Nothing to kid about

Having kidney stones is not a light matter and it is perhaps one of the most unfortunate and uncomfortable conditions. Dev Goswami tells you all that you need to know about them…

Suffering from kidney stones is a very strange experience. On one hand you experience constant bouts of extreme pain, yet most of your daily functions won’t be disturbed as they often are with other medical conditions. You will not have to apply for leave at work nor will you have a plethora of visitors coming in to check up on your condition. But, at the same time, suffering from kidney stones can be a serious situation. If left untreated it can lead to a range of other health conditions such as kidney damage, urinary tract blockage, urinary tract infection and urinary fistula.

Symptoms
The symptoms faced on contracting a kidney stone depend on the size of the stone and to what extent it can irritate the body. Extreme pain in the back or the side region that does not subside is the first major sign that you may be suffering from kidney stones. Dr. Ramesh Mahajan, an urologist at Fortis Hospital says, “Apart from the pain, other symptoms include blood in the urine, nausea and vomiting.” Also, since the body readies itself to fight with the condition, it may result in inflammation setting in, resulting in fever which sometimes maybe accompanied by chills.

Causes
Unlike most other conditions, suffering from kidney stones can be a result of factors which are not entirely in your hands. These causes include having a hereditary condition, having diabetes and diseases of the urinary tract. However, those which depend on you are habits such as not drinking enough water, excessive intake of carbonated drinks, eating too much of junk food and a poor lifestyle quality in general. The unfortunate nature of this condition becomes clear when we hear what Dr. Ramesh has to say, “A person who is pre-disposed to form kidney stones will always remain so for the rest of his life and there is nothing that can be done about that.”

Precautions
While you may not be able to completely prevent the condition from happening, you can take precautions that can decrease the risk considerably. Drinking adequate water should be first on the list of precautions.
Dr. Ramesh says, “No matter what the climate, you should drink enough water to produce about 2 to 2 ½ litre of urine everyday. Also, take care to eat a balanced diet which does not include excessive intake of junk food and carbonated drinks.” Those who are pre-disposed to the condition should especially take these precautions and also make sure that they undergo periodical tests. Keep in mind that in the early stages, when the stone is quite small in size, it will be easier to naturally flush it out of the system if you take proper care. If not diagnosed early enough, the stone may get bigger and you will have to opt for surgical treatments to remove it.

Recurrence
A person who has suffered from kidney stones is at a high risk of contracting them again if proper care and precautions are not followed. Dr. Ramesh says, “Once a patient gets kidney stones, there is a 25-30% increased chance of stones forming again.”
To ensure that this does not happen, it is essential to take the precautions mentioned above. Also, Dr. Ramesh advices that you should undergo sonography and urine tests once a year for at least 3 years after you have been cured of them.
One last thing you need to keep in mind is that this is a condition where you need proper advice and guidance from the first stage itself. So, make sure that you undergo proper tests and visit a doctor to stop it from turning into a major health problem for you.

Expert Speak
“When it comes to kidney stones, diet does not play that big a factor. If you are either pre-disposed to stone formation or your lifestyle is unhealthy, food will not help you to either prevent it or completely cure it. However, a balanced diet when combined with a healthy lifestyle will definitely help you reduce the risk of you suffering from kidney stones.”
— Dr. Ramesh Mahajan, Urologist, Fortis Hospital