Mineral crystals that build up in your kidneys and are called “kidney stones” are famed for being unbearably painful. The pain they cause is only the tip of the iceberg, though.
These stones, which may not seem like much, can have big effects on your health in the long run. Lazare Urology can help you deal with kidney stones and get rid of them in the best way possible.
Understand the culprits.
Minerals and salts that collect in your pee form kidney stones, which are hard lumps. They can be as little as a sand grain or as big as a rock. Even though these stones look harmless, they can be very painful as they move through your urinary system.
The potential complications of this silent threat.
The pain of kidney stones right now often makes the possible long-term effects less important. There are a few problems that can happen, which are shown below:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs): When a kidney stone stops the flow of pee, it gives germs a place to grow, which raises the risk of UTIs.
- Damage to the kidneys: If pee flow is blocked for a long time, it can hurt the kidneys and possibly lead to chronic kidney disease.
- Kidney failure: If kidney stones are really bad, they can do a lot of damage to the kidneys and make them less effective or even fail.
- More likely to get stones in the future: It is more likely that you will get another kidney stone after having one. This is because the factors below that cause stones to form usually do not change.
A proactive approach to preventing kidney stones.
Kidney stones can be very painful and make it hard to move, but there are things you can do to lower your risk:
Hydration.
Stay hydrated! Drinking a lot of water is important for softening pee and cleaning out minerals that can cause stones. Try to drink eight glasses of water every day.
Changes to your diet.
Cutting back on foods high in oxalate, sodium, and animal protein can help keep stones from forming. You might want to eat less red meat, chicken, eggs, and dairy items.
Adopt a plant-based diet.
Eat more plants. Adding more fruits, veggies, and whole grains to your diet can help keep your minerals in balance and lower your risk of getting kidney stones.
Manage your weight.
Keeping your weight in a healthy range can lower your risk of getting kidney stones. Having too much weight can raise the amounts of some chemicals in your pee that can help stones form.
Check-ups.
Getting regular medical check-ups can help find and treat diseases that may make you more likely to get kidney stones. Getting regular medical checkups can prevent any problems from becoming worse.
There is more to kidney stones than just being painful. They can hurt your health in very bad ways over time.
You can greatly lower your chances of having these painful episodes by learning about the things that put you at risk and taking steps to avoid them. Remember that the best ways to avoid getting kidney stones are to stay hydrated, make changes to your food, and live a healthy life.
When should you seek professional help?
It is important to see a urologist right away if you have severe back or side pain, blood in your urine (hematuria), frequent or painful peeing (pollakisuria), or any of these other symptoms.
A urologist can help with these symptoms, which could mean you have kidney stones, an infection, or a growth. They have the tools to find and treat these problems, which is good for your urinary tract health. Seeking medical help can ease pain, stop problems before they happen, and promote good health.
