Kidney Stones & Prevention

Kidney, filter for blood, the function is removing waste foodstuffs from the body and creation of urine. Another duty is to helps regulation of electrolyte levels that are important for body function.

Urine drains from the kidney through a narrow tube called the ureter into the bladder. When the bladder fills and there is an urge to urinate, the bladder empties to the outside through the urethra is much wider tube than the ureter.

Kidney Stones are formed by crystallizing of chemicals in the urine. These stones are extremely minute when they form, smaller than a grain of sand, but slowly can grow over time to 1/10 of an inch. The size of the stone doesn't matter as much as where it is located and whether it prevents urine from draining. Urolithiasis is the term that refers to the presence of stones in the urinary tract, while nephrolithiasis refers to kidney stones and ureterolithiasis refers to stones lodged in the ureter.

When the stone sits in the kidney, it infrequently causes troubles, but when it falls into the ureter, it acts like a dam. As the kidney continues to function and make urine, pressure builds up behind the stone and causes the kidney to swell up. This pressure causes the pain of a kidney stone.

Diet is one of numerous factors that can support or reduce kidney stone formation. Other factors are heredity, environment, weight, and drinking of water etc. The body uses food for energy health. After the body uses what it needs, waste foodstuffs in the bloodstream are passed to the kidneys and excreted as urine. Certain foods create wastes that may form crystals in the urinary tract. In some people, the crystals grow into stones and cause so many problems.

We can prevent the kidney stones by drink more water throughout the day. The other activities are eating fewer oxalate-rich foods, choose a diet low in salt and animal protein, continue eating calcium-rich foods, but use caution with calcium supplements etc. Medications can control the level of acidity in urine and may be helpful in people who form certain kinds of stones.