As one of the most common problems people encounter with their urinary
system, kidney and bladder stones have been a problem for much of human
history. They are painful and can cause serious problems. By learning
more about them and how to prevent them, you can practice the habits that
prevent you from suffering from kidney and bladder stones. West Jefferson
Medical Center Urology treats those dealing with this concern.
What are kidney stones?
Your body is equipped with chemicals that make urine pass through the bladder
and beyond the ureter without much trouble. When these mechanisms are
out of order, unfortunately, proteins and other urine residuals can cluster
and harden, creating what is known as a stone. When these get caught along
the way in the urinary tract, people can experience severe pain.
The cause and origin of kidney and bladder stones is still somewhat of
a mystery. However, research shows that these stones can be caused by
excesses of vitamin D and calcium, among other causes. Some stones are
caused by foods high in calcium oxalates such as rhubarb, spinach, and peanuts.
Ways to prevent stones
Certain lifestyle habits are more likely to bring about the occurrence
of kidney stones than others. People who drink more water tend to have
fewer kidney and bladder stones.
Some other habits to prevent these problems are:
Avoiding taking calcium in pill or tablet form
Drinking a gallon of water each day
Reducing highly acidic foods
Kidney stone treatments
Once a kidney or bladder stone happens, there are a few different means
by which it can be removed, though most cases will require that it eventually
be passed through the urethra.
Stones can be removed using:
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy – using targeted sound waves sent from outside the body to break
up stones, sending them down into the urinary tract where they are passed
through the urethra
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy – after making an incision in the back directly into the kidney,
an instrument is used to remove as much of the stone as possible before
the patient passes the remainder naturally
Ureteroscopic stone removal – a technique where a scope device is sent up the urethra and amplified
with sound waves to destroy a stone
