What are Kidney Stones?

Posted under General Health by Don

It is very important for our kidneys to be in healthy state. Healthy kidneys perform its functions properly. Due to various medical problems, kidneys are not able to perform its functions properly. One such medical complication is kidney stones. Kidney stones are formed when the urine in the kidney crystallises. The various waste material which are unable to pass through the urinary track, take the shape of kidney stones. Kidney stones can be of various sizes, colour, texture, shape and composition.

Kidney stones are a very common problem these days. There are various factors responsible for this problem. In most cases it is seen that neglecting the importance of food and exercise in your lifestyles can cause this problem. Water is very essential for our body and inadequate consumption can lead to various medical problems and a kidney stone is one of them.

If you experience any pain in your lower back or abdomen accompanied with fever or chills, pain, blood, foam in urine, any nausea or vomiting, then you should immediately consult your doctor. These all symptoms are associated with kidney stones. You should not neglect these symptoms and seek medical help.

Kidney stones are made of various chemical substances. The stones are named based on the type of material in its composition. The most common type of stones is calcium stones. There are struvite, uric acid and cystine stones also. The calcium stones are formed due to calcium oxalate or from combination of calcium oxalate with phosphorous. These stones are formed when the excess calcium is not utilized by the body and there is more calcium waste in the urine. Struvite stones are made of ammonium and magnesium. These stones result from some bacterial infection in the kidneys. These stones are comparatively bigger stones. Uric acid stone and cystine stones are found in very few patients as compared to other types of stones. Uric acid stones are formed when more amount of uric acid in the body. This condition results when the urine gets concentrated. On the other hand cystine stones are formed due to amino acids in the body and these are generally genetic in nature.

Kidney stones are not a very serious medical condition if treated on time. It is seen that most of the patients are unaware of the kidney stones and stones pass through the urinary track. It is only under serious complication that doctor has to advise the surgical removal of kidney stones, otherwise in majority of cases medicines can get rid of kidney stones.

Source: www.kidney-stones.net