Ways To Prevent Kidney Stones

If you’ve ever had a kidney stone, you surely remember it. The pain can be unbearable, coming in waves until the tiny stone passes through your urinary plumbing and out of the body. For many, kidney stones aren’t a one-time thing: in about half of people who have had one, another appears within seven years without preventive measures.

Ways To Prevent Kidney Stones | Urologists Omaha

Drink Lots of Water

What are Kidney Stones?

Urine contains many dissolved minerals and salts. When your urine has high levels of these minerals and salts, you can form stones. Kidney stones can start small but can grow larger in size, even filling the inner hollow structures of the kidney. Some stones stay in the kidney and do not cause any problems. Sometimes, the kidney stone can travel down the ureter, the tube between the kidney and the bladder. If the stone reaches the bladder, it can be passed out of the body in urine. If the stone becomes lodged in the ureter, it blocks the urine flow from that kidney and causes pain.

Types of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones come in many different types and colors. How you treat them and stop new stones from forming depends on what type of stone you have.

Calcium stones (80 percent of stones)

Calcium stones are the most common type of kidney stone. There are two types of calcium stones: calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate. Calcium oxalate is by far the most common type of calcium stone. Some people have too much calcium in their urine, raising their risk of calcium stones. Even with normal amounts of calcium in the urine, calcium stones may form for other reasons.

Uric acid stones (5-10 percent of stones)

Uric acid is a waste product that comes from chemical changes in the body. Crystals do not dissolve well in acidic urine and instead will form a uric acid stone. Having acidic urine may come from:

• Being overweight
• Chronic diarrhea
• Type 2 diabetes (high blood sugar)
• Gout
• A diet that is high in animal protein and low in fruits and vegetables

Struvite/infection stones (10 percent of stones)

Struvite stones are not a common type of stone. These stones are related to chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs). Some bacteria make the urine less acidic and more basic or alkaline. Magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite) stones form in alkaline urine. These stones are often large, with branches, and they often grow very fast.

People who get chronic UTIs, such as those with long-term tubes in their kidneys or bladders, or people with poor bladder emptying due to neurologic disorders (paralysis, multiple sclerosis, and spina bifida) are at the highest risk for developing these stones.

Cystine stones (less than 1 percent of stones)

Cystine is an amino acid that is in certain foods; it is one of the building blocks of protein. Cystinuria (too much cystine in the urine) is a rare, inherited metabolic disorder. It is when the kidneys do not reabsorb cystine from the urine. When high amounts of cystine are in the urine, it causes stones to form. Cystine stones often start to form in childhood.

Kidney Stones Symptoms

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. At that point, you may experience these signs and symptoms:

• Severe pain in the side and back, below the ribs
• Pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin
• Comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity
• Pain on urination
• Pink, red or brown urine
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• Nausea and vomiting
• Persistent need to urinate
• Urinating more often than usual
• Fever and chills if an infection is present
• Urinating small amounts

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.

Kidney Stones Causes

Low Urine Volume

A major risk factor for kidney stones is constant low urine volume. Low urine volume may come from dehydration (loss of body fluids) from hard exercise, working or living in a hot place, or not drinking enough fluids. When urine volume is low, urine is concentrated and dark in color. Concentrated urine means there is less fluid to keep salts dissolved. Increasing fluid intake will dilute the salts in your urine. By doing this, you may reduce your risk of stones forming.

Adults who form stones should drink enough fluid to make at least 2.5 liters (⅔ gallon) of urine every day. On average, this will take about 3 liters (100 ounces) of fluid intake per day. While water is likely the best fluid to drink, what matters most is getting enough fluid.

Diet

Diet can affect the chance of forming stones and possibly help prevent kidney stones altogether. One of the more common causes of calcium kidney stones is high levels of calcium in the urine. High urine calcium levels may be due to the way your body handles calcium. It is not always due to how much calcium you eat. Lowering the amount of calcium in your diet rarely stops stones from forming. Studies have shown that restricting dietary calcium can be bad for bone health and may increase kidney stone risk. Healthcare providers usually do not tell people to limit dietary calcium in order to lower urine calcium. But calcium intake should not be too high.

Instead of lowering dietary calcium intake, your health care provider may try to reduce your urine calcium level by decreasing your sodium (salt) intake. Too much salt in the diet is a risk factor for calcium stones. This is because too much salt is passing into the urine, keeping calcium from being reabsorbed from the urine and into the blood. Reducing salt in the diet lowers urine calcium, making it less likely for calcium stones to form.

