Kidney stones are a common disease. Therefore, find out which physical symptoms indicate kidney stones and which risk factors promote the formation of kidney stones.
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What are kidney stones?
Our kidneys filter around 1,800 liters of blood every day and ensure that pollutants and toxins are excreted through the urine. Their other tasks include regulating salt and water balance in the body, producing hormones and regulating blood pressure .
Kidney stones are among the most common kidney diseases and are widespread. Kidney stones are deposits that form from components of the urine and grow together to form larger structures. Kidney stones are often the size of a grain of rice, but can grow to several centimeters. They can be found in the renal calyces, in the renal pelvis and in the urinary tract. Doctors distinguish different compositions of kidney stones. Calcium-containing stones are the most common, followed by calcium-phosphate stones. Men get kidney stones more often than women.
6 signs of kidney stones
Kidney stones can go unnoticed for a long time and are therefore only discovered by chance, for example, during an ultrasound examination. However, if the kidney stones migrate into the ureters, this is not without symptoms. Typical signs of kidney stones are:
- Pain around the kidney area and in the lower back. They can radiate to the abdomen and genitals.
- nausea and vomiting
- pain when urinating
- blood in the urine
- Difficult to suppress urge to urinate
- Urinary retention associated with severe pain. This is renal colic.
If there is a fever in addition to the symptoms, it is a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical attention as there is a risk of life-threatening blood poisoning.
These are the causes of kidney stones
There are various causes of kidney stones. Dehydration, an unhealthy diet, diseases such as diabetes mellitus or kidney function disorders, certain medications or frequent urinary tract infections contribute to the formation of kidney stones.
treat kidney stones
Sometimes all you have to do is wait for the stone to pass by itself with the urine. Drinking plenty of fluids helps speed up this process. If the stones are causing pain, you can take pain relievers such as acetaminophen. Depending on the size, location and symptoms, kidney stones must be surgically removed.
How to prevent kidney stones
By avoiding certain risk factors, you can make a significant contribution to preventing kidney stones. This means that you should always make sure that you drink enough. According to the health insurance company AOK, you should drink at least two and a half liters of liquid. You should primarily drink water and unsweetened tea. Also make sure you eat a balanced and high-fiber diet and only eat salt and sugar in moderation, as both increase the amount of calcium excreted in the urine.
