Do you have these symptoms? Check that it’s not urolithiasis

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Urolithiasis is one of the most common diseases of the urinary system. It occurs in about 5-10 percent. adults between the ages of 30 and 50 and it affects men three times more often.

The material in cooperation with Herbapol Poznań

Urolithiasis is a chronic disease of varying severity and course. Most often, in the initial stage, the disease is not accompanied by any symptoms and we find out about it accidentally on the basis of preventive examinations or on the basis of tests ordered for other disease entities or when the already formed deposits (stones) block the outflow of urine and there is pain in the form of the so-called renal colic. In 40-50 percent people who develop urolithiasis, the disease unfortunately has a tendency to recur.

Urolithiasis and the causes of its occurrence

We talk about urolithiasis when insoluble deposits called stones appear in the urinary tract. They are made of harmless chemicals in the urine. When the concentration of these substances in the urine is so high that they exceed the threshold of their solubility, they are precipitated.

Precipitated crystals initially in the form of “sand” can be painlessly excreted from the urinary tract along with urine. However, they often fuse together to form urinary stones of various sizes that cannot spontaneously pass through the urinary tract and block them, often causing renal colic characterized by pain in the lumbar region. It is then necessary to implement pharmacological or even surgical treatment.

In most cases, urinary stones are made of calcium salts. Most often they are calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate or uric acid stones, less often cystine or struvite stones, formed as a result of chronic urinary tract infections. The urine pH is largely responsible for the formation of specific types of deposits. Cystine and urate deposits are formed at a constantly low pH, while phosphate and oxalate deposits at a high pH.

Although urinary stones are most often formed in the calyx and pelvis of the kidneys, they can form in any section of the urinary tract. Due to the location of the stones, we distinguish kidney stones, ureterolithiasis, urinary bladder, renal urethritis and prostate stones. Often, despite proper diagnostic tests, it is difficult to determine the unequivocal cause of urolithiasis. In turn, there are many factors that favor its occurrence. These include metabolic disorders and systemic diseases, such as hyperparathyroidism, Leśniowski and Crohn’s disease, gout, diabetes, obesity or hypertension, but also genetic predisposition, insufficient hydration of the body or an improper diet rich in protein and oxalates. The risk of stones also increases when there are congenital or acquired obstacles (e.g. adhesions) in the urinary tract and in the presence of frequent and chronic urinary tract infections, but vice versa, urolithiasis may be the cause of frequent inflammations.

Symptoms of urolithiasis

Often, urolithiasis does not manifest itself with any troublesome symptoms and is detected during random examinations. Most often, however, it is associated with periodically occurring pain resulting from the migration of the deposit through the urinary tract – from the kidney through the ureter to the bladder. These periodic bouts of pain are known as bouts of renal colic, and in some patients they repeat themselves from time to time. Strong and sharp pain occurs in the lumbar region and radiates to the lower abdomen, groin and genitals, periodically intensifying for up to several hours until the stone is removed from the urinary tract. During an attack of renal colic, the patient often urinates in small amounts, with a dark color indicating the presence of blood in the urine. Vomiting may also occur.

Small stones travel through the ureter faster and the pain lasts relatively shorter. When the stones are large, they travel longer through the ureter and often block it completely. This causes a blockage of urine in the kidney, which may result in a kidney infection. Then the patient develops a high fever. Such a situation requires immediate intervention by a urologist. In the case of urolithiasis, the deposits are located within the bladder. There is frequent and painful urination, especially during the day. Accompanying pain increases with the movement and decreases in the supine position.

If you experience these symptoms and have a frequent urinary tract infection, don’t ignore it. Do basic research – urine analysis first. If necessary, the doctor will refer you to specialist examinations. Once the diagnosis is made, appropriate treatment will be initiated, which is often associated with a change in diet.

Prevention of urolithiasis

Since urinary stones are formed as a result of the precipitation of crystals from the chemicals in the urine when the concentration of these substances is too high, first of all, ensure proper hydration of the body. Under normal circumstances, an adult should drink 1,5-2 liters of fluid a day, preferably in the form of still mineral water. It is especially important to drink a glass of water before going to bed to dilute the urine remaining overnight. Proper fluid intake guarantees sufficient “flushing” of the urinary system, which hinders the formation of urinary stones and facilitates the washing out of small crystals. In addition to proper hydration, let’s also take care of a proper diet. Let’s limit the consumption of vegetables and fruits rich in oxalates, such as sorrel, spinach, rhubarb, but also animal protein, fats and table salt. It is also always worth using over-the-counter herbal preparations with diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties, such as Urosept, available in pharmacies. Such preparations are recommended in urinary tract infections, in the presence of sand in the urine or as an auxiliary in the treatment of urinary tract stones.

The material in cooperation with Herbapol Poznań