Kidney stones, medically termed renal calculi, are solid masses made of crystals. They can develop in the urinary tract including the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra. If a person has symptoms such as blood in the urine (red, pink or brown), vomiting, nausea, discolored or foul-smelling urine, chills, fever, and a frequent need to urinate should get checked for kidney stones. It is recommended to get a kidney stone test at a reasonably-priced reputed pathology lab.
Causes
A stone can be formed in the kidney when a person’s urine contains too much of a substance such as calcium, uric acid, struvite, and cystine. These substances first develop into crystals and then stones over a few months. Kidney stones occur among people between the ages of twenty to fifty years. Some of the risk factors for kidney stones include dehydration, obesity, inflammatory bowel diseases, a diet with high levels of protein, salt, or glucose or certain medications. An individual with a family history of kidney stones is at a higher risk than others.
Diagnosis
For the diagnosis of kidney stones, a person should have a medical history assessment and a physical examination. Besides this, a medical practitioner prescribes blood tests and urine tests for kidney stones along with:
Abdominal X-ray
Intravenous pyelogram (IVP)
Retrograde pyelogram
Abdominal ultrasound
MRI of the abdomen and kidneys
Abdominal CT scan
Prevention
To prevent kidney stones, it is encouraged to drink at least three to four liters of water every day. It is a key preventive measure that protects the body from many diseases. This will also help an individual urinate in appropriate amounts. Other alternatives to water can be ginger ale, lemon-lime soda, and fruit juice. If low citrate levels are the cause of kidney stones, then citrate juices could aid in the prevention of the formation of stones.
In some cases, doctors may also prescribe medications for preventing the formation of calcium stones and uric acid stones in the long run.