Kidney stones – what are they characterized by? How can you remove them from your body? [WE EXPLAIN]

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Kidney stones are mineral deposits that can accumulate, inter alia, in in the kidneys, leading to their dysfunction. Therefore, it is important to learn how to recognize that the kidneys are depositing minerals and how to remove them. We also look at the relationship between kidney stones and urolithiasis.

1. A build-up of kidney stones is the direct cause of kidney stones. Other disorders can also lead to the disease, including prostatic hypertrophy
2. Disturbing symptoms that may indicate the presence of kidney stones include, among others persistent lower back or side pain, cloudy urine, fever, vomiting
3. Kidney stones larger than 6 mm can lead to serious problems in the urinary system and must therefore be surgically removed
4. More information can be found on the TvoiLokony home page

When they start to build up, they form deposits, also known as stones. These smaller sizes are excreted with urine from the body. Large stones begin to build up, leading to infection. Therefore, they must be removed from the body.

Kidney stones – factors that favor their formation

The accumulation of mineral deposits in the kidneys, ureter and bladder is favored by, among others:

1. Diet (excessive consumption of animal protein, low fluid intake);
2. Diseases (hypertension, diabetes, sarcoidosis, hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, patient immobilization, tubular acidosis, metabolic syndrome, intestinal hyperoxaluria, primary hyperoxaluria);
3. Medications (corticosteroids, vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium supplements, thyroid hormones, parenteral nutrition).

Further part below the video.

Kidney stones and urolithiasis

The accumulation of stones in the kidneys is the direct cause of nephrolithiasis, which can also lead to other disorders (e.g. prostatic hyperplasia, Crohn’s disease, hyperparathyroidism). The development of urolithiasis, and thus the accumulation of stones in the kidneys, is also influenced by the lack of citrates and magnesium, i.e. substances that are directly responsible for inhibiting the build-up of deposits.

The most common ailment with kidney stones is renal colic, which occurs during the movement of the stone into the ureter, which causes not only extremely severe pain, but also clogging or irritation of the duct, the direct symptom of which is blood in the urine.

In turn, kidney stones with a diameter of 4-6 mm take 45 days to expel. The largest mineral deposits – over 6 mm – are excreted within 12 months.

Types of kidney stones

Due to the heterogeneous composition of kidney stones, four types can be distinguished:

1. Calcium oxalate stones – most kidney stones (as much as 80%) are formed from oxalate (salt) and calcium deposits. They arise mainly as a result of consuming too little fluid when following a protein diet. In addition, products such as spinach, rhubarb or strong tea are responsible for the accumulation of oxalate and calcium deposits, as well as diseases: diabetes or thyroid problems. Calcium oxalate stones have sharp edges. The characteristic colors of the deposits are white, gray or black; Try on these types of stones Oxalate kidney stones – a mixture of herbs with mint, yarrow, knotweed, calendula, goldenrod, celandine;

Find out how calcium oxalates are made in the urine

1. Gout – are made of uric acid. They arise as a result of a magnesium deficiency, too little fluid intake, and also during the digestion of meat;

1. Calcium phosphate stones – formed from magnesium ammonium phosphate most often as a result of urinary tract infections

1. Cystine stones – are formed from one of the amino acids included in the protein, i.e. cystine. Yellow color and softness – these are their characteristic signs. Most often their formation is genetic.

Kidney stones – worrying symptoms of kidney infection

Disturbing symptoms that may accompany the presence of kidney stones and thus indicate a kidney infection include:

1. Persistent lower back or side pain;
2. Cloudy urine (may have a characteristic odor);
3. Fever;
4. Chills;
5. Blood in urine;
6. Burning sensation when urinating;
7. Vomiting.

You will also need a general urine test. Its results will include ingredients that will help the doctor determine what type of stones we are dealing with. At the beginning of the treatment, the following are most often used:

1. Alpha-blockers – by softening the stones, they help them get out;
2. Calcium channel blockers – widen the walls of the ureter so that the stones can come out.

Medication administration is the most common method for removing stones smaller than 6 mm. Above this diameter, surgery may be compulsory. It should also be remembered that stone dissolving drugs are effective in removing stones that do not contain magnesium.

Surgical removal of kidney stones

Kidney stones larger than 6 mm can lead to serious problems in the urinary tract, so surgical removal is essential. Nephrologists surgically use two methods to remove kidney stones:

1. Subcutaneous nephrolithotomy – used for stones larger than 10 mm, which are removed directly from the kidneys, bladder or ureter by making an incision in the back of the back. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia, which is associated with a stay in the hospital (1-2 days);
2. Ureteroscopy – Like a nephrolithotomy, it requires general anesthesia. During the procedure, the surgeon introduces tools through the urethra into the kidneys, which break the stones into smaller elements.

Increasingly, however, we are dealing with the removal of kidney stones using ultrasound. Thanks to the strong sounds (above 20 kHz), the deposits are broken down into smaller pieces. Ultrasound together with a suction pump is good for breaking large and hard stones.

1. Check if small kidney stones are more dangerous than those of larger diameter?

Apart from using vibrations, it is becoming very popular laser lithotripsy. Breaking kidney stones with a laser is painless, and the waves are adapted to the type of stones, which is why this method is so popular.

Home remedies to get rid of kidney stones

Is it possible to remove kidney stones with home remedies? For small deposits (less than 3 mm) that you want to remove at home, you should drink at least 3 liters of water a day. You should also drink cranberries or eat dried fruits, which not only have a diuretic effect but also help remove magnesium from the urinary tract. In addition, when preparing to “give birth” to a stone at home, you can make an infusion of dandelion or warty birch leaves.

It is also worth excluding sweet drinks and fruit juices from your diet. We should not give up calcium, but we should not take it in large amounts, especially when combined with vitamin D.

If we want to avoid kidney stones, we should not take foods rich in oxalates, which include, among others, soybeans, nuts, chocolate, coffee, strong tea, chard, sorrel, beetroot.