WVU Medicine outlines key indicators, therapy, and prevention for kidney stones – WVU Medicine

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Each 12 months, greater than 500,000 individuals go to the emergency room with kidney stones, a typical situation affecting almost one–in–10 individuals. Because recurrence charges are excessive, WVU Medicine gives steering on figuring out signs and making way of life adjustments to forestall future ache.  

Kidney stones are crystals that kind within the urine. Most stones are calcium-based and are attributable to a mix of eating regimen, way of life, genetic, and medical elements.  

“The biggest culprit across all stones is usually just not drinking enough water,” he mentioned.    

Once a stone has fashioned within the kidney, it would both stay there or journey into the ureter, the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder. Stones that keep within the kidney sometimes don’t trigger issues, and sufferers could not even bear in mind they’ve a kidney stone.   

If a stone strikes into the ureter and obstructs the circulate of urine, sufferers can start to expertise signs, together with:

• Sharp ache
• Blood within the urine
• Urinary urgency, frequency, and strain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever and chills
• Infection if the stone utterly blocks the urine  

Urologists diagnose kidney stones utilizing a CT scan, together with urinalysis and blood work. Depending on the scale of the stone, sufferers could try to move it naturally or go for medical intervention.   

Dr. Morley defined that whereas sufferers can generally move stones as much as 10 millimeters, stones bigger than 5 millimeters usually require surgical removing.   

When surgical procedure is important, Ruby Memorial Hospital, nationally acknowledged as High Performing in Urology by U.S. News and World Report, gives superior surgical expertise for kidney stone therapy.  

Morley mentioned small, versatile scopes are handed by means of the bladder to interrupt up stones with a laser – a process referred to as a ureteroscopy. Advances in expertise enable these scopes to supply clearer digital footage of the working space, measure strain within the kidneys, and aspirate stone fragments. In addition, lasers are safer and extra environment friendly. These profit the affected person by resulting in much less ache after surgical procedure, shorter restoration time, and a low threat of issues.   

“The hospital has been more dedicated to using these new technologies so that we can do the best we can for our patients,” Morley mentioned. “They put patient care first.”  

And, as an element of the patient-first strategy, Morley famous that the perfect outcomes start with prevention.   

“It’s not one-size-fits-all when we talk about stone prevention, but there are general things we recommend,” he mentioned.   

To cut back the danger of growing kidney stones, Morley advised the next way of life and dietary changes:

• Drink greater than 84 ounces, or two liters, of water every day. Those who’re vulnerable to forming kidney stones ought to drink rather more. 
• Consume sufficient calcium-rich meals.
• Limit salt.
• Eat loads of greens and fruits, together with fruits with citric acid. Morley recommends orange or lemon juice.
• Avoid giant quantities of animal protein from crimson meats, fish, poultry, and pork.
• Exercise often.