Kidney stones

About 10% of men and 5% of women will develop a kidney stone at some point in their lives. But what exactly is a kidney stone and how you can prevent it.

Kidney stones form as crystals in the kidneys because certain substances such as calcium or uric acid are excessively present in the urine. These crystals can remain in the kidneys for years and grow larger. This ultimately results in kidney stones that can sometimes grow to a few centimeters in size.

The crystals can descend through the urinary tract into the bladder. This is not only painful, but the sharp edges of the crystals can also cause bleeding. If larger stones become loose, the urinary tract can even become blocked.

Painkillers are usually sufficient as treatment, but larger stones often need to be crushed. Sometimes surgical intervention is necessary.

You can prevent kidney stones by drinking plenty of water. You can only follow an adapted diet if you know the composition of the stones. That is why it is necessary to take drained stones to the doctor.

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 0000-00-00 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024