Kidney Stones And Urine
Kidney Stones : Ur-ine My Way
In a lifetime, approximately 7% of women and 13% of men develop a kidney stone.Here’s what you need to know about them.
“This too shall pass” is what the doctors try to say the majority of the time, when an individual is diagnosed with a kidney stone. What they don’t tell you, is that this non-surgical passing of the stone is way more painful than an invasive procedure. “It’s like a kick to the groin, and a stab in the back, both at the same time.” a Reddit recollection says. Simply put, kidney stones are hard deposits of salts and minerals that form within your kidneys and then dislodge and make their way to other parts of your urinary tract. Usually, this happens when an excess of certain minerals (such as phosphorus, oxalate, and calcium) concentrate in your urine, often when you’re not well hydrated.
Though kidney stones are painful, they usually don’t cause long-term damage if they’re dealt with right away. Here are some things to look for so you know if you may be suffering from kidney stones
Diagnosis
If your doctor suspects a kidney stone, they might order a myriad of tests from blood and urine samples to imaging and testing of the stones that have been passed out. But in this particular diagnosis; urine tests stand out. Since kidneys are the ones that make urine (any abnormality or disease associated with them), the result immediately shows up as an anomalous constituent of the urine sample. 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 (both calcium-oxalate and calcium phosphate stones), uric acid stones, struvite stones, and cystine stones. Parameters of a urine test used to check for kidney stones include;
- Volume : Individuals affected with kidney stones usually have a low urine output.
- pH : Acidic urine promotes uric acid and cystine stones, whereas alkaline urine promotes calcium phosphate and struvite stones.
- Specific Gravity : Urine specific gravity results will fall between 1.002 and 1.030 if your kidneys are functioning normally. Specific gravity results above 1.010 can indicate mild dehydration; a major risk factor for kidney stones.
- Calcium, Cystine & Citrate levels : A large rise in these levels indicate kidney stones & their type.
Risk Factors & Prevention
There is an increased risk of kidney stone formation in individuals with genetic inheritance, obesity, using certain medications, not drinking enough fluids, etc.
The Bottom Line
Kidney stones are common. There’s no guarantee that prevention methods will work, but they may reduce your risk. Your best bet for preventing kidney stones is staying hydrated and making certain dietary changes.
