Kidney stones (renal lithiasis) are small, hard deposits that form inside your kidneys. The stones are made of mineral and acid salts. Kidney stones have many causes and can affect any part of your urinary tract — from your kidneys to your bladder. Often, stones form when the urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallize and stick together.
Passing kidney stones can be quite painful, but the stones usually cause no permanent damage.
Depending on your situation, you may need nothing more than to take pain medication and drink lots of water to pass a kidney stone. In other instances, surgery may be needed. Your doctor may recommend preventive treatment to reduce your risk of recurrent kidney stones if you're at increased risk of developing them again.
A kidney stone may not cause symptoms until it moves around within your kidney or passes into your ureter — the tube connecting the kidney and bladder.
Depending on your situation, you may need nothing more than to take pain medication and drink lots of water to pass a kidney stone. In other instances, surgery may be needed. Your doctor may recommend preventive treatment to reduce your risk of recurrent kidney stones if you're at increased risk of developing them again.
A kidney stone may not cause symptoms until it moves around within your kidney or passes into your ureter — the tube connecting the kidney and bladder.
Signs and Symptoms:
Severe pain in the side and back, below the ribs
Pain that spreads to the lower abdomen and groin
Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity
Pain on urination
Pink, red or brown urine
Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
Nausea and vomiting
Persistent urge to urinate
Urinating more often than usual
Fever and chills if an infection is present
Pain caused by a kidney stone may change — for instance, shifting to a different location or increasing in intensity — as the stone moves through your urinary tract.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
Pain so severe that you can't sit still or find a comfortable position
Pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting
Pain accompanied by fever and chills
Blood in your urine
Difficulty passing urine
Causes of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones often have no definite, single cause, although several factors may increase your risk.
Kidney stones form when your urine contains more crystal-forming substances — such as calcium, oxalate and uric acid — than the fluid in your urine can dilute. At the same time, your urine may lack substances that keep crystals from sticking together, creating an ideal environment for kidney stones to form.
Types of kidney stones
Knowing the type of kidney stone helps determine the cause and may give clues on how to reduce your risk of getting more kidney stones.
Types of kidney stones include:
1. Calcium stones. Most kidney stones are calcium stones, usually in the form of calcium oxalate. Oxalate is a naturally occurring substance found in food. Some fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and chocolate, have high oxalate levels. Your liver also produces oxalate. Dietary factors, high doses of vitamin D, intestinal bypass surgery and several metabolic disorders can increase the concentration of calcium or oxalate in urine. Calcium stones may also occur in the form of calcium phosphate.
2. Struvite stones. Struvite stones form in response to an infection, such as a urinary tract infection. These stones can grow quickly and become quite large, sometimes with few symptoms or little warning.
3. Uric acid stones. Uric acid stones can form in people who don't drink enough fluids or who lose too much fluid, those who eat a high-protein diet, and those who have gout. Certain genetic factors also may increase your risk of uric acid stones.
4. Cystine stones. These stones form in people with a hereditary disorder that causes the kidneys to excrete too much of certain amino acids (cystinuria).
5. Other stones. Other, rarer types of kidney stones can occur.
Risk factors. Factors that increase your risk of developing kidney stones include:
* Family or personal history. If someone in your family has kidney stones, you're more likely to develop stones, too. And if you've already had one or more kidney stones, you're at increased risk of developing another.
* Being an adult. Kidney stones are most common in adults age 40 and older, though kidney stones may occur at any age.
* Being a man. Men are more likely to develop kidney stones, although an increasing number of women are developing kidney stones.
* Dehydration. Not drinking enough water each day can increase your risk of kidney stones. People who live in warm climates and those who sweat a lot may be at higher risk than others.
* Certain diets. Eating a diet that's high in protein, sodium and sugar may increase your risk of some types of kidney stones. This is especially true with a high-sodium diet. Too much sodium in your diet increases the amount of calcium your kidneys must filter and significantly increases your risk of kidney stones.
