Kidney stone problems are quite common and affect millions of people from all around the world. Although both men and women can suffer from this condition, it is more prevalent in men. Hence, men should be extra cautious. Kidney stones are known to cause extreme pain and other health issues.
To prevent as well as combat this problem, it is important for both men and women to have a clear understanding about this subject. This article contains detailed explanation about what exactly are kidney stones, what causes them and how to go about treating them?
First, you need to understand what exactly a kidney stone is. Kidney stone is a urinary tract problem that occurs when hard stone-like mineral material builds up in the kidney. This condition can be caused due to variety of factors. Some of the main causes of kidney stones are explained below.
One of the main causes of this condition is the urinary tract infection. To prevent against kidney stone problems, you should prevent your urinary tract against various kinds of infections. Kidney stone problem can also be a result of certain prescribed medications, and hence you should be extra careful if you are taking drugs to treat other health problems. In some cases, heredity can also cause this condition. Lastly, unhealthy way of living can also trigger kidney stone problem. Lifestyle habits such as lack of physical activity, lack of hydration, excess consumption of calcium oxalate, etc. can all contribute to kidney stones.
A person suffering from kidney stone experiences certain symptoms that indicate the existence of this problem and the need to diagnose it. It is important to seek immediate medical attention if one experiences symptoms like sever pain in the stomach, back and abdominal area. These are the most common symptoms of kidney stone. Some other less common warning signs of kidney stone include fever, blood in urine, nausea and chills.
The treatment for kidney stones varies from individual to individual. The shape and size of the stone inside the stomach plays an important role in determining the type of treatment. A small stone can be eliminated through urine if a person drinks sufficient amount of water each day. In case of a bigger stone, Extra corporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) method is used. In severe conditions, surgical procedure called per cutaneous nephrolithotomy is applied.