By Tulan on February 25th, 2012

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones don’t always cause symptoms. As long as they stay in the kidney you will never know, it’s when they move to the ureter that they cause excruciating pain. You might be at higher risk according to certain circumstances, although anyone can develop a kidney stone. Fortunately for us, medical help is available. Another happy note, doctors say that drinking plenty of water can prevent kidney stones.

Kidney stones and gall stones differ but there are some similarities. Both tend to form in one place, then travel to another site where they cause big trouble. A kidney stone most frequently moves to the ureter where a lodged stone will block the flow of urine and cause trouble that cannot be ignored. Not all kidney stones lead to symptoms. Like gall stones that stay in the bladder, kidney stones that stay in the kidney don’t irritate or do anything to produce symptoms. Like silent gall stones, these kidney stones go unnoticed.

Image via Wikipedia

We should all be so lucky as to have these. Kidney stones that do have symptoms cause excruciating pain. Severe pain is the best known symptom but others include.

Blood in the urine

Bladder irritability

Abdominal bloating

Fever and chills

Nausea and vomiting

Stones may be no larger than a grain of sand or they can be many times larger. If you ever see one, you will wonder how anything so tiny could cause so much pain. Anyone can have a kidney stone, but some are far more likely than others. You are at higher risk if you count yourself among the following.

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People who have a family history of stones

Men aged 40 or over

Heavy users of alcohol

Patients who have prolonged bed rest

Patients who have gout or overabsorb calcium

Doctors suspect that drinking plenty of water can prevent kidney stones. Although stones usually pass by themselves, an assist from modern medicine is available. Drugs, surgery and ultrasonic therapy are there to help. When the stone is removed it should be sent for chemical analysis. The stone may contain large amounts of calcium or oxalate. Both are found in food and a restricted diet might be in order.

http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-disease/symptoms-of-stroke-and-heart-attack/

http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-diseases/eat-to-avoid-cancer/

http://healthmad.com/health/juice-it-up-for-a-flat-belly/

http://healthmad.com/alternative/traditional-home-remedies/

http://healthmad.com/women/is-it-cancer-or-fibrocystic-disease/