* Being obese. High body mass index (BMI), large waist size and weight gain have been linked to an increased risk of kidney stones.
* Digestive diseases and surgery. Gastric bypass surgery, inflammatory bowel disease or chronic diarrhea can cause changes in the digestive process that affect your absorption of calcium and water, increasing the levels of stone-forming substances in your urine.
* Other medical conditions. Diseases and conditions that may increase your risk of kidney stones include renal tubular acidosis, cystinuria, hyperparathyroidism, certain medications and some urinary tract infections.
Severe pain in the side and back, below the ribs
Pain that spreads to the lower abdomen and groin
Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity
Pain on urination
Pink, red or brown urine
Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
Nausea and vomiting
Persistent urge to urinate
Urinating more often than usual
Fever and chills if an infection is present
Pain caused by a kidney stone may change — for instance, shifting to a different location or increasing in intensity — as the stone moves through your urinary tract.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
Pain so severe that you can't sit still or find a comfortable position
Pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting
Pain accompanied by fever and chills
Blood in your urine
Difficulty passing urine
Causes of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones often have no definite, single cause, although several factors may increase your risk.
Kidney stones form when your urine contains more crystal-forming substances — such as calcium, oxalate and uric acid — than the fluid in your urine can dilute. At the same time, your urine may lack substances that keep crystals from sticking together, creating an ideal environment for kidney stones to form.
Types of kidney stones
Knowing the type of kidney stone helps determine the cause and may give clues on how to reduce your risk of getting more kidney stones.
Types of kidney stones include:
1. Calcium stones. Most kidney stones are calcium stones, usually in the form of calcium oxalate. Oxalate is a naturally occurring substance found in food. Some fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and chocolate, have high oxalate levels. Your liver also produces oxalate. Dietary factors, high doses of vitamin D, intestinal bypass surgery and several metabolic disorders can increase the concentration of calcium or oxalate in urine. Calcium stones may also occur in the form of calcium phosphate.
2. Struvite stones. Struvite stones form in response to an infection, such as a urinary tract infection. These stones can grow quickly and become quite large, sometimes with few symptoms or little warning.
3. Uric acid stones. Uric acid stones can form in people who don't drink enough fluids or who lose too much fluid, those who eat a high-protein diet, and those who have gout. Certain genetic factors also may increase your risk of uric acid stones.
4. Cystine stones. These stones form in people with a hereditary disorder that causes the kidneys to excrete too much of certain amino acids (cystinuria).
5. Other stones. Other, rarer types of kidney stones can occur.
Risk factors. Factors that increase your risk of developing kidney stones include:
* Family or personal history. If someone in your family has kidney stones, you're more likely to develop stones, too. And if you've already had one or more kidney stones, you're at increased risk of developing another.
* Being an adult. Kidney stones are most common in adults age 40 and older, though kidney stones may occur at any age.
* Being a man. Men are more likely to develop kidney stones, although an increasing number of women are developing kidney stones.
* Dehydration. Not drinking enough water each day can increase your risk of kidney stones. People who live in warm climates and those who sweat a lot may be at higher risk than others.
* Certain diets. Eating a diet that's high in protein, sodium and sugar may increase your risk of some types of kidney stones. This is especially true with a high-sodium diet. Too much sodium in your diet increases the amount of calcium your kidneys must filter and significantly increases your risk of kidney stones.
* Being obese. High body mass index (BMI), large waist size and weight gain have been linked to an increased risk of kidney stones.
* Digestive diseases and surgery. Gastric bypass surgery, inflammatory bowel disease or chronic diarrhea can cause changes in the digestive process that affect your absorption of calcium and water, increasing the levels of stone-forming substances in your urine.
* Other medical conditions. Diseases and conditions that may increase your risk of kidney stones include renal tubular acidosis, cystinuria, hyperparathyroidism, certain medications and some urinary tract infections.
