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Kidney Stones Symptom Diagnosis

Apr 142009

What Are the Symptoms of A Kidney Stone?

Do you see blood when you urinate or do you have pain in your back or pelvis? If you answer yes to these two questions then you may have kidney stones. The only way to be really sure is to have yourself examined by a doctor.

The two symptoms mentioned are just some of the symptoms that tell you if you have kidney stones. Other symptoms of kidney stone may include fevers or chills, feeling or being sick, frequent urinating and a burning sensation when you urinate.

It’s hard to tell just by how you feel if you have kidney stones because these symptoms are also felt by those who have a urinary tract infection (UTI).

When you go to your doctor, they will have to do a series of checks to confirm a kidney stones diagnosis. This will include reviewing your medical history, conducting a physical examination and doing some tests.

To rule out UTI a sample of urine or blood is scanned using one or two machines that may be a computed tomography (CT) scan, intravenous pyelogram (IVP), retrograde pyelogram or X-ray.

To give you a better understanding of what these machines are;

The CT scan can be used for many purposes. In the case of kidney stones, the doctor will tell the technician to focus on your urinary system.

The problem with the CT scan is that it cannot detect small stones when these are located near the bladder. To be sure, an x-ray will be done to tell the doctor its orientation, shape and size.

The Intravenous Pyelogram or IVP is another option and for this test you will be injected with a contrasting agent. Once this is flowing through your kidney, it will be easy for the machine to see if you have a kidney stone blocking the ureter.

There are risks for conducting this test especially if you have a slight allergic reaction to the contrasting fluid that is used.

An ultrasound machine may be used to check if you have kidney stones located in your upper urinary tract or in your ureter. Unfortunately, it cannot be used to check for kidney stones in other areas.

Another test is called the retrograde pyelogram. This test is similar to the IVP in using a contrasting agent however instead of an intravenous agent the contrasting solution is introduced directly into the lower ureter. The contrast flow is opposite to the normal direction of urine, hence the “retrograde” part of the name. This test is normally done under general or local anasthesia.

In most cases, patients who have kidney stones do not need to undergo these more advanced tests because the others mentioned have already confirmed that.

Once the doctor is sure of the kidney stones diagnosis and determined the type of stone only then will they be able to treat it. The doctor may or may not have to give you medication. In extreme cases, surgery may be the best option.

Kidney stones happen more often to males than females. If you feel something wrong down there, don’t wait until it’s get worse before seeing your doctor.

Kidney Stones Home Remedy

Health, Home Remedies, Medical No Responses »

Apr 132009

Home Remedies - Kidney Stones

For people who are suffering from kidney stones, experts say the easiest way for them to deal with the condition is to flush the stones from their system. Although this can be helped by using medication or through simple medical procedures, it is often best to do it the natural way.

One of the natural methods to assist in dissolving kidney stones and flushing them out from the persons body is by drinking tea. Since time immemorial, tea has been giving people a lot of health benefits. One of which is helping the body’s system to flush out waste products that could bring health complications.

Some individuals who have suffered from kidney stones would agree that teas containing Chinese herbs such as plantain leaf, meadowsweet, Joe-pye weed and sarsaparilla, can help dissolve kidney stones because these contain natural properties which reduce excess uric acid in the body.

Combined with other herbs such as corn silk, wild yam root, hydrangea root, yarrow leaf, and cramp bark, tea preparations can be effective in dissolving small kidney stones in no time. To make the tea more effective, longer preparation time is a must. This allows the ingredients to “draw” and ensures that all the natural properties will be intact.

Another kidney stones home remedy is to use a type of tea with diuretic properties. For this type of tea, you can choose either dandelion or corn silk. Many people say that these herbs are the two most popular choices of diuretic that can produce early results. When combined with other herbs such as nettle leaf, fennel seed, and oat straw, diuretic tea can be more effective in dissolving even medium-sized kidney stones.

If you are not the type to use herbal remedies as a natural means of fighting kidney stones, there are much simpler ways such as:

1. Taking in lots of fluid. People with kidney stones must drink at least 10 glasses of water per day to flush out body waste.

2. Opting for lemonade preparation. The citric acid present in lemons can delay the development of stones in the person’s body.

3. Eating foods that are rich in fiber but low in protein, calcium, and salt. By doing this, you will have reduce the risk for kidney stones because you are avoiding the major causes of kidney stones.

4. Engaging in a regular physical exercise. Experts say that one of the reasons why people become prone to kidney stones is due to inactivity. By becoming more active, you can delay and even avoid the formation kidney stones.

The most common problems of people involving their kidney is the presence of kidney stones which are clumps of waste products formed in this specific body organ. People may not know this but kidney stones can be literally compared to real stones because they are hard and can be painful especially when they are large or block the ureter. Unlike real stones, kidney stones can be dissolved once they are diagnosed early.

The Connection Between Kidney Stones And Diet

Health, Medical No Responses »

Apr 132009

What Diet is the Ideal Diet For Kidney Stones?

There is no more effective means of fighting kidney stones than proper diet. Many experts agree that having the right diet is the key in treating and preventing common diseases such as kidney stones. With a controlled diet, people can choose not to consume foods that can lead to the faster formation and faster growth of have kidney stones.

Kidney stones refer to the salts and other minerals formed in the vital organs such as kidneys, ureters, and bladder. There is a large percentage of people who can be prone to problems because the stones tend to form naturally. Most do not cause problems however some kidney stones can cause extremely uncomfortable pangs of pain and can even result to more complicated related diseases.

How does a diet for kidney stones help?

Medical specialists agree that the easiest way to fight kidney stones is by having a diet that is balanced and appropriate for your age. A balanced diet ensures that you are getting all the key nutrients you need but also ensures that you will have lesser chances of developing diseases such as kidney stones.

For people who are prone to kidney stone problems, experts advise them to take specific preventive measures. This is because the earlier the causes are prevented the lesser the chances of having kidney stones. Here are some suggestions when it comes to diet to lessen the chances of having kidney stones:

- increased fluid intake. This is quite effective in fighting kidney stones because if you have enough liquid in your diet, it can wash away toxins and flush them out of the body. Increasing fluid intake, especially water, is the simplest yet most effective way of fighting kidney stones because it can help you keep hydrated while leaving your system clean. The ideal water intake should be 8 glasses but since people with kidney stones need more to flush out salts and other minerals in the body, 10 to 12 glasses is recommended daily.

- controlled sodium intake. Too much salt or sodium is one of the primary causes of kidney stones because it increases the calcium levels present in the person’s urine. Doctors advise people with calcium stones to cut down or totally eliminate sodium intake from the foods that they eat. This is because too much salt intake will only make the condition more complicated and may also cause other related diseases.

- increase the intake of fiber-rich foods. Fiber is considered beneficial to people with kidney stones because it contain several compounds—mostly are phytate—that guards the kidney against the formation of stones. Experts say that people who are suffering from kidney stones and those who would want to be spared from it should increase their intake of foods such as wheat, rice bran and soybeans.

More and more experts agree that along with an early kidney stones diagnosis, eating the right foods is very crucial in reducing the risk of kidney stones. For those who are already suffering from this condition, all the more reason to pay attention to their diet because this directly affects the degree or severity of kidney stones.