How Much Water Should I Drink With Kidney Stones
The best home remedy to encourage the stone to pass is to drink lots of fluids, especially plain water and citrus juices such as orange or grapefruit. The extra fluid causes you urinate more, which helps the stone move and keeps it from growing. You should aim for at least 2 to 3 quarts of water per day.
Are There Any Foods Or Drinks That Help Treat Kidney Stones Are There Any Home Remedies
There are three liquids rumored to help with kidney stones:
- Cranberry juice. Although cranberry juice can help prevent urinary tract infections , it doesnt help with kidney stones.
- Apple cider vinegar. Vinegar is acidic and it can sometimes create changes to your urine, which helps with kidney stones. But, this doesnt always help. Talk to your healthcare provider about the use of vinegar.
- Lemon juice. Lemon juice is rich in citrate, which can help prevent kidney stones from forming. Citrates are found in several citrus fruits including lemons, limes, oranges and melons.
- Coffee. Studies show that coffee may decrease your risk of developing kidney stones.
Avoid soda and other drinks with added sugar or fructose corn syrup. They increase your risk.
How Long Does It Take To Pass A Kidney Stone
The amount of time it can take for you to pass a kidney stone is different from anothers. A stone thats smaller than 4 mm may pass within one to two weeks. A stone thats larger than 4 mm could take about two to three weeks to completely pass.
Once the stone reaches the bladder, it typically passes within a few days, but may take longer, especially in an older man with a large prostate. However, pain may subside even if the stone is still in the ureter, so its important to follow up with your healthcare provider if you dont pass the stone within four to six weeks.
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Whats The Outlook For Kidney Stones
The outlook for kidney stones is very positive, although there is a risk of recurrence . Many kidney stones pass on their own over time without needing treatment. Medications and surgical treatments to remove larger kidney stones are generally very successful and involve little recovery time.
Its possible to get kidney stones multiple times throughout your life. If you keep developing kidney stones, your healthcare provider may work with you to discover why the stones happen. Once the cause is found, you may be able to make dietary changes to prevent future stones.
Let Kidney Stones Pass
Stones typically take several weeks to a few months to pass, depending on the number of stones and their size. Over-the-counter pain medications, like ibuprofen , acetaminophen , or naproxen , can help you endure the discomfort until the stones pass. Your doctor also may prescribe an alpha blocker, which relaxes the muscles in your ureter and helps pass stones quicker and with less pain.
If the pain becomes too severe, or if they are too large to pass, they can be surgically removed with a procedure called a ureteroscopy. Here, a small endoscope is passed into the bladder and up the ureter while you are under general anesthesia. A laser breaks up the stones, and then the fragments are removed.
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Water Helps Dissolve Small Stones
If you stay hydrated by drinking sufficient water throughout the day , you can prevent kidney stones from developing in the first place. Drink at least eight 8-10 ounce glasses of water every day to stay stone-free.
If you already have one or more small kidney stones that cause symptoms, though, water can also be a type of first aid to dissolve and pass them. Dr. Lesani recommends drinking about three liters of water per day to help your kidney stones pass on their own.
Even when you drink sufficient water, however, kidney stones dont dissolve overnight. In fact, even small stones can take weeks to months to pass. In the meantime, Dr. Lesani gives you medication to control the pain and recommends regular check-ins.
He also advises changing your diet to eliminate foods that are associated with kidney stones, such as those high in purines or sodium. The DASH diet is a good choice for kidney health.
Historical Sequence Of Events
Distinct stratigraphic layering on the scale of 10s to 100s of nanometers is revealed by auto-fluorescence , generated by changes in organic matter composition . We interpret the crystalline architecture of COD, COM and UA in kidney stones using the Law of Superposition , proposed in 1667 by Nicholas Steno, a Danish physician and pioneering geobiologist,. Our observations are synthesized into a historical sequence of events .
Figure 1
Historical sequence of events constructed from super-resolution auto-fluorescence images of the MP2 calcium oxalate kidney stone. The HSE. Sketch depicting individual HSE events. Representative SRAF image composed of merged three pseudo-colored red, green and blue channels. Brightness and contrast of the RGB channel intensities are adjusted to highlight the dark crystalline fabrics. Raw images with and without adjustments are presented in Supplementary Fig. .
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How Are Kidney Stones Diagnosed
Your healthcare provider will discuss your medical history and possibly order some tests. These tests include:
- Imaging tests: An X-ray, CT scan and ultrasound will help your healthcare provider see the size, shape, location and number of your kidney stones. These tests help your provider decide what treatment you need.
- Blood test: A blood test will reveal how well your kidneys are functioning, check for infection and look for biochemical problems that may lead to kidney stones.
- Urine test: This test also looks for signs of infection and examines the levels of the substances that form kidney stones.
