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Prevent stones and keep your kidneys healthy

Dubai - Kidney stones often have no definite, single cause, although several factors may increase your risk

Having kidney stones is a common problem which many people face in this region, partly because of climate and dietary reasons.
Kidney stones are solid crystal from various salts formed in your kidneys due to various conditions. These crystals stick together and form larger stones. These stones can be present in your kidney and ureter (thin tube from kidney) and urinary bladder (where urine in stored).
Kidney stones often have no definite, single cause, although several factors may increase your risk. Men are more likely to be affected than women and children.
Kidney stones usually cause symptoms when they start their movement in kidneys and to thin tube called as ureters. Pain is usually felt in the sides below ribs, and varies in intensity. Sometimes, it maybe so severe that the person has to be taken to emergency for pain relief. There may be associated nausea and vomiting, burning in urine, blood in urine, other urinary symptoms. In rare cases, patient may have urinary infection, fever and chills.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will need detailed medical history, examine the patient and will be advised to take certain tests:
> Blood test for evaluation of kidney function
> Urine testing
> X-ray, ultrasound and CT scan to confirm the stone size, number, exact position and stone hardness
These tests help in exact diagnosis and guiding of therapy.
Treatment for kidney stones varies, depending on the type of stone and the cause. Most stones are small and usually pass on their own with dietary therapy and medications. Patients are instructed to drink plenty of fluids, given analgesics and other medications to be used as per condition.
Larger stones and stones with persistent, severe symptoms, urinary infection and causing renal damage will need additional help in form of surgical procedures. These procedures are decided by stone size and location. Thanks to advances in technology, most patients can be treated with noninvasive or minimally inversive options like SWL, ureteroscopy or PCNL. A more complex case may require combinations of these procedures. Very rarely, patients may require open surgery.
SWL requires sound waves to break up stones. These stones then pass naturally over a period of time. Ureteroscopy is a procedure where doctor uses small instruments to see and break the stones, where as PCNL is for larger stones of the kidney. Newer advancements in instruments has made complex procedures possible, where doctors can treat complex renal calculi.
Prevention of kidney stones
You may reduce your risk of kidney stones if you:
> Drink plenty of water during the day, roughly 2.5 to three litres per day is sufficient. If you live in a hot, dry climate or you exercise frequently, you may need to drink even more water to produce enough urine. If your urine is light and clear, you're likely drinking enough water.
> Eat fewer oxalate-rich foods. If you tend to form calcium oxalate stones, your doctor may recommend restricting foods rich in oxalates like spinach, sweet potato, nuts, chocolate.
> Choose a diet low in salt and animal protein. Avoid eating salty food, don't add salt on top of foods. Avoid meat, mutton, chicken, fish, beef.
> Continue eating calcium-rich foods, but be cautious with calcium supplements.
Ask your doctor for a referral to a dietician who can help you develop an eating plan that reduces your risk of kidney stones.
Dr Saurabh Singh
MBBS, MS, MCH (Urology)
Specialist Urologist
Zulekha Hospital, Sharjah