KIDNEY STONES
Kidney stones (as illustrated), can be as tiny as a grain of sand, or as large as a golf ball.

They’re sources of extreme pain, bloody urine and constant infections.

If left untreated, kidney stones can permanently damage your kidneys.

Let’s talk about them 👇🏼

WHAT ARE KIDNEY STONES?

Kidney stones are hard masses of minerals and salts that form inside the urinary tract: Kidneys, ureter, bladder or urethra.

They form from high levels of natural waste products in the urine, which include:
- Calcium
- Oxalate
- Urate
- Cystine
- Xanthine and
- Phosphate.

Overtime, these salts crystallize together and form a stone.

ARE THERE TYPES?

Yes, there’re 4 major types:

- Calcium oxalate stones, which are the most common and account for 80% of kidney stones.

- Uric acid stones, which are mostly seen in people who lose too much fluid or eat a high protein diet.

- Struvite stones, which are mostly due to a bacterial infection e.g constant UTIs

- Cystine stones, which are due to an inherited disorder.

Each type has a different cause and treatment.

WHAT INCREASES YOUR RISK OF KIDNEY STONES?

- Dehydration
- Diet high in salt, protein, sugar or oxalate (spinach, nuts, beets)
- Obesity
- Digestive diseases like IBD and Crohn’s disease
- Family history
- Some medications like calcium based antacids and loop diuretics.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

So many people are not aware of kidney stones till they block the urinary tract.

Common symptoms include:
- Severe flank or lower back pain (that radiates to the groin)
- Pain while urinating
- Blood in urine
- Nausea or vomiting
- Constant urination
- Cloudy or foul smelling urine
- Fever/chills (If this is present, it’s best to see a doctor)

WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS?

Ignoring kidney stones can lead to:

- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Kidney infection
- Hydronephrosis (swelling of the kidney)
- Permanent kidney damage
- Sepsis (Blood infection)LIFESTYLE TIPS AND PREVENTION

It’s important to prevent kidney stones in the first place.

You do this by:
- Drinking plenty of water (Aim for 2.5 to 3 liters daily). This helps reduce the concentration of urine.

- Reduce sodium intake (Think salted snacks and packaged foods)

- Limit animal proteins and foods rich in oxalate (beet, spinach), especially if you have a family history of kidney stones.

- Don’t overdo calcium supplements

- Maintain a healthy weight

- Treat underlying cause of the stones (UTIs, gout etc)

- Monitor urine pH frequently if prone to uric acid stones.Kidney stones are painful, recurring and can be dangerous if ignored.

Once they form, they need help to be passed out.

It could be from drinking more water, taking medications or having a non-invasive procedure.

With proper diagnosis and prompt intervention, you can avoid permanent kidney damage.
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*Shall we pray?* May God help us to be cautious, protect us from every chronic and deadly disease, heal those who are experiencing sickness in their bodies now, and guide our government to be sensitive to the needs of the people. In Jesus' name, I pray!!