Tests and diagnosis
If your doctor suspects you have a kidney stone, you may have diagnostic tests and procedures, such as:
* Blood tests. Blood tests may reveal too much calcium or uric acid in your blood. Blood test results help monitor the health of your kidneys and may lead your doctor to check for other medical conditions.
* Urine tests. Tests of your urine, such as the 24-hour urine collection, may show that you're excreting too many stone-forming minerals or too few stone-preventing substances.
* Imaging tests. Imaging tests may show kidney stones in your urinary tract. Options range from simple abdominal X-rays, which can miss small kidney stones, to high-speed computerized tomography (CT) that may reveal even tiny stones. Other imaging options include an ultrasound, a noninvasive test, and intravenous pyelography, which involves injecting dye into your arm vein and taking X-rays as the dye travels through your kidneys and bladder.
* Analysis of passed stones. You may be asked to urinate through a strainer to catch stones that you pass. Lab analysis will reveal the makeup of your kidney stones. Your doctor uses this information to determine what's causing your kidney stones and treatments.
If your doctor suspects you have a kidney stone, you may have diagnostic tests and procedures, such as:
* Blood tests. Blood tests may reveal too much calcium or uric acid in your blood. Blood test results help monitor the health of your kidneys and may lead your doctor to check for other medical conditions.
* Urine tests. Tests of your urine, such as the 24-hour urine collection, may show that you're excreting too many stone-forming minerals or too few stone-preventing substances.
* Imaging tests. Imaging tests may show kidney stones in your urinary tract. Options range from simple abdominal X-rays, which can miss small kidney stones, to high-speed computerized tomography (CT) that may reveal even tiny stones. Other imaging options include an ultrasound, a noninvasive test, and intravenous pyelography, which involves injecting dye into your arm vein and taking X-rays as the dye travels through your kidneys and bladder.
* Analysis of passed stones. You may be asked to urinate through a strainer to catch stones that you pass. Lab analysis will reveal the makeup of your kidney stones. Your doctor uses this information to determine what's causing your kidney stones and treatments.
 |  |
Small stones with minimal symptoms
Most kidney stones won't require invasive treatment. You may be able to pass a small stone by:
Drinking water. Drinking as much as 2 to 3 quarts (1.9 to 2.8 liters) a day may help flush out your urinary system. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, drink enough fluid — mostly water — to produce clear or nearly clear urine.
Pain relievers. Passing a small stone can cause some discomfort. To relieve mild pain, your doctor may recommend pain relievers.
Medical therapy. Your doctor may give you a medication to help pass your kidney stone. This type of medication, known as an alpha blocker, relaxes the muscles in your ureter, helping you pass the kidney stone more quickly and with less pain.
Most kidney stones won't require invasive treatment. You may be able to pass a small stone by:
Drinking water. Drinking as much as 2 to 3 quarts (1.9 to 2.8 liters) a day may help flush out your urinary system. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, drink enough fluid — mostly water — to produce clear or nearly clear urine.
Pain relievers. Passing a small stone can cause some discomfort. To relieve mild pain, your doctor may recommend pain relievers.
Medical therapy. Your doctor may give you a medication to help pass your kidney stone. This type of medication, known as an alpha blocker, relaxes the muscles in your ureter, helping you pass the kidney stone more quickly and with less pain.
 |  |
Large stones and those that cause symptoms
Kidney stones that can't be treated with conservative measures — either because they're too large to pass on their own or because they cause bleeding, kidney damage or ongoing urinary tract infections — may require more invasive treatment. Procedures may include:
Using sound waves to break up stones. For certain kidney stones — depending on size and location — your doctor may recommend a procedure called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL). SWL uses sound waves to create strong vibrations (shock waves) that break the stones into tiny pieces that can be passed in your urine. The procedure lasts about 45 to 60 minutes and can cause moderate pain, so you may be under sedation or light anesthesia to make you comfortable. SWL can cause blood in the urine, bruising on the back or abdomen, bleeding around the kidney and other adjacent organs, and discomfort as the stone fragments pass through the urinary tract.
