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.
S For Preventing Kidney Stones
- By Daniel Pendick, Former Executive Editor, Harvard Men’s Health Watch
If youve ever had a kidney stone, you surely remember it. The pain can be unbearable, coming in waves until the tiny stone passes through your urinary plumbing and out of the body. For many, kidney stones arent a one-time thing: in about half of people who have had one, another appears within seven years without preventive measures.
Preventing kidney stones isnt complicated, but it does take some determination.
Kidney stones form when certain chemicals become concentrated enough in the urine to form crystals. The crystals grow into larger masses , which can make their way through the urinary tract. If the stone gets stuck somewhere and blocks the flow of urine, it causes pain.
Most stones occur when calcium combines with oxalate. Stones can also form from uric acid, which is a byproduct of protein metabolism.
Where Do I Go For Help And Treatment
It can be hard to handle the stress and challenges that come with living with kidney disease. But just as you care for your physical health, it is also important to care for your mental health. There is no shame in asking for help. The good news is you are not alone. There are people and resources available to help you cope in healthy ways.
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The Link Between Gastrointestinal Issues And Kidney Stones
If youve been diagnosed with gastrointestinal issues, you may be surprised to know that they may increase your risk of kidney stones. Additionally, sometimes kidney stones can even cause symptoms that mimic gastrointestinal issues as well.
Thats why its so important to know the relationship between these two types of health conditions. At Preva Surgicare â Surgery Center Of The Woodlands in Texas, our urology experts can help you understand your risk for kidney stones, while our specialized Stone Relief Center can help you treat them.
What Are The Symptoms Of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can sometimes exist without noticeable symptoms and dissipate itself. Most stones start small without signs before growing into larger sizes with more noticeable symptoms.
Pain
Kidney stones are accompanied by pain that is sometimes sharp and unexpected, usually occurring in your lower abdomen or groin. Pain may also be sudden, frequent and in the lower back and side.
Frequent Urination
You may feel an intense urge to urinate with little amounts of urine. Urinating more often and also burning sensation during urination is likely to occur.
Color Of Urine
Urine may be red, dark, bloody or cloudy. You may also experience foul, smelly urine.
Pain In Men
Men are more prone to develop kidney stones than women. There may be a pain at the top of the penis during this condition.
Fever And Chills
An abrupt decrease or increase in temperature levels accompanied by fever is not left out. This is more noticeable in severe cases.
Restlessness
Pain can be very intense sometimes that it causes distress and writhing. This pain may become crippling if it is not treated on time.
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Risk Factors You Cannot Control
Things you can’t control include:
- Age and gender.
- Men between the ages of 30 and 50 are most likely to get kidney stones.
- Postmenopausal women with low estrogen levels have an increased risk for kidney stones. Women who have had their ovaries removed are also at increased risk.
How Should My Kidney Stone Be Treated
Historically, the treatment of kidney stones required major surgery and was associated with long hospitalization and recovery periods. However, in recent years an improved understanding of kidney stone disease, along with advances in surgical technology, has led to the development of minimally invasive and even noninvasive treatments for people with kidney stones.
At Johns Hopkins, we believe that the treatment of a patients stones requires an approach that is unique to that individual. We offer a complete range of state-of-the-art treatment options, including ESWL , ureteroscopy and PERC, and we will discuss with you the advantages and disadvantages of each therapy as they apply to your situation. Our goal is to provide each patient with a clear understanding of the nature of their stone burden as well as the most appropriate course of treatment.
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Signs You May Have Kidney Disease
More than 37 million American adults are living with kidney disease and most dont know it. There are a number of physical signs of kidney disease, but sometimes people attribute them to other conditions. Also, those with kidney disease tend not to experience symptoms until the very late stages, when the kidneys are failing or when there are large amounts of protein in the urine. This is one of the reasons why only 10% of people with chronic kidney disease know that they have it, says Dr. Joseph Vassalotti, Chief Medical Officer at the National Kidney Foundation.
While the only way to know for sure if you have kidney disease is to get tested, Dr. Vassalotti shares 10 possible signs you may have kidney disease. If youre at risk for kidney disease due to high blood pressure, diabetes, a family history of kidney failure or if youre older than age 60, its important to get tested annually for kidney disease. Be sure to mention any symptoms youre experiencing to your healthcare practitioner.
Tumors And Bladder Cancer
No one likes to hear the word tumor because it is obviously often times associated with cancer. However, there are benign tumors that happen a lot of times with older dogs. Tumors can also be the cause of hematuria in dogs, both benign and malignant.
The most common kind of bladder cancer in dogs is called transitional cell carcinoma . This cancer can impact the bladder, urethra, kidneys, ureters, prostate, and vagina. Besides blood in the urine, other symptoms may be incontinence, which means a dog cant control its urination frequent urination, less amount of urine, and painful urination.
