Kidney stones (Kidney stones)

What are kidney stones?

Kidney stones are a condition urinary disorders occurs when salts or chemicals in the urine form crystals. These crystals grow and clump together to form stones that block the flow of urine and can lead to serious complications including infection, kidney damage, or even kidney failure.

Types of kidney stones

• Calcium oxalate stones or calcium phosphate stones . Kidney stones are mainly calcium oxalate and less commonly calcium phosphate. Oxalate is a substance produced by the liver or absorbed from the daily diet. On the other hand, calcium phosphate stones are often found in people with metabolic diseases, such as renal tubular acidosis.
• Cystine stones . Made from cystine, an amino acid found in digestive enzymes. This rare type of stone forms in people with a genetic condition that causes the kidneys to excrete too much cystine into the urine.
• Struvite stones . These stones develop when there is a urinary tract infection. The bacteria produce ammonia that builds up in the urine.
• Uric acid stones . These stones form when urine is normally too acidic and uric acid can form stones on its own or calcium. Uric acid stones are common in people who lose too much water due to chronic diarrhea or eat a diet high in purines. People with diabetes or metabolic syndrome are also prone to uric acid stones.

Kidney stones mainly affect men between the ages of 20 and 40.

What are the symptoms of kidney stones?

Symptoms of kidney stones include:

• Blood in urine
• Difficulty urinating (if the stone is too large)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Painful urination
• Severe pain in the back and flank area of ​​the abdomen, radiating to the front and groin area
• No symptoms. Some stones, especially those that occur in the kidney fluid, may not cause any symptoms.

Request medical attention right away if you have pain so severe that you cannot find a comfortable position or sit still, and it is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fever and chills, blood in your urine, and difficulty urinating.

What causes kidney stones?

Kidney stones can occur when:

• Urine contains little or no substances that can usually prevent these minerals from building up into crystals.
• Urine contains more minerals (calcium, oxalate, phosphate, uric acid, or cystine) than can be diluted.
• Have other medical conditions such as cystic kidney disease, urinary tract infections, and metabolic disorders.

What factors increase the risk of kidney stones?

Risk factors that may increase your chances of developing kidney stones include:

• Diet-related factors such as low fluid intake while high salt intake, foods high in oxalate (e.g., peanuts, almonds, strawberries, tea, and coffee), and foods high in purine (e.g., organ meats and shellfish)
• Environmental factors such as living in hot climates that cause excessive sweating and low fluid intake, leading to decreased urine output and increased mineral concentrations in the urine
• Genetic factors including a family history of kidney stones

What are the complications and related diseases of kidney stones?

If left untreated, kidney stones can lead to more serious complications and illnesses, including:

• Kidney failure and loss of kidney function occurs when the kidneys lose their ability to filter waste from the blood sufficiently. The body becomes overloaded with toxins if the kidneys fail to do their job, which can be life-threatening.
• Infection . Kidney stones increase the risk of urinary tract infections by causing interruption of urine flow and stasis. Infection of a closed and infected urinary tract is an emergency and needs to be treated promptly.

How to prevent kidney stones?

You can reduce your risk of kidney stones by drinking enough water every day. Choosing a diet low in salt and animal protein and eating foods high in oxalate can also help prevent kidney stones from forming.

If you are at higher risk of kidney stones, ask your doctor about diet.