Kidney stones that can't be treated with conservative measures — either because they're too large to pass on their own or because they cause bleeding, kidney damage or ongoing urinary tract infections — may require more invasive treatment. Procedures may include:
Using sound waves to break up stones. For certain kidney stones — depending on size and location — your doctor may recommend a procedure called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL). SWL uses sound waves to create strong vibrations (shock waves) that break the stones into tiny pieces that can be passed in your urine. The procedure lasts about 45 to 60 minutes and can cause moderate pain, so you may be under sedation or light anesthesia to make you comfortable. SWL can cause blood in the urine, bruising on the back or abdomen, bleeding around the kidney and other adjacent organs, and discomfort as the stone fragments pass through the urinary tract.
Surgery to remove very large stones in the kidney. A procedure called percutaneous nephrolithotomy(nef-row-lih-THOT-uh-me) involves surgically removing a kidney stone using small telescopes and instruments inserted through a small incision in your back. You'll receive general anesthesia during the surgery and be in the hospital for one to two days while you recover. Your doctor may recommend this surgery if SWL was unsuccessful or if your stone is very large.
Using a scope to remove stones. To remove a smaller stone in your ureter or kidney, your doctor may pass a thin lighted tube (ureteroscope) equipped with a camera through your urethra and bladder to your ureter. Once the stone is located, special tools can snare the stone or break it into pieces that will pass in your urine. Your doctor may then place a small tube (stent) in the ureter to relieve swelling and promote healing. You may need general or local anesthesia during this procedure.
Parathyroid gland surgery. Some calcium stones are caused by overactive parathyroid glands, which are located on the four corners of your thyroid gland, just below your Adam's apple. When these glands produce too much parathyroid hormone (hyperparathyroidism), your calcium levels can become too high and kidney stones may form as a result. Hyperparathyroidism sometimes occurs when a small, benign tumor forms in one of your parathyroid glands or you develop another condition that leads these glands to produce more parathyroid hormone. Removing the growth from the gland stops the formation of kidney stones. Or your doctor may recommend treatment of the condition that's causing your parathyroid gland to overproduce the hormone.
LATEST STUDIES:
Additional Health Tips: Home Remedies for Kidney Stones.
1. Drink eight glasses of water every day. Actually, the scientific evidence indicates that the benefits of drinking water kick in at about five glasses a day, but if you have kidney stones and you are not currently having an attack, it's always best to drink as much water as you can.
2. Drink DXN RG & GL, DXN Spirulina, DXN Lingzhi Coffee, DXN Spica Tea, Cordypine. The Harvard School of Public health has found that drinking 1 cup (240 ml) of regular or decaf coffee every day reduces the risk of kidney stones by 10%. Drinking a beer a day (more precisely, drinking 240 ml of beer a day, which is less than the average can of beer) reduces the risk of kidney stones by 21%. And drinking a glass of wine a day reduces the risk of kidney stones by 39%. Drinking more coffee, beer, or wine, however, is of no additional benefit.
3. Don't drink juice (except lemon juice). In the same study, the Harvard School of Public Health found that drinking a cup of apple juice every day increases the risk of kidney stones by 75%, and drinking a cup or orange juice or grapefruit juice every day increases the risk of stones by 85%. Cranberry extract also raises the risk of stones, although unsweetened juice reduces it. The negative effects of fruit juices are worse when juice is the only fluid consumed at a meal.
4. Drink milk. Most kidney stones contain calcium, so it would make logical sense that consuming less calcium would lower the risk of stones. Actually, the exact opposite happens. At least in men, a low-calcium diet nearly doubles the risk of stones. Taking calcium supplements, in women, lowers the risk of stones.
