The cause of kidney stones is unknown, but studies prove that high concentrations of calcium in the urine and occasionally in the blood have a connection to this. Crystals in salts found in the urine bond with each other and gradually enlarge to form stones, which vary in size – some are as small as sand, whilst others are so big that they block the renal pelvis. Kidney stones usually occur in healthy men aged between 30 and 50, with far more men than women developing them. Often, people are more at risk of these stones if there is a family history of them. The most common symptom of kidney stones is sudden, intense pain as the stone travels down the ureter – the pain is usually concentrated in the side of the back, but as it moves it may occur in the stomach or down by the groin where it can result in stabbing pains. The same sort of pain may be present due to bleeding or an infection in the urinary system. Attacks of kidney stones can sometimes be so painful that they cause serious distress to the sufferer, often being accompanied by nausea and vomiting. They can also cause scratches in the lining of the renal pelvis or the ureter, which leads to blood in the urine. However, there isn’t always enough for it to be seen with the naked eye. A test by your GP can identify this though, if you have this problem. If you have frequent infections in the urinary system, this could be a sign that you have kidney stones. It’s likely that you’ll need medical hep if you develop kidney stones, as well as painkillers to help reduce the pain associated with them. If you’ve never had kidney stones before, you will require an examination to ensure that there are no other serious abdominal problems.
If your kidney stones are too big to pass through the ureter naturally, you may require hospital treatment in order to break up the stones. You’ll need an x-ray or an ultrasound to determine the size of the problem. Occasionally, your doctor will be able to make a small opening in the kidney to remove larger stones – however, it is rare for patients to need surgery. Usually the treatment used is lithotripsy which uses shockwaves to break up the stones. This is performed in hospitals and is becoming more common. The stone is broken down into pieces which can then be passed out by the body naturally. Studies suggest that those with a history of kidney stones are at an increased risk of coronary heart disease, but this is not a risk which men need to worry about – it only appears to affect women. The risk increase ranges from 20 to 50 percent, according to two new studies. Researchers have also identified that there are similar increases for fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction, and revascularisation in separate analyses. There were no associations found for men though. There is a difficulty in explaining the risk increase in women, as it is hard to understand whether the risk is because of the sex of the individual or the difference between the male and female cohorts. Kidney stones have been connected to other systematic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension. However, previous studies have been inconclusive with regards to the possible association of kidney stones with CHD. If you have a history of heart disease in your family, or believe that you may have kidney stones and are worried about the risk, you should seek advice from your GP.
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