Kidney stones are formed by the deposition of mineral crystals in the urine in the kidneys. It is one of the more common types of urinary system diseases. It is a type of urinary tract stone. In addition to kidney stones, other urinary tract stones include ureteral stones, bladder stones, and urethral stones, depending on where the stones are deposited.
Clinical manifestations of kidney stones.
Severe lower back or abdominal pain is one of the symptoms of kidney stones. Kidney stones can move within the calyces, renal pelvis, and ureter. It causes the smooth muscle of the kidneys to contract, spasm and block. Severe pain occurs in the corresponding area of the kidney. If the stone moves to the ureter, it can block the ureter. As a result, urine cannot be excreted normally. Urine accumulates in the renal pelvis. This can cause hydronephrosis. Symptoms of kidney stones include difficulty urinating, frequent urination, urgency, blood in the urine, nausea and vomiting.
People who are prone to kidney stones.
Male: Men are more likely to have kidney stones than women. This is because the urinary system of men is different from that of women. Men's urethra is longer than women's, which makes it easier for crystals to deposit in the urine, so they are more likely to have stones.
Drink too little water: If people drink too little water, their urine will be concentrated from too little water. It can make people more likely to have kidney stones.
Foods high in salt, fat, purines, and calcium: People who eat these foods regularly and drink alcohol are more likely to develop kidney stones.
Diseases: Patients with hyperthyroidism, diabetes, hyperuricemia, gout, obesity, urinary tract obstruction and urinary tract infection are more likely to have kidney stones.
Others: People who often hold their urine and sit for long periods of time are also more likely to have kidney stones.
How to prevent different types of kidney stones.
Common types of kidney stones include calcium oxalate stones, calcium phosphate stones, uric acid stones, cystine stones, magnesium ammonium phosphate stones, and mixed stones. Among them, calcium oxalate stones are the most common.
Calcium oxalate stones: Patients with these stones should limit their intake of high salt, sugar, fat, protein, and high doses of vitamin C. Foods high in oxalate such as spinach, celery, soybeans, black beans, peanuts, kiwi, grapes and mutton should also be eaten less.
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| Calcium oxalate stone |
Calcium phosphate stones: Patients should avoid monosodium glutamate and carbonated beverages. Foods high in phosphorus such as red meat, bran, and whole milk powder should be avoided. They should eat more vegetables and fruits. When people consume too much phosphorus, it increases their calcium loss and increases the pH of the urine. If they don't drink enough water, calcium phosphate stones can easily form.
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| Calcium phosphate stone |
Uric acid stones: Patients should limit their consumption of high-purine foods such as meat, seafood, and coffee. Drugs that increase the pH of the urine, such as sodium potassium citrate and sodium bicarbonate, can alkalize the urine and increase the excretion of uric acid.
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| Uric acid stone |
Cystine stones: Meat, eggs, fish and other foods rich in methionine should be limited. Salt intake should also be reduced. Alkalizing urine reduces the risk of cystine stone formation.
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| Cystine stone |
Magnesium ammonium phosphate stones: Because it mainly occurs after urinary tract infection, it is also called infectious stone. Prevention and treatment of bacterial infections are the main methods of prevention of magnesium ammonium phosphate stones. Patients over the age of 60 are at high risk of developing magnesium ammonium phosphate stones, and they are more common in women. Its texture is usually brittle, so when it is located in the renal pelvis or upper ureter, it can be crushed with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.
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| Magnesium ammonium phosphate stone |
How should kidney stone patients be treated?
If the patient's kidney stones are not too large, they can be tested regularly. They should drink plenty of water and do moderate exercise such as skipping rope. Kidney stones may pass out of the body on their own. Terazosin and tamsulosin are the most commonly used drugs for kidney stones. They can facilitate the passage of kidney stones. If the patient's kidney stone is too large, appropriate lithotripsy should be performed clinically according to the actual situation of the patient.
How to prevent kidney stone recurrence?
- Drink more water and less beverages.
- Beverages high in sugar, strong tea, coffee and beer should be avoided or avoided as much as possible.
- Do appropriate exercise.
- According to the type of kidney stone, adjust the patient's eating habits.
