A kidney stone is a hard block in the kidney that blocks the flow of urine. This happens because the body contains too much waste and not enough liquid. The wastes then form crystals, and attract other substances. If you do not get rid of the solids through urine, the stone will continue to grow until it becomes a large, painful mass. In order to prevent kidney stones, you should drink plenty of water, which includes plenty of water during the day. A kidney stone can be caused by calcium, oxalate, urate, cystine, xanthine, and phosphate, which are all excreted through urine.
A kidney stone is painful, and it may be small or large, with some stones smaller than grains of sand. The bigger the stone, the more noticeable the pain will be. Pain will begin to be felt when it starts to irritate the kidney, blocking urine flow. Small kidney stones can be treated with pain relievers. In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary. Symptoms of kidney stone treatment vary widely. You should always consult your health care provider if you experience any of these symptoms.
People with a low urine output should drink more fluids than usual. A good rule of thumb is to drink at least three liters of fluid a day – about 85 ounces. While consuming large amounts of fluid can help prevent the formation of new kidney stones, there are other ways to reduce the risk of new kidney stones. One of the best ways to do this is by avoiding urinary infections and drinking plenty of water. A physical examination can identify the cause of any pain in the kidneys. A urine test will reveal whether or not a stone has formed. If the stone is already present, the doctor may prescribe a prescription diuretic that decreases excretion of calcium.
In addition to a thorough examination, your health care provider may recommend further testing to determine the type of stone you have. This can help him determine the most effective treatment for your situation. This may include changing your diet and taking certain medications. While you should not stop taking any medications without a physician’s approval, avoiding dehydration is essential. Drinking enough fluids will also decrease the amount of stone-forming chemicals in your urine, reducing the risk of another stone.
Kidney stone treatment is similar for adults and children. In some cases, the patient will be told to drink plenty of water to break the stone. However, if the stone does not pass on its own, surgery may be required. If the pain is too much for the patient to tolerate, the doctor may prescribe a medication that will relieve the pain. If the stone is large, surgery may be necessary. This is an important choice for people who are pregnant.
Depending on the size of the stone, the physician may perform lithotripsy or ultrasound to break it up. Lithotripsy uses high-energy sound waves to break up the stone, and the fragments pass out in the urine. Other treatments include ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy. While the treatment options for a stone are different, these procedures are usually the most effective and fastest way to remove it.
