Take Steps To Bypass Kidney Stones
Even though kidney stones can be common and recur once youve had them, there are simple ways to help prevent them. Here are some strategies that can help:
1.;;Drink enough water. A 2015 meta-analysis from the National Kidney Foundation found that people who produced 2 to 2.5 liters of urine daily were 50% less likely to develop kidney stones than those who produced less. It takes about 8 to 10 8-ounce glasses of water daily to produce that amount.
2.;;Skip high-oxalate foods. Such foods, which include spinach, beets, and almonds, obviously raise oxalate levels in the body. However, moderate amounts of low-oxalate foods, such as chocolate and berries, are okay.
3.;;Enjoy some lemons. Citrate, a salt in citric acid, binds to calcium and helps block stone formation. “Studies have shown that drinking ½ cup of lemon juice concentrate diluted in water each day, or the juice of two lemons, can increase urine citrate and likely reduce kidney stone risk,” says Dr. Eisner.
4.;;Watch the sodium. A high-sodium diet can trigger kidney stones because it increases the amount of calcium in your urine. Federal guidelines suggest limiting total daily sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams . If sodium has contributed to kidney stones in the past, try to reduce your daily sodium to 1,500 mg.
What Are The Most Common Types Of Kidney Stones
The most common type of kidney stone is a calcium oxalate stone. This type happens when calcium and oxalate combine in your urine. It can happen when you have high quantities of oxalate, low amounts of calcium and arent drinking enough fluids.
Stones caused by uric acid are also fairly common. These come from a natural substance called purine, which is a byproduct of animal proteins .
What Do Kidney Stone Symptoms Feel Like
You’re probably already aware that passing a kidney stone can be incredibly painful. Perhaps you’ve heard someone compare the pain to childbirth. Or maybe someone mentioned their experience with kidney stones completely recalibrated how they rate pain. Ouch.
But while the most-discussed kidney stone symptom is often the pain where it’s felt and how bad it can get it’s not the only symptom to be aware of.
“Kidney stones are fairly common and often painful, but they’re also treatable and even preventable,” says Dr. Chris Kannady, urologist at Houston Methodist. “If you think you might have a kidney stone, it’s important to see your doctor as soon as possible since delaying care for a kidney stone can lead to serious complications.”
But, when all you’ve heard about kidney stones is how much they hurt, how can you tell if your pain might be kidney stone pain?
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When Should You Call Your Doctor
if you have symptoms that suggest you have a kidney stone, such as:
- Severe pain in your side, abdomen, groin, or genitals. It may get worse in waves.
- Blood in your urine.
- Signs of a urinary tract infection, such as pain or burning when you urinate.
- Severe nausea or vomiting.
- Severe pain in your side in the area of your kidney .
- Have been diagnosed with a kidney stone, and you need a stronger pain medicine.
- Pass a stone, even if there was little or no pain. Save the stone, and ask your doctor whether it should be tested.
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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What If You Masturbate/sex When You Have Kidney Stone
Kidney stones can be life-threatening if not treated properly and the safest way to get rid of them is to prevent them from happening in the first place.
Kidney stones give you an understanding that true pleasure is not to be in pain. It makes me happy to inform you that it is totally safe for you to fap. Masturbation is not only safe but also might help to pass the stones. But before you get excited, let me alert you that the size of the kidney stone plays a vital role here. Thus if having a stone greater than 12mm discussing it with the urologist is recommended.
The reason for the above is, Every time you masturbate an orgasm brings about relaxation in the muscles of the ureter due to which the stones may pass on their own. The other factor is sexual excitement causes the release of nitric acid which relaxes the ureter causing the stones to pass by themselves. So if you have a kidney stone of size varying between 2mm-10mm then you can have sex or masturbate without any stress. Theres no harm and it might help you to pass the stone.
Note- If you feel any discomfort while performing the act. You are advised to consult the doctor.
Symptoms Of Kidney Stones
Small kidney stones may;go undetected and be passed out painlessly in the urine.;But it’s fairly common for a stone to block part of the urinary system, such as the:
- ureter the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder
- urethra the tube urine passes through on its way out of the body
A blockage can cause severe pain in the abdomen or groin and sometimes causes a urinary tract infection;.
Read more about the symptoms of kidney stones.
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Tell Me What To Eat If I Get Kidney Stones
Some people get kidney stones and some dont. If youve ever seen someone suffer with a kidney stone, you can understand why he or she tends to be HUGELY motivated to prevent another one from forming. If you do tend to get them, are there foods and beverages that you should and shouldnt consume?
Unfortunately if you have had kidney stones in the past you are more likely to have them in the future. But there are a few things you can do to make it a bit less likely.
- Drink 8-10 glasses of fluids a day
- Eat a balanced diet that isnt too high in animal protein
Okayyou are probably thinking, done and done. What else can you do? While some lists include coffee, tea, beer and wine in the limit column, there is some evidence they can decrease risk of kidney stone development. Grapefruit juice seems to consistently make the limit list however. One study found that women drinking eight ounces of grapefruit juice a day increased their risk of developing stones by 44%.
Beyond this, the diet suggestions seem to depend on the specific type of stone that you have formed in the past Definitely consult your doctor for diet recommendations but the following are possible suggestions to consider with him/her:
- If you had a calcium-containing kidney stone, eat less salt and salty food and try not to get more than the recommended daily amount for calcium or excessive amounts of vitamin D.
- Chocolate
- Dark green veggies
- Mixed nuts and peanuts
- Sweet potatoes
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.
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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.
When Urinalysis And Other Urine Tests Help In Kidney Stone Diagnosis
In addition to imaging tests, doctors usually order urine tests to help determine what type of stone you may have and why you are developing stones. This information can help your doctor better advise you about how to prevent future kidney stones, says Naim Maalouf, MD, an associate professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. At least 31 percent of people diagnosed with kidney stones develop another one within 10 years.