Bladder cancer in dogs is often confused with bladder infections, as it shows the same symptoms. However, if treated several times with antibiotics and the infection continues to reappear, it is time to evaluate the real problem. Left unchecked for too long, the cancer and/or tumors can spread to the bowels, bones, and lymph nodes.
Diagnosis is made by blood labs, a urinalysis, or a veterinary bladder tumor antigen test. This test checks for bladder tumors, but it can be tricky as some bladder infections will signal as positive for tumors during the screening. Lastly, the vet may order a biopsy to confirm cancer.
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Soda Causes Kidney Stones
MYTH BUSTED: While we are tempted to let you believe this one as Soda is a nutrient empty, sugar-laden drink, we must inform you this is NOT the case. The fact is phosphoric acid is the culprit that is an ingredient in SOME sodas, typically colas, and pepper sodas such as Coke or Dr. Pepper and Pepsi. The other issue with Soda is that it is a diuretic because of the caffeine. This makes the salt content in your urine rise, which promotes kidney stones. So have a soda, but also follow it with an equal amount of water and you will decrease that concentrate. Alternatively, you could avoid soda altogether and replace it with healthier alternatives.
What Foods Help Repair Kidneys
It will depend on the type of stone that is damaging the kidney since they have different formations. People wrongly believe that reducing your calcium intake will reduce kidney stones, even if its a calcium stone. When the calcium intake diminishes, the body increases its absorption in the guts and from the bones. This makes the kidney to excrete more calcium while maintaining a normal intake or more reduces the excretion of it.
When there is less calcium in the urine, there is less calcium oxalate stones formation in the kidneys. Another technique doctors recommend is to eat calcium high and oxalate-rich foods together in the same meal. This causes the two molecules to bind together in the intestine rather than in the kidneys, reducing the risks.
With uric acid stones, it is a different formation, so the foods that help are different as well. In this type of stone, we need to reduce uric acid excretion since it drives toward acidic urine and stone formations. Eating a diet with mostly vegetables, fruits, dairy, and grains decreases the purine in the body and the stones.
Doctors associate the consumption of fruits with potassium citrate like lemon with declines of stone formation in the kidney.
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What Is Medullary Sponge Kidney
Medullary sponge kidney, also known as Cacchi-Ricci disease, is a birth defect where changes occur in the tubules, or tiny tubes, inside a fetus kidneys.
In a normal kidney, urine flows through these tubules as the kidney is being formed during a fetus growth. In medullary sponge kidney, tiny, fluid-filled sacs called cysts form in the tubules within the medullathe inner part of the kidneycreating a spongelike appearance. The cysts keep urine from flowing freely through the tubules.
Symptoms of medullary sponge kidney do not usually appear until the teenage years or the 20s. Medullary sponge kidney can affect one or both kidneys.
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How Emotional Release And Energy Work Can Help Your Kidneys
We recently went over the energy lines, channels, or meridians, that lie within our bodies and support the organ systems. If a client comes in with kidney issues work in any of the related meridians may be necessary. When these meridians are blocked or out of balance this brings dis-harmony to the related organ.
There are also points along the meridian lines that are extremely beneficial. Not everyone will have the same points, even of they come in with identical complaints. This is where a properly trained practitioner comes in. Energy work allows us to identify which points will work in your best interest, in our sessions. We also provide a guide to our clients to allow you to work these same points after the session, if needed.
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Can Stress Cause Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are a major pain in the abdomen. At Austin Urology Institute, Dr. Koushik Shaw and his team frequently see patients who are sidelined by a burr in their urinary tract, wondering how it got there and how to make it go away.
Patients often ask if kidney stones are caused by stress . The truth is that kidney stones can indirectly be caused by stress.
A stone commonly forms in the kidney when a person becomes dehydrated and the urine becomes concentrated. This can be the result of a bad cycle where stress leads to poor diet, less exercise, decreased sleep quality, an increase in caffeine intake, and weight gain.
Stress sets off a chain reaction of unhealthy behavior that can contribute to a kidney stone. Its important to recognize when youre stressed and manage it in a way that is beneficial and not harmful to you and your body.
When most people get stressed, the use of coffee, energy drinks, and poor diet choices increases. These are all huge risk factors for kidney stone formation. Water and hydration also get left out in the process which increases risk even more. The last thing you want when youre stressed is a kidney stone trying to pass.
Crystals Make Stones Hard
Urine proteins molecules stick to tiny crystals and to each other as if designed to dispose of unwanted things. One can see in many morning urines tiny harmless crystal aggregates passed unknowingly and without harm.
