Kidney stones are one of the most common problems of the urinary tract—and
one of the most painful disorders. How much do you know about kidney stones? Try your
hand
at this quiz, based on information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive
and Kidney Diseases.
1. Most kidney stones pass through a person's urinary tract
without any medical intervention.
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If the crystals that
form the stones remain tiny enough, they can pass through without even being noticed.
2. Anyone can develop kidney stones.
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More men tend to
develop stones than women, but the number of women who get kidney stones has been
increasing. Whites are more prone to kidney stones than are Blacks, Hispanics, and
Asians. The prevalence of kidney stones rises dramatically as men enter their 40s
and
continues to rise into their 70s. For women, the prevalence of kidney stones peaks
in
their 50s. Kidney stones also tend to run in families. Once a person gets more than
one
stone, they are more likely to develop others.
3. A kidney stone forms from chemicals that the body is trying to
get rid of.
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The most common type
of stone contains calcium plus either oxalate or phosphate. These chemicals are part
of
a person's normal diet and make up important parts of the body, such as bones and
muscles.
4. A urinary tract infection can put you at risk for developing
kidney stones.
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Kidney disorders such
as malformations or blockages, and metabolic disorders such as hyperparathyroidism
are
also linked to stone formation. Genes also play a role. Also, more than 7 in 10 people
with a rare hereditary disease called renal tubular acidosis develop kidney stones.
5. The pain from a kidney stone comes on gradually, growing more
and more intense.
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The pain often begins
suddenly, when a stone moves in the urinary tract, causing irritation or blockage.
Typically, a person feels a sharp, cramping pain the back and side in the area of
the
kidney or in the lower abdomen. Sometimes nausea and vomiting occur with this pain.
Later, the pain may spread to the groin. Change of position doesn't improve the pain.
6. Most kidney stones large enough to cause pain must be removed
surgically.
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Fortunately, most
stones can be treated without surgery. Most kidney stones can pass through the urinary
system with plenty of water (2 to 3 quarts a day) to help move the stone along. In
most
cases, you can stay home during this process, taking pain medicine as needed. Your
healthcare provider will probably ask you to save the passed stone(s) for testing.
They
can give you a device similar to a coffee filter for you to use when urinating that
allows you to see the stones when you are done. Other minimally invasive methods are
available to treat stones. Surgery is only rarely needed.
7. Drinking plenty of water can help prevent the recurrence of
kidney stones.
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If you have stones
that develop again and again, you should try to drink enough liquids—water is
best—throughout the day to make at least 2 quarts of urine in every 24-hour period.
8. Some kidney stones can be removed by using shockwaves
(lithotripsy).
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Extracorporeal
shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) is the most often used surgical procedure to treat kidney
stones. ESWL uses shockwaves that are created outside of the body to travel through
the
skin and body tissues until the waves hit the dense stones. The stones become sand-like
and are easily passed through the urinary tract in the urine.
