Poor nutrition as a cause of kidney stones
Poor nutrition as a cause of kidney stones
Urologist Dr. Uygar Miçooğulları of Özel İzmir Can Hospital answered our questions about kidney and urinary tract stones and their treatment options. Kidney stone problems are very common in our country; they may pass with a temporary episode of flank pain, but cases resulting in kidney failure and removal of the kidney can also occur. Therefore, although clearing the kidneys of stones with the appropriate technique is the primary goal, investigating the factors that cause stone formation and preventing recurrence is also very important.
WHAT are the symptoms of a kidney stone? The pain is dull, severe and writhing, and comes and goes. Nausea, vomiting, burning on urination and a change in urine color may also accompany it.
DOES diet play a role in stone formation? Genetic factors, diet and environmental factors play an important role. Because of obesity and poor eating habits, stone disease is now a common health problem.
IS a special diet recommended to prevent stones? Because the stone type differs in each patient, a personalized diet and medical treatment must be recommended. However, all stone patients may be advised to increase their daily fluid intake, limit salt, follow a diet based mainly on vegetables and fruit with adequate protein, and consume enough milk and dairy products.
WHICH STONES PASS ON THEIR OWN?
The likelihood of stones smaller than 5 mm passing on their own is very high. Irregular, rough or spiky stones are less likely to pass on their own than smooth ones.
IS exercising or skipping rope useful for passing small stones (gravel)? Even walking speeds up the movement of a stone. An active lifestyle is also good for our metabolism and helps prevent stone formation.
DO thermal springs help pass small stones? Heat causes relaxation. Cold, on the contrary, increases spasm. Hot baths, thermal springs or at least placing a hot water bottle on the painful area provide relief.
CAN patients passing a stone continue their sex lives? In men, a substance released during sexual activity widens the blood vessels of the penis. At the same time, the urinary channels also widen. This makes it easier to pass gravel or a stone. There is no research on this subject in women.
CURRENT APPROACHES TO TREATMENT
MEDICAL treatment: Most stones up to 5 mm can be passed with medication and plenty of fluids.
ESWL: Shock wave lithotripsy breaks stones with shock waves from outside the body. Ureteroscopy (URS): If stones in the ureter do not pass or cannot be broken with ESWL, they can be treated by entering through the urinary tract with instruments called ureteroscopes. The stones are broken up with a laser.
PERCUTANEOUS nephrolithotomy (PCNL): A current method used when a stone inside the kidney is larger than 2 cm or cannot be broken with ESWL.
UNDER general anesthesia, the kidney is entered through a tract created from a 1 cm incision in the lower back, and the stones are removed whole or after being broken up.