What are kidney stones?

Kidney stones, also known as renal lithiasis or nephrolithiasis, are a hard mass of minerals that form inside the kidney from substances in the urine, and sometimes can be the size of a grain of rice or larger, the size half of the palm of the hand.

Symptoms to watch out for

Kidney stones can sometimes cause symptoms when they first begin to move through the kidney or until they pass through the ureter; there may even be some that are asymptomatic and are only diagnosed with blood or urine tests.

Most of the time, these stones pass spontaneously, but sometimes they block the passage of urine, which can cause great discomfort.

It is estimated that between 10 and 15% of the population may have kidney stones, and there are different symptoms depending on their size and location.

Among the most common symptoms are:

• Strong pain on the sides and below the ribs.
• Pain from the lower abdomen and into the groin.
• Pain when urinating
• Cloudy, foul-smelling urine
• Constant need to want to urinate
• Fever and chills in case there is an infection
• Red, pink, or brown urine
• Urinating in small amounts and frequently

Causes for which you can have a stone

Kidney stones occur when the amount of substances such as calcium, phosphate or uric acid in the urine is greater than what the fluids can dilute, forming crystals.

In addition, sometimes urine may lack substances that prevent crystals from adhering to others, creating the perfect environment and environment for kidney stones to form.

That is why it is recommended that people drink enough water during the day, since in this way it is possible to prevent the formation of these crystals.

Types of kidney stones

There are different types of kidney stones, therefore, knowing the type of stone you have can help the specialist determine the cause and correctly evaluate the treatment to be carried out, as well as guide the patient in the appropriate way to reduce the risk to have more calculations.

The types of kidney stones are:

• Calcium stones:This is the most common type of stone and occurs most often in men between the ages of 20 and 30. Calcium can sometimes combine with other substances, such as oxalate and phosphate, to form the stone. Diet, excess vitamin D, intestinal bypass surgery, and certain metabolic disorders can increase the concentration of calcium or oxalate in the urine.
• Uric acid stones:form when urine is too acidic. These can occur in people who do not drink enough liquid or who have another history, such as overweight or diabetes. In turn, people who have a high protein diet are prone to having these types of stones. In addition, there are genetic factors that increase the risk of uric acid stones.
• Struvite stones:This type of stone can grow quickly and without symptoms. They are made of ammonium, phosphate, and magnesium. Its formation occurs when there are urinary tract infections, where bacteria change the chemical composition of urine.
• Cystine stones:This type of stone originates from a chemical that the body produces naturally, called cystine. These stones usually form in people with an inherited disorder, which causes the kidneys to expel too much of certain amino acids.

Risk factor’s

Anyone can get a kidney stone, but like any disease, some are more prone to it than others.

In fact, it is men who tend to have kidney stones more often than women. Also, you may be more likely to have a kidney stone if:

• Someone in your family has had kidney stones: if this happens or if you have had it before, you are more likely to have one again.
• You don’t drink enough water: 2 liters a day are recommended.
• You eat a diet high in protein and sodium: Excess salt in the diet increases the amount of calcium that the kidney filters, which increases the risk of kidney stones.
• Being overweight: A high body mass index and weight gain may be associated with an increased risk of kidney stones.
• In case of having chronic kidney disease.

Treatments for kidney stones

Treatment to remove kidney stones will depend on the type of stone, its size, and whether it is blocking the urinary tract.

• Shock wave lithotripsy: It consists of shock waves that break the stones in the kidney into small pieces so that they can pass through the urinary tract and leave the body through the urine.
• Ureteroscopy: This is done with a small probe to find and remove the stone. If the stone is small, the doctor may be able to remove it. If it is large, it may need to be broken into pieces using laser technology.
• Percutaneous: It is generally reserved for more complex cases and large stones. It consists of introducing a camera into the kidney through a small incision in the skin and then fragmenting and extracting the stones.

How can I prevent kidney stones?

The best way to prevent kidney stones is by drinking enough fluids every day and eating a balanced diet low in sodium.

It is necessary for your doctor to find out the type of stone you have, since in this way he can recommend a specific diet to prevent kidney stones in the future.