It is well known that having kidney stones is painful and unpleasant. It is estimated that 12% of men and 6% of women will experience an episode of kidney stones during their lifetime. For this reason, specialists in the urological system answer the four basic questions to better understand this disease.
Who does it affect?
The first episode of kidney stones usually appears between 30 and 50 years of age. It is more common in men than in women, but this risk is beginning to equalize due to lifestyle and the increased percentage of the population with excess weight.
Among those affected, two situations can occur: either it is a patient with severe metabolic alterations, generally with a family history, with problems absorbing calcium and oxalic acid; or they are people who drink little water, follow a diet rich in meat, and suffer from obesity, which causes urine to become highly concentrated and more acidic, leading to the formation of kidney stones.
What is the key to prevention?
According to urologists, maintaining proper hydration (drinking at least 2 liters of fluids a day) and a balanced diet, low in calories and limiting sugars and alcohol. Maintaining a urinary pH within the preventive range (5.5 – 6.2) also helps prevent the formation of different types of stones (uric acid, calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, etc.).
On the other hand, it has been observed that phytates play a fundamental role in preventing kidney stones: they block the growth of the crystals responsible for stone formation. This natural component is found in vegetables and seeds, so adding these foods to the diet would also help prevent their formation.
What is the most characteristic symptom?
Without a doubt, kidney colic is the main symptom of kidney stones. It is an acute process with very intense pain in the lumbar region that may be accompanied by nausea or blood in the urine and, if not treated in time, can cause kidney damage, kidney failure, and even the need for dialysis.
How can it be treated?
60% of kidney stone cases are resolved by spontaneous expulsion, while 30% require treatment to eliminate them. This will depend on the size of the stones themselves.
One of the most used medical techniques for their extraction is extracorporeal lithotripsy, in which high-energy shock waves are generated to fragment the stones so that the patient can then eliminate them in small fragments through the urinary tract. Ureteroscopy can also be chosen, in which the stones are extracted through the ducts themselves with a ureteroscope, an instrument with an integrated camera to locate the stone and extract it.
For people with a tendency to form kidney stones, there are novel alternative treatments, including food supplements and a medical device that allows precise measurement of urine pH, with the aim of maintaining the acid-base balance of the urine, related to various urological pathologies.
