Kidney stones can bring unbearable pain; however, relief is possible. The small and hard deposits form in the kidneys and cause discomfort as they move. Simple steps like drinking sufficient water, using home remedies and knowing when to consult a doctor can make a big difference. People might have a high risk of developing kidney stones if they have a family history of blockage in the urinary tract. So, symptom management is crucial as it can lead to further complications. Hence, recognising its symptoms and their proper treatment is necessary.
Recognising the Symptoms
Here are the common signs that help individuals if they have kidney stones:
Urine in blood
Pain during urine
Feeling an urge for a lot of urine
Foul-smelling or cloudy urine
Inability of urination
Fever
If individuals experience signs that make them worry, they should seek medical attention.
Severe pain that prevents one from sitting comfortably
Pain with fever and chills
Pain with vomiting and nausea
Difficulty in passing urine
Immediate Pain Relief Methods
Even when the small stones pass through the urinary tract, they cause pain. To alleviate this pain, the healthcare provider will prescribe over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers such as ibuprofen, a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
Dehydration is the major risk factor for developing kidney stones. Darker urine indicates that a person is suffering from dehydration. Ideally, the urine should be pale yellow. Thus, the doctors recommend drinking between 6 and 8-ounce glasses of water daily.
When urine contains more fluid, it is less likely to bind the mineral and salts together. As a result, it reduces the chance of stone formation in the kidney.
Consult Top Nephrologists
Home Remedies and Lifestyle Adjustments
Diet plays a vital role in the reduction of kidney stones. As calcium oxalate is a common compound of kidney stones, consuming dietary calcium will be beneficial. It helps to reduce the risk of kidney stone formation. So, here is a list of foods that are good sources of calcium:
Dairy products
Tofu
Canned fish with bones like sardines
Orange juice
Some cereals
Again, people with low citric acid levels have a risk of kidney stone development. Thus, they should increase the intake of foods with citric acid, such as oranges, lemon or lime, mango, melon, etc.
Also, by participating in physical activities, people can efficiently manage their kidney health. However, individuals' age, kidney function and physical abilities determine the type and number of exercises are suitable for them. So, before starting any exercise, it's mandatory to consult the doctor.
Here are some significant exercises that promote a healthier kidney.
Walking: It is one of the best exercises to maintain kidney health. Just a decent pair of tennis shoes has been required to start this activity. Furthermore, walking with a group of friends or listening to music will be more beneficial.
Participate in community activities: Several community centres offer low-cost communication-based programs such as swimming, tennis, yoga, baseball, meditation, and more. These activities help in reducing stress and promote relaxation.
Biking: This low-intensity exercise increases muscle flexibility and strengthens them. Also, it improves blood circulation in the lungs and heart and lessens bad fats.
Hiking: Also, hiking through the pathways of nature can be beneficial.
Medical Treatment Options
In case the kidney stone is not severe, non-infectious, and can pass on its own, the doctor may recommend these medications:
Nifedipine (Adalat) and tamsulosin (Flomax) are used to relax the ureter and help pass the stones.
Also, they may prescribe medication for nausea and vomiting and OTC pain relievers.
To prevent the calcium stones, doctors may prescribe a phosphate or thiazide diuretic-containing preparation.
The doctors may prescribe antibiotics to prevent struvite stones.
Again, they prescribe allopurinol to reduce the risk of uric acid stones in the kidney.
Then they will suggest some non-invasive treatment procedures. These include:
Blood tests: The results of blood tests help the doctor monitor the kidney health, uric acid or calcium level in blood, and check for other issues.
Imaging tests: These tests reveal the presence of kidney stones in the urinary tract. Specifically, the doctors use dual-energy or high-speed computerised tomography (CT) to detect the stones.
Urine test: It's a 24-hour urine collection test that shows if there are too many stone-forming minerals or stone-preventing substances in a person's urine.
Analysis of passed stones: It's a lab analysis that reveals the formation details of the kidney stones. This information helps the doctor to understand the cause of the stones.