How Successful Are These Treatments
In short dubious at best. There have been many reports of people using these natural methods, but the efficacy is unsubstantiated. Some people report success, but none of these treatments are based in scientific fact. For every anecdotal success story posted online, there are hundreds more stories of failures . So, what natural remedies DO work?
4. Lab Grade Chanca Piedra
Lab grade chanca piedra has shown high rates of success in kidney stone treatment. This herbal remedy breaks down and prevents the development of new kidney stones. The clinical benefits of all-natural Chanca Piedra are related to ureteral relaxation and to a putative reduction of the excretion of urinary crystallization promoters such as calcium. It first grabbed the attention of the scientific community in a 2002 study on rodents which demonstrated it slowed or halted kidney stone growth. Further studies indicated lab grade Chanca Piedra actually interferes with the process that would normally cause stones to form.
Professor Dr. Nestor Schor speaking about his research on lab grade Chanca Piedra:
Treatment with Phyllanthus niruri strongly inhibited the growth of the stones and reduced the number of stones
These results show that Phyllanthus niruri has an inhibitory effect on crystal growth
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Things That Can Help You Take A Pass On Kidney Stones
- By Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men’s Health Watch
If youve ever passed a kidney stone, you probably would not wish it on your worst enemy, and youll do anything to avoid it again. “Kidney stones are more common in men than in women, and in about half of people who have had one, kidney stones strike again within 10 to 15 years without preventive measures,” says Dr. Brian Eisner, co-director of the Kidney Stone Program at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.
What Are The Chances My Kidney Stone Will Pass By Itself
Oftentimes, kidney stones are able to pass without medical or surgical intervention. While passing a kidney stone naturally is typically uncomfortable or even painful, many patients prefer to avoid formal treatment if possible. Increasing your fluid intake may help to speed up the process of passing a kidney stone in some cases. However, some stones have an exceedingly low chance of passing on their own. Furthermore, stones that are left untreated may cause more severe problems and/or prolonged and worsening pain. Important factors to consider when determining the likelihood that a kidney stone will pass on its own include:
- Size of kidney stone: Kidney stones are measured in millimeters . Stones less than 4mm in size have a fantastic chance of passing on their own, while stones greater than 6mm in size nearly always require treatment and/or removal.
- Location of kidney stone: Kidney stones are formed in the kidneys themselves and migrate to the ureter, where they often cause intense pain as they attempt to pass through to the bladder and ultimately exit the body through the urine. Stones that are detected in close proximity to the bladder have a better chance of being passed naturally compared with stones that have become lodged in the upper portion of the ureter, near the kidney.
Imaging studies performed by Drs. Kasraeian and Kasraeian can help to pinpoint the precise location of your kidney stone and measure its size in order to determine the best course of action.
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Complications Of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can range in size from a grain of sand to that of a pearl or even larger. They can be smooth or jagged, and are usually yellow or brown. A large stone may get stuck in the urinary system. This can block the flow of urine and may cause strong pain.
Kidney stones can cause permanent kidney damage. Stones also increase the risk of urinary and kidney infection, which can result in germs spreading into the bloodstream.
Youve Probably Heard That Passing A Kidney Stone Can Be Very Painful But You Might Not Know Exactly What They Are Or How To Avoid One In The First Place
Kidney stones and passing a kidney stone, in particular are notorious for being painful. Theyre also surprisingly common. In fact, 11% of men and 6% of women in the United States will have a kidney stone at least once in their lifetime.
While kidney stone pain is unmistakable, its also possible to have a kidney stone and not even know it. If the stone is small enough to pass through your urinary tract, it may cause little to no pain at all but if its large and gets stuck, you may have severe pain and bleeding.
Kidney stones that cause symptoms or cannot pass on their own need to be treated by a medical professional.
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Shock Wave Therapy And Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy For The Treatment Of Kidney Stones
Some small studies have tested shock wave therapy and PCNL. In comparison, PCNL was more successful than shock wave therapy. The following results were observed three months after treatment:
- 44 out of 100 people didn’t have any kidney stones after having shock wave therapy.
- 95 out of 100 people didn’t have any kidney stones after having PCNL.
But the outcome of shock wave therapy depends on the size, position and composition of the kidney stones: Stones with a diameter of less than 10 millimeters are easier to break up. This is more difficult if the stones are larger or harder. Stones in the lower part of the kidney are also harder to treat with shock wave therapy.
Shock wave therapy carries the risk of leaving behind kidney stone fragments that are too big to pass through the ureter. These fragments might get stuck in the ureter on their way to the bladder. Additional treatment is then needed. To prevent this from happening, a small tube is sometimes temporarily placed in the ureter. The stone fragments can then flow out smoothly.
The shock waves can be painful, so painkillers are given before the treatment. They can also damage the kidney tissue, which may lead to bleeding, for example. But serious complications and long-term damage are rare.
