Life style Effect on Kidney

The kidneys filter the blood and remove the extra waste and water as urine. Many waste chemicals are in the urine. They can sometimes form crystals that clump together to make stones. Kidney stones are hard, rock-like crystals of varying sizes and shapes. They can range from as small as a grain of sand to as big as a golf ball. There are four main types of kidney stones: The most common are those formed from calcium combined with oxalate or phosphate.

·         Struvite stones are caused by a urine infection and are often horn-shaped and quite large. Uric acid stones are often softer than other forms of kidney stone.

·         Cystine stones are rare and hereditary and look more like crystals than stones.Animated films help us understand how kidney stones form and why. A stone can form when substances such as calcium, oxalate, cystine or uric acid are at high levels in the urine. Yet stones can also form if these chemicals are at normal levels. A small number of people get kidney stones because of medical conditions, particularly those that can lead to high levels of calcium, oxalate, cystine or uric acid in the body. Medications used for treating some medical conditions, such as kidney disease, cancer or HIV, can also increase the risk of developing kidney disease. Kidney stones are one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract. The risk also increases as you get older. Kidney stones are more common in children in developing countries.A fter having one kidney stone, about 30 to 50 per cent of people will get a second one within five years. After five years the risk of getting another stone declines for most people. Some people continue to get kidney stones their whole lives. This causes a gripping pain in the back, just below the ribs. It can spread around to the front of the body and sometimes towards the groin.
Other symptoms of a kidney stone include:

·         Blood in your urine

·         Nausea and vomiting

·         Shivers, sweating and fever, with cloudy or bad smelling urine if there is also an infection

·         Small uric acid stones, which look like gravel, in your urine

·         An urgent feeling of needing to urinate.

Kidney stones can be found by chance during tests for other conditions. There are also specific tests to check for kidney stones.

These may include:

·         1. Ultra Sound 2.CT scans

·         X-rays, including an intravenous pyelogram or IVP, where dye is injected into the bloodstream before the X-ray is taken.

Detecting and diagnosing stones helps to decide on the treatment. Urine and blood tests can assist in finding out the cause. Sometimes, however, pain can be so severe that hospital admission and very strong painkillers may be needed. If a stone doesn’t pass and blocks urine flow, or causes bleeding or an infection, then it may need to be treated using one of these methods:

·         Extracorporeal Shock-Wave Lithotripsy – Ultrasound waves are used to break the kidney stone into smaller pieces, which can pass out with the urine. It is used for stones less than two centimetres in size.

·         Extracorporeal Shock-Wave Lithotripsy – Ultrasound waves are used to break the kidney stone into smaller pieces, which can pass out with the urine. It is used for stones less than two centimetres in size.

·         Endoscope Removal – An instrument is inserted into the urethra, passed into the bladder, then to where the stone is located. It allows the doctor to remove the stone or break it up so it can pass more easily.

·         Surgery – This requires an incision in your back to access your kidney and ureter to remove the stone.

Being mindful of the risks and symptoms of kidney stones is an important part of caring for your kidneys.