Kidney Stones: A Common Urinary Problem

The kidneys are a major organ of the urinary system, which also includes the bladder, the ureters and urethra and sphincter muscles. A common urinary problem in the kidneys is the formation of kidney stones. These are mineral buildup deposited in the kidneys, which can cause very little to severe pain. Kidney stones do not usually cause pain when they are in the kidney but they can become loose during urination and travel to the ureters. If this happens, the person will have a very painful urinary problem.

The pain is felt on the back side (the flank) and may reach to the lower part of the abdomen and the groin area. Aside from this symptom, other signs that suggest the formation of kidney stones include blood in urine, urinating frequently, feeling pain when urinating, vomiting and nausea.

If you suspect that you have a kidney stone urinary problem, speak with a doctor immediately. During consultation, the doctor will want to know about your medical history, any major diseases that you might have or surgeries that you have undergone. Be ready to provide your doctor with as many information as you can about your suspected kidney stone problem, like what symptoms you noticed and when they started. The doctor would also ask about your diet and fluid consumption.

The initial treatment for this type of urinary problem is quite simple – drink lots of fluid to aid the passing of kidney stones naturally, which would take just a few days, and take doctor-prescribed medications for the pain. If the natural method fails or if it causing intense pain, a popular alternative option that your doctor would likely recommend is shock wave lithotripsy, which will split up the stones into tiny pieces for easier passage during urination. Open surgery to treat kidney stones is done very rarely.

To prevent this urinary problem, you should increase your intake of water. It is recommended to drink at least 8 glassfuls of water daily in order to help wash out the crystal-forming substances in the kidneys. In addition, reduce your consumption of cola, coffee and tea to just about a cup or a two a day because caffeine has a diuretic effect.

You would also need to make some changes in your diet, depending on what type of kidney stones you have. Your doctor will advise you on this. For example, those with uric acid kidney stones should reduce their intake of meat because they are high in purine, which leads to high uric acid levels. In addition, the doctor may also prescribe some medications to prevent kidney stones urinary problem.