In those predisposed, such protein crystal composites grow so large and numerous they can produce brief attacks of pain and bleeding but, being still too small to see on radiographs, escape detection. Such crystal attacks are common in children with genetic hypercalciuria. Uric acid crystals can make a visible orange sludge or gravel.
When protein crystal composites grow grow big enough to obstruct the urinary tract and cause pain and we call them stones.
Very rarely urine organic molecules themselves make soft stones that cause mild pain on passing.
Perhaps the true cause of stones hides in the chemistry of urine organic molecules, but for the moment these molecules are irrelevant to patients and their physicians. We do not know which ones most matter and about what is wrong with them that they permit stones we know essentially nothing.
So to prevent stones we work to prevent crystals. We search for causes of crystal formation, and act against them.
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Managing The Condition With These Natural Tips
If a trip to the doctor is too frightening, there are alternatives. Treat Haematuria naturally with these natural remedies.
1. Cumin
First of all, Cumin, or Jeeraka, is an ancient ayurvedic remedy. It prevents inflammation and purifies the blood, so it makes an excellent treatment for Haematuria. It also relieves nausea. Take cumin seeds with a glass of water.
2. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is an excellent home remedy for Haematuria. It fights bacteria in the Urinary Tract, stops inflammation and boosts immunity. It is also a natural antioxidant. Take aloe vera juice with other juices. This study shows that it works to reduce the blood in urine because it reduces Ph levels.
3. Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice works to fight against bacteria, including those in the Urinary Tract. It helps to prevent Bacterial Adhesion. Furthermore, It prevents reduces Ph levels and prevents urine from becoming too acidic.
4. Plantain Seeds
Shen Nong, or Plantain seeds, is an ancient Chinese Remedy that helps to control UTI by strengthening the kidney. It reduces pathogenic heat and thus, inflammation. It is one of the seeds that help to treat infectious diseases.
5. Bittergourd
Bittergourd manages this condition because it boosts your immunity. It also arrests the growth of tumors in the Urinary Tract. Hence, it stops Haematuria.
6. Pomegranate Juice
In all, blood in urine is disturbing and may be a sign of more severe problems. However, it isnt life-threatening and manageable with a few remedies.
What About The Stress
So we asked can stress cause kidney stones? but what if we asked, can kidney stones cause more stress? Is there a vicious cycle of stress and kidney stones going on?
A study done in 2017 took a look at this stress-stone-stress-stone cycle, but they were not able to draw any connection between stress and recurrent kidney stones.
So does stress cause kidney stones, or do kidney stones cause stress? Is the stress-stone-stress-stone cycle real? Maybe. We still need to do a lot more research in order to say one way or the other.
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Is It Normal To Have Bloody Urine When You Have A Uti
If you menstruate, you might wonder if your bloody urine is caused by a UTI or menstruation. Along with urinary bleeding, UTIs and periods share symptoms like: To determine which one you have, consider your overall symptoms. Youre likely menstruating if you have: These symptoms arent typically associated with UTIs.
After all, its not like we really want to be staring at our dogs while they pee. Sometimes, though, bloody urine is obvious, especially if your dog urinates on a light colored surface, like snow, carpet, or the floor.
Myths About Kidney Stones
If youve ever gotten a kidney stone you know that its not like a nagging cough, it is quite painful and in extreme cases can even require surgery to correct. The rumors that people spread about what a kidney stone experience is like can be quite frightening but the fact is most of these rumors are just that rumors. Its important to know, however, if the what you are experiencing are actual kidney stone symptoms, or something else, for example, a urinary tract infection or sometimes just plain old indigestion. When you start buying into these myths that people spread about kidney stones, it can can cause you undue stress or worse, lead you to a treatment that will advance your problem not help it. This is why we want to debunk the top myths about kidney stones so you can better know kidney stone symptoms when you spot them. Keep in mind the main symptoms will be different for everyone but include pain when you urinate, nausea, frequent urination, fevers and cold chills, and pains that come in different intensities and fluctuate. Just because you have one of these symptoms or lack thereof, does not indicate you have kidney stones. For your healths sake dont believe the hype of these kidney stone and treatment myths:
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Oxalate Restriction In Hyperoxaluria
People who have hyperoxaluria will be advised to limit the amount of oxalate in their diet.
- Foods high in oxalic acid include beets, soy, black tea, chenopodium, chocolate, cocoa, dried figs, ground pepper, lamb, lime peel, nuts, parsley, poppy seeds, purslane, rhubarb, sorrel, spinach, and Swiss chard.
- Foods containing moderate amounts of oxalates include beans , blackberries, blueberries, carrots, celery, coffee , concord grapes, currants, dandelion greens, endive, gooseberries, lemon peel, okra, green onions, oranges, green peppers, black raspberries, strawberries, and sweet potatoes.
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