Because only a few small studies have compared these two treatments, there are no exact figures on the likelihood of complications. But shock wave therapy is still considered to be the more gentle treatment.
Making It Easier To Pass The Stone
Alpha blockers are believed to make it easier for the stones to pass out of the body. They relax the muscles in the lower part of the bladder. Alpha blockers are medications used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia . They have not been approved for the treatment of kidney stones. But particularly the alpha blocker tamsulosin is sometimes used off-label.
According to current research, alpha blockers can help pass stones. An analysis of 67 studies showed this to be true for kidney stones that are about 5 to 10 millimeters in diameter.
- Without alpha blockers, the stones passed within four weeks in about 50 out of 100 people.
- With alpha blockers, the stones passed within four weeks in about 73 out of 100 people.
So the treatment helped 23 out of 100 people to pass the stone.
Temporary side effects of alpha blockers include low blood pressure, dizziness, and tiredness. In one large study, 4 out of 100 people stopped their treatment early due to such side effects. In 5 out of 100 men, the drugs also temporarily caused retrograde ejaculation . This is where no semen, or much less than usual, leaves the penis. Instead, the semen flows into the bladder.
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What Causes Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are formed from substances in your urine. The substances that combine into stones normally pass through your urinary system. When they dont, its because there isnt enough urine volume, causing the substances to become highly concentrated and to crystalize. This is typically a result of not drinking enough water. The stone-forming substances are:
- Calcium.
- Cloudy, foul-smelling urine, fever, chills or weakness which might be a sign of a serious infection.
- Blood in the urine.
Most pediatric kidney stones remain in the kidney, but up to a third may migrate from the kidney and get stuck in a ureter. Stones that remain in the kidney, although often painless, can be the source of recurrent urinary tract infections. Those that lodge in the ureter can create severe colicky pain.
Why You Get Stones
Part of preventing stones is finding out why you get them. Your health care provider will perform tests to find out what is causing this. After finding out why you get stones, your health care provider will give you tips to help stop them from coming back.
Some of the tests he or she may do are listed below.
Medical and Dietary History
Your health care provider will ask questions about your personal and family medical history. He or she may ask if:
- Have you had more than one stone before?
- Has anyone in your family had stones?
- Do you have a medical condition that may increase your chance of having stones, like frequent diarrhea, gout or diabetes?
Knowing your eating habits is also helpful. You may be eating foods that are known to raise the risk of stones. You may also be eating too few foods that protect against stones or not drinking enough fluids.
Understanding your medical, family and dietary history helps your health care provider find out how likely you are to form more stones.
Blood and Urine Tests
Imaging Tests
When a health care provider sees you for the first time and you have had stones before, he or she may want to see recent X-rays or order a new X-ray. They will do this to see if there are any stones in your urinary tract. Imaging tests may be repeated over time to check for stone growth. You may also need this test if you are having pain, hematuria or recurrent infections.
Stone Analysis
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Where Does A Kidney Stone Go In A Cat
Nephrolithiasis in Cats. The tubes of the nephron drain into ducts through which urine flows these ducts eventually enter the renal pelvis and a tube through which urine follows into the ureter. Kidney stones or kidney stone fragments can also pass through this system of tubes and into the ureter, causing serious complications.
Ureteral Stones. Ureteral stones are kidney stones that are stuck within one of the two ureters leading from the kidney to the bladder.
Are Kidney Stones Hard Or Soft
A kidney stone is a buildup of solid material that clumps together within the urine and forms within the kidney. Kidney stones are usually hard because they are made up mainly of crystals. Almost all of the kidney stone weight is made up of crystals. But kidney stones also have soft mushy parts called matrix.
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How Long Does It Take A Kidney Stone To Form
You can have kidney stones for years without knowing theyre there. As long as these stones stay in place within your kidney, you wont feel anything. Pain from a kidney stone typically starts when it moves out of your kidney. Sometimes, a stone can form more quickly within a few months.
Talk with your healthcare provider about your risk factors. They might do a 24-hour urine test to check how quickly you develop stones.
Where Do Kidney Stones Come From
Kidney stones form develop when certain substances, such as calcium, oxalate, and uric acid, become concentrated enough to form crystals in your kidneys. The crystals grow larger into “stones.” About 80% to 85% of kidney stones are made of calcium. The rest are uric acid stones, which form in people with low urine pH levels.
After stones form in the kidneys, they can dislodge and pass down the ureter, blocking the flow of urine. The result is periods of severe pain, including flank pain , sometimes with blood in the urine, nausea, and vomiting. As the stones pass down the ureter toward the bladder, they may cause frequent urination, bladder pressure, or pain in the groin.
“If you experience any of these symptoms, see your primary care physician,” says Dr. Eisner. “He or she will likely perform a urinalysis and a renal ultrasound, abdominal x-ray, or CT scan to confirm kidney stones are the source of your pain and determine their size and number.”
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