Buzz
Kidney stones are becoming increasingly frequent. Harvard Medical School reports that over 3 million individuals seek medical attention annually for these painful mineral and salt buildups, which develop when urine becomes overly concentrated. The condition, known as nephrolithiasis, is what we understand so far.
1. KIDNEY STONES USUALLY BRING EXTREME PAIN.
Initially, you may observe cloudy, bloody, and foul-smelling urine. Your back might start to hurt, and you may feel nauseous. As the stone travels from the kidney into the urinary tract or bladder, occasionally getting stuck, a sharp, intense pain follows, something that many claim they wouldn't wish upon their worst enemy.
2. THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE FORM A SINGLE TYPE OF STONE...
The type of kidney stone you develop is influenced by factors such as your diet, fluid intake, genetics, hereditary conditions, and even medications you may take. However, most people experience calcium oxalate stones, which result from a combination of calcium in the urine and oxalate, a compound found naturally in foods like nuts, chocolate, and certain vegetables, including beets and spinach. Oxalate is also produced by the liver. There is some evidence that individuals taking the anti-seizure medication topiramate can develop these stones as calcium phosphate.
3. ... BUT THERE ARE THREE OTHER TYPES TOO.
Struvite stones are rapidly forming mineral deposits, typically triggered by urinary tract infections. They can grow large enough to block the kidney, ureter, or bladder before any symptoms appear and are more common in women than men. Uric acid stones develop in individuals who consume high amounts of red meat, shellfish, and organ meats, which are rich in purines, a substance that can cause the body to produce more uric acid than the kidneys can filter. Cystine stones are linked to a rare genetic disorder known as cystinuria, where the kidneys excrete excessive cystine, an amino acid.
4. THEY'RE VERY COMMON—ESPECIALLY AMONG MEN.
There's a strong possibility you could end up with a kidney stone. According to the National Kidney Foundation, one in 10 individuals will experience one during their lifetime. And for men, take note: your gender is a significant risk factor. Men are twice as likely as women to develop kidney stones. Age also plays a role, with stones being most common between ages 20 and 50, peaking around age 30.
5. ONCE YOU'VE HAD A KIDNEY STONE, YOU'RE LIKELY TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE …
Unfortunately, having one kidney stone increases the likelihood of more. The U.S. National Library of Medicine states that there’s a 30 to 50 percent chance of developing another within five years.
6. … BUT YOU CAN TAKE MEASURES TO PREVENT THEM.
Reducing your sodium intake (e.g. from deli meats, packaged soups, and processed foods) can help, as stones can form from too much salt. It's also wise to limit animal protein, which produces more acidic urine, raising your risk for kidney stones, and increase your consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. Also, make sure to stay well-hydrated, particularly with water—at least 12 glasses daily. (This is beneficial for everyone, not just those prone to kidney stones.)
Limit your intake of apple or cranberry juice, as both contain oxalates, which are linked to an increased risk of forming calcium oxalate stones. High doses of Vitamin C can raise oxalate levels in urine; the Cleveland Clinic recommends a daily maximum of 500 milligrams.
7. THE BELIEF THAT CALCIUM CAUSES CERTAIN KIDNEY STONES IS A MYTH.
Although the word calcium appears in the name of the most common type of kidney stone, calcium shouldn’t be considered the enemy. In fact, insufficient calcium intake can actually increase the chances of developing these stones. According to the Cleveland Clinic, consuming two to three servings of calcium-rich foods daily can reduce oxalate absorption, which helps prevent calcium oxalate stones. So, go ahead and enjoy some cheese.
8. IF YOU PASS A STONE, CONGRATULATIONS! NOW BRING IT TO A DOCTOR.
Around 90 percent of kidney stones pass through urination. Although it can be extremely painful, passing a stone may provide valuable insights that can help prevent future stones. If you manage to retrieve it, take it to your doctor, who can conduct an analysis. Understanding the stone’s composition can identify its type and help develop a treatment or prevention plan.
9. IF YOU CAN'T PASS A STONE, THERE ARE TREATMENT OPTIONS …
A stone tries to exit the body by traveling from the kidney to the bladder through a narrow tube called the ureter. If the stone is larger than a quarter-inch, it’s simply too large to pass through the ureter and gets stuck. (If it can make it through to the bladder, it’s small enough to be passed naturally through the urethra.) This causes severe pain, obstructed urine flow, and potential bleeding from the urinary tract walls, signaling it’s time for treatment.
There are several treatments for kidney stones, all aiming to break the stone into smaller pieces so they can exit the body. In extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (from the Greek for 'crushed stone'), high-frequency sound waves are used externally to break the stones, allowing them to pass when you urinate. Laser lithotripsy takes a similar approach: Stones in the ureter are broken up with a laser and then exit the body naturally. A more invasive option is percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy, where narrow instruments, including a fiberoptic camera, are passed through your back to your kidney, ultrasound breaks the stones, and the fragments are removed with instruments. Finally, a ureteroscopy involves inserting a small scope into the ureter toward the bladder to locate the stone. It’s then broken up for natural passage or removed entirely. Fortunately, you’re under general anesthesia during this procedure.
10. … AND THESE MODERN METHODS ARE FAR MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE ONES USED IN THE PAST.
Kidney stones are ancient—references to these painful formations date back over 5000 years to Mesopotamian medical texts—and medical treatments for them are just as old. Stones even appear in the Hippocratic Oath, where doctors pledged 'not to use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone,' leaving the procedure to 'such men as are engaged in this work' [PDF]. Surgeons in ancient Greece and India were attempting stone removal as early as the 7th century BCE.
The 16th to 18th centuries were a prime time for stone surgeons, many of whom were self-taught. The most infamous among them was Frere Jacques Beaulieu. In the late 17th century, he introduced the lateral perineal lithotomy—an operation that involved making an incision in the perineum, inserting a terrifying cutting tool into the bladder, breaking up the stone, and then removing the pieces with the instrument or his fingers. Unfortunately for his patients, Beaulieu lacked proper medical training, and his method often proved fatal. In 1698, after 25 of his 60 patients died, he was banned from performing the procedure—but he didn’t stop. It’s believed he performed over 5000 lithotomies. (And no, the song probably isn’t about him.)
11. IF NOTHING ELSE WORKS, TRY RIDING A ROLLER COASTER.
If you happen to have kidney stones and a love for thrills (and maybe some free time), you might be in luck. After several patients reported that riding the Big Thunder Mountain roller coaster at Walt Disney World helped them pass their kidney stones, Michigan State University urologist David Wartinger decided to test the theory. He created a replica of the kidney—with kidney stones—put it in a backpack, and rode the coaster 60 times. It worked—but the success of stone passage depended on the placement of the backpack on the ride. The most successful rides were in the last car, with stones passing 64% of the time, while rides in the front produced only a 16% success rate.
Big Thunder Mountain was the only ride in the park to show effectiveness. Neither Space Mountain nor Aerosmith's Rock 'n' Roller Coaster worked, likely because their high speed and G-forces pinned the stones in place. While this discovery is fascinating, if you suspect you have kidney stones, be sure to check with your doctor before booking a trip to Walt Disney World.
12. A KIDNEY STONE THE SIZE OF A MOUSE WAS REMOVED FROM A MAN IN 2004.
The stone measured an astonishing 5.11 inches at its widest point, setting a world record. Just five years later, a massive 2.5-pound stone was surgically removed from a man in Hungary in 2009. If seeing a collection of kidney stones in one place (other than your own body) brings you comfort, visit the International Museum of Surgical Science in Chicago, where a variety of stones are displayed in glass jars.
