Kidney stones also called nephrolithiasis, are mainly hard deposits made up of chemicals from urine especially salt and minerals. Any movement or passing of kidney stones can be painful, if kidney stones are recognized and treated timely, it causes no permanent damage. The waste products from the blood can occasionally form crystals that collect inside the kidney, which can contribute to building up a hard stone like a lump.
Kidney stones are majorly classified into 4 types
1) Calcium stones
2) Uric acid stones
3) Cystine stones
4) Struvite stones
The type of kidney stone can help in ascertaining the prognosis of the disease. The calcium kidney stone is of two types, calcium oxalate monohydrate, and calcium oxalate dihydrate in which the monohydrate type is harder, therefore, more resistant to fragmentation.
Following are the signs and symptoms of having a kidney stone
Pain in the back or upper side part of the body.
Burning sensation or pain during urination.
Need to go for urination more urgently or frequently than usual.
Smelly or cloudy urine.
Blood in the urine.
Stomach pain that doesn't go away.
Fever and chills.
Nausea and vomiting.
After the formation of a stone in the kidney, the stone may stay in the kidney or travel down the urinary tract into the ureter. Most of the time small stones move out of the body from urine without causing too much pain. But, stones that don't move away can cause the blockage of urine.
Kidney stones are formed from substances that are present in your urine. These substances that combine into stones normally pass through the urinary system, when they don't, it means there isn't enough volume of urine causing the substances to become highly concentrated and to crystallize. The main cause is "Not drinking enough water".
Kidney stones are very common in children, they're found in children as young as 5 years.
Have a look at the preventive measures of it
First and most importantly, stay hydrated.
Eat less sodium.
Have calcium-rich foods in your diet.
It is better to avoid vitamin 'C' supplements. Kidneys partly convert the ingested vitamin 'C' into oxalate, an excess could increase the risk of calcium oxalate kidney stones. But the vitamin 'C' you get from food isn't likely to be high enough to lead to kidney stones.
Eat less animal protein.
Some prescription and over-the-counter drugs can contribute to kidney stones. Be aware of taking any new medications, consult with your doctor first.
Though kidney stones are painful you can manage them with these tips
Drink plenty of water. At least 2-3 liters per day.
Use over the counter medicine for pain relief (prescribed by a doctor)
Take proper medical treatment.
Add milk, cheese, yogurt, oysters, and tofu to your diet as they are high in calcium.
Eat a low fiber diet.
Avoid eating spinach, nuts, peanuts, and wheat bran if you have calcium oxalate stones.
Below are some yoga asnas for people with kidney stones -
- Ushtra asana
- Uttanpadasana
- Pawanmukta asana
- Bhujanga asana
- Dhanur asana.
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