Foccinarian Kidney Stones: Are They Dangerous?
If you have a question about what kidney stones are and how to treat them, you’re not alone. More and more people are asking this question. Our goal has been to give the most straightforward answer possible on what kidney stones are, what causes them, and how to treat them.
First of all, what are kidney stones? Their true name is renal calculi. They are hard tubes that are filled with sulfur and calcium (necessary elements for your body’s different parts, among other things). They are located in the kidneys and ureters. The ureters are responsible for carrying urine out of the body. When these hard tubes, or calculi, get blocked, then the urine cannot flow as needed. Usually, the first sign of these stones is an infection in the bladder. This can be mistaken for a kidney stone. Quick and temporary relief is the goal. This can be achieved by drinking at least 6-8 ounces of water every day. However, a doctor’s advice should be sought for effective home care.
What causes these stones to form? It can be due to several factors. Some of them include not drinking enough water, eating a diet with a lot of calcium and sulfur, and substance intake. Catabolism, or the breaking down of tissue, which occurs when one eats certain foods, can also cause these stones. Regular urinary tract infections are mostly the cause of these stones. A frequent urge to urinate that is not accompanied by clear urine is another sign to check on, along with an unusually high fever or chills. Though a stone may not be likely, it is always a possibility, and treatment should be looked at as soon as you suspect this.
How can they be diagnosed? Usually, your doctor will check the urine for crystals first. If you are dehydrated or have a fever, the doctor may need to take a closer look at your urine. Crystals can be seen in x-rays, CT scans, or MRIs.
What are the symptoms? These symptoms can be felt anywhere from a few days to several weeks after a stone has settled in the body. Many times there is no pain at all. Other times, the pain includes intense sharp pain, as if something is stabbing you, along with typical nausea and vomiting. A stone may be soft, round, or pebble-like. It may cause urinary tract infections and bleeding and may raise pressure on the brain.
How can it be treated? Your doctor will need to identify the type of stone you have. It will be classified differently depending on what causes it. The main thing is to get it out, so it does not cause any more damage to the kidneys. This could be done with a simple urine test or, if radiology is needed, X-rays or MRIs may be used. A doctor will determine the best method to remove the stone. Some patients may need kidney stone removal surgery. This is not recommended in all cases. In those cases, the stone was not serious in the first place, so leaving it alone may not harm you.