Long-Term Management and Prevention
Here are some long-term risk reduction strategies that can prevent the kidney from stone formation:
Obesity or being overweight causes stress on the kidneys. Thus, it's crucial to lose the excess weight gradually and safely.
As a high amount of salt causes dehydration, people should limit their salt intake. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), people should not consume more than one teaspoon of salt per day.
High amounts of acid in urine can increase the risk of uric acid kidney stones. Thus, people should limit and monitor their intake of acidic foods such as eggs, cheeses, red meat, pork, and fish.
Natural supplements and vitamins can reduce the risk of kidney stones in some people. Also, it makes the passing of stones painful. These include calcium, fish oil, potassium citrate, vitamin B-6 and D.
Also, regular monitoring and health checkups will detect if a person has developed any stones in their kidney. Again, detection in the early stage will help the doctor to make a proper treatment plan.
Myths and Facts about Kidney Stones
Some common myths about kidney stones may create a hindrance for proper treatment. Thus, it's mandatory to understand the real facts behind these so that they can't negatively impact the treatment.
Myth 1: Eliminating calcium oxalate-rich foods from diet can reduce the risk of calcium oxalate kidney stone development.
Fact: The theory might be true, but the approach is wrong for overall health. It's vital to eat calcium and oxalate-rich foods together while eating meals. This will help to bind these elements together within the intestines and stomach before the kidneys have started processing for urine making. It will reduce the risk of kidney stone development.
Myth 2: Passing a kidney stone is a one-time event.
Fact: Most of people don't follow proper treatment procedures after passing a single stone. However, studies have shown that one stone increases the risk of having another. So, it's not a one-time event. Also, not following the treatment produced after one has been passed can increase the risk of recurring kidney stones and other kidney issues.
Dietary Considerations
Finally, individuals must adopt some dietary considerations in their daily lives to minimise the risk of kidney stones. Here are some tips about which foods they should eat and which not to eat.
Foods that may help:
Eat more plant-based calcium-rich foods such as beans, lentils, seeds, soy products, and nuts.
People should increase their lemon intake. Citrate in lemon easily binds with calcium and prevents stone formation. Thus, ½ cup of lemon juice diluted in water or juice of 2 lemons per day can reduce the risk of kidney stone formation.
Foods to avoid:
Also, people should avoid high-salt foods such as potato chips, canned soups, ready-to-make noodles, packaged meals, and smoked meats.
Eating too much animal protein such as meat, eggs, and seafood should be avoided.
Limit eating high sugar foods.
Conclusion
Kidney stones are frustrating and painful. In some cases, they come out on their own through urine. However, not every kidney stone goes away through urine. In these cases, people experience mild or severe pain. Thus, they should consult a doctor to prevent the situation from getting worse. The most vital strategy is to drink plenty of water to reduce the risk of stone development in the kidney. Also, they must follow the dietary guidelines and implement other lifestyle modifications.
Consult Top Nephrologists
Consult Top Nephrologists
Dr. S Bipin Kumar
Nephrologist
13 Years • MBBS, MD General Medicine, DM, Nephrology
Rajamahendravaram
SG KIDNEY CARE, Rajamahendravaram
Dr. Luvdeep Dogra
Nephrologist
10 Years • MBBS, MD, DM (NEPHORLOGY)
Jaipur
Dr Dogras Health Clinic, Jaipur
Dr. Govardhan Gupta
Nephrologist
15 Years • MBBS, DNB General Medicine, DrNB Nephrology
Mumbai
Oscar Superspeciality Hospital, Mumbai
Dr. Anantha Rao
Nephrologist
7 Years • MBBS, DNB (General Medicine), DNB (Nephrology)
Kurnool
Aakash hospital and KIMS hospital, Kurnool
Dr. Siddharth Herur
Nephrologist
4 Years • MBBS, MD General Medicine, DM Nephrology
Kurnool
Medicover hospital and Gurudatta poly clinic, Kurnool