Kidney stones are made of minerals and other substances that can be found in the urine that can be identified with testing. Types of kidney stones include calcium stones , uric acid stones, struvite stones, and cystine stones.
Notably, a urinalysis test and urine culture can also tell doctors whether you also have an infection, which is a potentially life-threatening complication in combination with a kidney stone, says Seth K. Bechis, MD, an assistant professor of urology at UC San Diego Health in California. If urine is trapped behind an obstructing stone in the ureter, urine can become infected. This scenario can cause an infection of the kidney tissue or spread to the bloodstream.
Doctors may perform the following urine tests in kidney stone diagnosis:
A urinalysis with microscopy can also help doctors find evidence of bleeding or infection, says Dr. Maalouf.
From this urine sample, doctors can tell whether people are predisposed to stone formation. We call it a stone risk profile, says Maalouf.
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When Should A Kidney Stone Be Treated
When a kidney stone causes pain to the extent that the pain cannot be controlled with oral pain medication, the stone should be treated. Similarly, stones that are associated with severe nausea or vomiting should be treated. Some stones are associated with infection or fever such situations can be life threatening and demand prompt attention. Stones that are associated with a solitary kidney, poor overall kidney function or complete blockage of urine flow should also all be treated.
Sometimes, when a stone is associated with bothersome symptoms, it may be appropriate to wait and see if the stone will pass on its own. If the stone is small, this is a very reasonable course of action. However, stones larger in size than 5 mm are unlikely to pass on their own and should be considered for treatment.
Signs That Indicate You Have Passed The Kidney Stone
When a kidney stone starts to pass, symptoms typically occur suddenly and without any warning. That being said, a common sign is a pain that initially develops in your side or back. Typically in the flank or lumbar region and shoots into the groin. Sometimes, the pain will travel downward into the genital area, poorly controlled by the pain relief, and stops and starts abruptly.
Some patients may see blood in their urine, for others, the blood is not visible through naked eyes. Though a large stone may not pass on its own and may require special procedures to remove it.
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Reducing Kidney Stone Risk
Drinking enough fluid will help keep your urine less concentrated with waste products. Darker urine is more concentrated, so your urine should appear very light yellow to clear if you are well hydrated. Most of the fluid you drink should be water. Most people should drink more than 12 glasses of water a day. Speak with a healthcare professional about the right amount of water that’s best for you. Water is better than soda, sports drinks or coffee/tea. lf you exercise or if it is hot outside, you should drink more. Sugar and high-fructose corn syrup should be limited to small quantities.
Eat more fruits and vegetables, which make the urine less acid. When the urine is less acid, then stones may be less able to form. Animal protein produces urine that has more acid, which can then increase your risk for kidney stones.
You can reduce excess salt in your diet. What foods are high in salt? Everyone thinks of salty potato chips and French fries. Those should be rarely eaten. There are other products that are salty: sandwich meats, canned soups, packaged meals, and even sports drinks.
Some herbal substances are promoted as helping prevent stones. You should know that there is insufficient published medical evidence to support the use of any herb or supplement in preventing stones.
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Kidney Donation For People With Kidney Stones
Can I donate a kidney if I have kidney stones?
Each transplant center has its own rules about who can donate. Usually, you cant be a kidney donor if you:
- Currently have symptoms of kidney stones
- Have passed kidney stones repeatedly in the past
You may be able to donate if you passed 1 stone a long time ago and dont have any current symptoms of kidney stones.
Tell your doctor if you:
- Have had kidney stones
- Might have had kidney stones, but it wasnt clear what happened
How do I find out if I have kidney stones?
During your evaluation, your doctors will use imaging tests to see if you have any kidney stones that arent causing symptoms.
If you have kidney stones but no symptoms, your doctors may do extra tests to:
- Learn more about the stones
- Measure your chance of getting more stones in the future
If I have small kidney stones and no symptoms when I donate, will I get more kidney stones later?
In one study, people who had small kidney stones but no symptoms when they donated a kidney had a 0-2% chance of getting more kidney stones after 2 years. This is much less than non-donors who have small kidney stones but no symptoms these people have a 25% chance of getting kidney stones.
Some doctors think kidney donors have fewer problems with kidney stones because the donation screening keeps out people who are more likely to get kidney stones again.
How does kidney donation affect chances of getting kidney stones?
What are kidney stones?
References
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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.
What Are The Treatments For Kidney Stones
The treatment for a kidney stone depends on the size of the stone, what it is made of, whether it is causing pain and whether it is blocking your urinary tract. To answer these questions and to figure out the right treatment for you, your doctor might ask you to have a urine test, blood test, x-ray and/or CT scan. A CT scan sometimes uses contrast dye. If you have ever had a problem with contrast dye, be sure to tell your doctor about it before you have your CT scan.
If your test results show that your kidney stone is small, your doctor may tell you to take pain medicine and drink plenty of fluids to help push the stone through your urinary tract. If your kidney stone is large, or if it is blocking your urinary tract, additional treatment may be necessary.
One treatment option is shock wave lithotripsy. This treatment uses shock waves to break up the kidney stones into small pieces. After the treatment, the small pieces of the kidney stone will pass through your urinary tract and out of your body with your urine. This treatment usually takes 45 minutes to one hour and may be done under general anesthesia, which means you will be asleep and unable to feel pain.
In rare cases, a surgery called percutaneous nephrolithotomy is needed to remove a kidney stone. During the surgery, a tube will be inserted directly into your kidney to remove the stone. You will need to be in the hospital for two to three days to have and recover from this treatment.
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