No. Kidney stones do not result in death. However, kidney stones can be dangerous. More than 500,000 people visit emergency rooms every year regarding kidney stone concerns. One out of every ten people gets a kidney stone at some point in their lives. Kidney stones can be formed in one or both kidneys and are most common in adults aged 30 to 60.
Kidney stones are most commonly seen in the kidneys or the ureter, which links the kidneys to the bladder. If left untreated, they can be excruciatingly painful and result in kidney infections or renal failure. Common symptoms of kidney stones include severe lower back pain, blood in the urine, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills, and urine that stinks or seems murky.
Kidney stone formation Process:
Urine contains a large number of wastes dissolved in it. These waste materials begin to club together in the form of crystals when there is too much waste and too little liquid in urine. These crystals attract other elements in urine too, and combine to form a solid that grows in size unless excreted in the urine. The kidney, the body’s master chemist, usually eliminates these compounds in urine.
In most cases, having enough liquid washes them out or other compounds in urine and prevents the formation of a stone. Calcium, oxalate, urate, cystine, xanthine, and phosphate are the compounds that create stones. Here, we can understand why we are advised to keep ourselves hydrated.
The stone, once formed, may remain in the kidney or migrate down the urinary path into the ureter. Tiny stones or crystals can easily pass out from the body in the urine without causing much pain.
However, stones that do not move may create a urine buildup in the kidney, ureter, bladder, or urethra. There arises the source of the discomfort.
Kidney stone symptoms:
If you have little kidney stones, you may not see them, but you should be able to pee them out without difficulty. Larger kidney stones can produce various symptoms. Kidney stone pain area can be identified as:
- Pain on the left side of your stomach (abdomen)
- Intense, intermittent discomfort
- Nauseous or vomiting
What are the causes of kidney stones?
A kidney stone is a hard item. Kidney stones are classified into four types, depending on their chemical composition. These are calcium oxalate, uric acid, struvite, and cystine. Waste materials in the blood may occasionally crystallise and accumulate inside the kidneys. The crystals may accumulate over time to form a hard stone-like mass. This is more likely if you do the following:
- do not consume enough fluids
- are taking certain medications
- have a medical condition that causes an increase in the amounts of certain chemicals in your urine.
When a kidney stone forms, your body will try to pass it through your urine. Apart from alkaliser, shockwave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, or nephrolithotripsy are used to treat a kidney stone.
When should you seek emergency medical attention?
One should see a doctor at once in the following cases:
- you have pain and a high temperature
- If you have unbearable pain
- you feel shivering or shaking
- you see traces of blood in urine.
Can kidney stones cause kidney disease?
Most of the time, small stones or crystals are easily washed away in urine. But, in cases of big kidney stones, a genetic tendency or the effect of certain medications, you are at a higher risk for more kidney stones and developing chronic kidney disease lately.
When should I consult my healthcare provider?
It is advised that one should not hesitate to see their healthcare provider if they’re experiencing symptoms of kidney stones. If you have a kidney stone, you must know its location and size. It is of utmost importance so that you can get treatment and prevent further complications.
When should I go to the emergency department?
If the pain is getting unbearable, one should go to the emergency department. You may be prescribed some medications for immediate pain relief and relief from nausea or vomiting.
Kidney Stone Treatment
Kidney stones never stop you from doing your daily activities. They are never found to be drastically reducing your quality of life. Thanks to passing them in urine, and thanks to treatment options, kidney stones are not permanent.
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