and other foods that contain fibre can be consumed.
- Limit the use of tomatoes as this also has the capacity to create stones.
- Consume fruits as it is instead of transforming them into juice.
- Barley water, tender coconut water, and arrowroot water are good.
- Calcium oxalate is a common stone seen. So many of us think that we must limit calcium intake and this is not true and in fact it is to the contrary. High calcium foods must be consumed and along with that oxalate rich foods must also be eaten. Calcium and oxalate bind in the intestine to form a complex and then is excreted via faeces. But when calcium is decreased the oxalate in the intestine is void of function and enters into the bloodstream and goes into the urine and forms calcium oxalate stones.
Written by Gayathri Gopinadh