What are Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones are made up of salt and minerals such as calcium or uric acid. They can be found in the kidney and can also be found in the urinary tract. This condition requires medical attention from the best nephrology hospital in your vicinity. Stones found in the kidney differ in size. Some are minuscule in nature and some almost fraction an inch, others may increase a few inches more, while some others are really large.
A kidney stone is a result of the accumulation of minerals in your urine. The stones form when you are not properly hydrated and the concentration of the urine increases, leading to an accumulation of minerals. People who are obese or suffering from diabetes may end up with kidney stones. What are the signs of kidney stones?
Mostly smaller kidney stones may not cause any symptoms. You start experiencing problems when the stones move towards the ureter; this is the tube where the urine uses to travel from the kidney to the bladder.
Top 8 Signs of Kidney Stones
The excretion of kidney stones is very painful. Most of the stones can pass on their own if they do not then you may require a procedure to pass them or get them removed. The pain is the most obvious sign of kidney stones; however, there are other signs too.
- Pain in the back or stomach region
What are the first signs of kidney stones? Pain is the most obvious and a few of the first signs of kidney stones. The pain experienced in this case is indescribably excruciating, most people compare it to one experienced during childbirth or knife stabs. The pain is usually the result of stone moves into the ureter leading to a blockage. The blockage is what causes the pain to increase. The pain starts abruptly and varies in place and intensity. The pain intensifies when the ureter tries to excrete the stone out. The pain can affect the side of your belly, below the ribs and radiate towards the groin area.
- A burning sensation experienced during urination
Once the stone reaches the juncture between the ureter and bladder, you’ll start to experience dysuria, a sort of sharp burning feeling, one of the signs of kidney stones. It may make you believe that you have a urinary tract infection; in fact, both the conditions can co-exist at one and the same time.
- You may feel a sudden urge to go
A urinary emergency is one of the signs of stones in your kidney; you may feel the urge to go frequently as the stone moves to the lower part of the urinary tract. This symptom is similar to a urinary tract infection as the urge to use the bathroom can happen anytime, during the day or during the night.
- You may spot blood in the urine
Some people with urinary tract stones may experience blood in the urine. This symptom is known as hematuria. The color of the blood varies and may appear red, brown or pink. The blood cell sometimes appears too small and you need to see it through a microscope. Your doctor may have to check it through a microscope to diagnose.
- The smell of the urine
Healthy urine is clear and odorless. If your urine smells otherwise and looks cloudy, it may be a clear sign of kidney stones or infection such as a urinary tract infection. A study reveals that at least 8 percent of people who suffer from kidney stones also suffer from a urine infection. The smell usually emanates from the proliferation of bacteria in the urine. Urine that is extremely concentrated may also smell foul.
- The scanty output of urine
Large kidney stones may block ureter. This blockage disrupts the flow of the urine. So, you may have the urge to go, but you end up urinating only a small amount. You must be wary of the symptoms, especially if the urine flow stops suddenly, you need to immediately call the doctor in such a scenario.
- Nausea and vomiting
Most people who have kidney stones feel nauseous and may even feel like vomiting. This is because there are shared nerve connections between the kidneys and GI tract. Kidney stones can affect the GI tract leading to a stomach upset. Sometimes you feel nauseous when you are affected by extreme pain.
- Fever and chills
An infection in the kidney or the urinary tract may also lead to fever and chills. You can experience this when the complications increase. Fever with pain is a sign of an acute condition and needs immediate medical attention. When we speak of fevers, we mean temperatures rising above — 100.4˚F (38˚C) or more. Sometimes you may even experience chills or shivering.
What is the Most Common Cause of Kidney Stones?
The leading cause of kidney stones is usually lack of enough water in the body. Stones are mostly found in individuals who do not drink enough water, read at least eight to ten glasses of water a day. When there is not enough water it does not dilute the uric acid and it becomes acidic thus forming stones.
If you experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms, call your doctor from the best Multispecialty hospital in Hyderabad or other reputable hospitals in your city, without further delay. A diagnosis will differentiate the possibility of any serious complication or infection and you will be treated appropriately.