5. Don't avoid veggies.
6. Avoid eating too much meat. Only about one-third of people who get kidney stones suffer negative effects of a high-protein diet. For the kidney stone sufferers, however, a meat-free diet can be very helpful.
7. Consider taking a potassium-magnesium citrate supplement. One three-year study found taking potassium-magnesium citrate reduces the frequency of kidney stone attacks by a whopping 80%. It is essential, however, to make sure you do not have other kinds of kidney damage before taking any potassium supplement, since impaired kidneys have difficult excreting excessive potassium. People who take ACE inhibitors or ACE receptor blockers for high blood pressure should also avoid this supplement.
8. If you get brown or black kidney stones, consider taking inositol nicotinate, which is derived from rice bran. Just be sure to take no more than the dosage recommended on the label. Taking too much inositol nicotinate can result in itching, flushing, dizziness, and palpitations.
9. Drink mineral water. Mineral water reduces concentrations of calcium and uric acid, making the urine less alkaline and less likely to form stones.
LATEST STUDIES:
Additional Health Tips: Home Remedies for Kidney Stones.
1. Drink eight glasses of water every day. Actually, the scientific evidence indicates that the benefits of drinking water kick in at about five glasses a day, but if you have kidney stones and you are not currently having an attack, it's always best to drink as much water as you can.
2. Drink DXN RG & GL, DXN Spirulina, DXN Lingzhi Coffee, DXN Spica Tea, Cordypine. The Harvard School of Public health has found that drinking 1 cup (240 ml) of regular or decaf coffee every day reduces the risk of kidney stones by 10%. Drinking a beer a day (more precisely, drinking 240 ml of beer a day, which is less than the average can of beer) reduces the risk of kidney stones by 21%. And drinking a glass of wine a day reduces the risk of kidney stones by 39%. Drinking more coffee, beer, or wine, however, is of no additional benefit.
3. Don't drink juice (except lemon juice). In the same study, the Harvard School of Public Health found that drinking a cup of apple juice every day increases the risk of kidney stones by 75%, and drinking a cup or orange juice or grapefruit juice every day increases the risk of stones by 85%. Cranberry extract also raises the risk of stones, although unsweetened juice reduces it. The negative effects of fruit juices are worse when juice is the only fluid consumed at a meal.
4. Drink milk. Most kidney stones contain calcium, so it would make logical sense that consuming less calcium would lower the risk of stones. Actually, the exact opposite happens. At least in men, a low-calcium diet nearly doubles the risk of stones. Taking calcium supplements, in women, lowers the risk of stones.
5. Don't avoid veggies.
6. Avoid eating too much meat. Only about one-third of people who get kidney stones suffer negative effects of a high-protein diet. For the kidney stone sufferers, however, a meat-free diet can be very helpful.
7. Consider taking a potassium-magnesium citrate supplement. One three-year study found taking potassium-magnesium citrate reduces the frequency of kidney stone attacks by a whopping 80%. It is essential, however, to make sure you do not have other kinds of kidney damage before taking any potassium supplement, since impaired kidneys have difficult excreting excessive potassium. People who take ACE inhibitors or ACE receptor blockers for high blood pressure should also avoid this supplement.
8. If you get brown or black kidney stones, consider taking inositol nicotinate, which is derived from rice bran. Just be sure to take no more than the dosage recommended on the label. Taking too much inositol nicotinate can result in itching, flushing, dizziness, and palpitations.
9. Drink mineral water. Mineral water reduces concentrations of calcium and uric acid, making the urine less alkaline and less likely to form stones.
Our recommendations:
Besides practicing the wellness tips above, include some health supplements into your daily diet works best to promote a healthy respiratory system. A good combination of the products listed below exerts synergistic effect in maintaining a strong respiratory system:
RG, GL, CORDYCEPS & CORDYPINE
Use GANODERMA LUCIDUM
RG, GL, CORDYCEPS & CORDYPINE
Use GANODERMA LUCIDUM
 |  |  |  |
RSS Feed