Because oxalate is a component of the most common type of kidney stone (calcium oxalate), eating foods rich in oxalate can raise your risk of forming these stones.

A diet high in animal protein, such as beef, fish, chicken, and pork, can raise the acid levels in the body and in the urine. High acid levels make it easier for calcium oxalate and uric acid stones to form. The breakdown of meat into uric acid also raises the chance that both calcium and uric acid stones will form.

Bowel Conditions

Certain bowel conditions that cause diarrhea (such as Crohn’s Disease or ulcerative colitis) or surgeries  (such as gastric bypass surgery) can raise the risk of forming calcium oxalate kidney stones. Diarrhea may result in the loss of large amounts of fluid from the body, lowering urine volume. Your body may also absorb excessive oxalate from the intestine, resulting in more oxalate in your urine. Both low urine volume and high levels of urine oxalate can help to cause calcium oxalate kidney stone formation.

Obesity

Obesity is a risk factor for stones. It may change the acid levels in the urine, leading to stone formation.

Medical conditions

Some medical conditions have an increased risk of kidney stones. Abnormal growth of one or more of the parathyroid glands, which control calcium metabolism, can cause high calcium levels in the blood and urine. This can lead to kidney stones. Another condition called distal renal tubular acidosis, in which there is acid build-up in the body, can raise the risk of calcium phosphate kidney stones.

Some rare, inherited disorders can also make certain types of stones more likely. Examples include cystinuria, which is too much of the amino acid cystine in the urine, and primary hyperoxaluria, in which the liver makes too much oxalate.

Medication

Some medications, and calcium and vitamin C supplements, may increase your risk of forming stones. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider all the medications and supplements you take, as these could affect your risk of stone formation. Do not stop taking any of these unless your healthcare provider tells you to do so.

Family History

The chance of having kidney stones is much higher if you have a family history of stones, such as a parent or sibling.

Kidney Stones Treatment Options

Treating kidney stones is primarily focused on symptom management. Passing a stone can be very painful.

Treatment depends on the type of stone, how bad it is and the length of time you have had symptoms. There are different treatments to choose from. It is important to talk to your healthcare provider about what is best for you.

Wait for the Stone to Pass

Often you can simply wait for the stone to pass. Smaller stones are more likely than larger stones to pass on their own.

Waiting up to four to six weeks for the stone to pass is safe as long as the pain is bearable, there are no signs of infection, the kidney is not completely blocked and the stone is small enough that it is likely to pass. While waiting to pass a kidney stone, you should drink normal amounts of water. You may need pain medication when there is discomfort or shock waves of pain.

Medication

Certain medications have been shown to improve the chance that a stone will pass. The most common medication prescribed for this reason is tamsulosin. Tamsulosin (Flomax) relaxes the ureter, making it easier for the stone to pass. You may also need pain and anti-nausea medicine as you wait to pass the stone.

Surgery

• Surgery may be needed to remove a stone from the ureter or kidney if:
• The stone fails to pass.
• The pain is too great to wait for the stone to pass.
• Stone is affecting kidney function. Small stones in the kidney may be left alone if they are not causing pain or infection. Some people choose to have their small stones removed. They do this because they are afraid the stone will unexpectedly start to pass and cause pain.

Kidney stones should be removed by surgery if they cause repeated infections in the urine or because they are blocking the flow of urine from the kidney. Today, surgery usually involves small or no incisions (cuts), minor pain and minimal time off work.

Kidney Stones FAQs

Most kidney stones will pass on their own, and successful treatments have been developed to remove larger stones or stones that do not pass. People who have had a kidney stone remain at risk for future stones throughout their lives.

Can kidney stones recur?

Yes, unfortunately. Once you’ve had a kidney stone, you are more likely to develop another one in the future. However, adopting preventive measures such as staying hydrated and following a kidney-friendly diet can help reduce the risk of recurrence.

When should I seek medical attention for kidney stones?

If you experience severe pain, persistent nausea and vomiting, fever and chills, difficulty urinating, or blood in the urine, it’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention. These symptoms may indicate a serious complication that requires prompt treatment.

Are there any long-term complications of kidney stones?

Kidney stones can lead to complications such as recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney damage or infection, and in severe cases, kidney failure. It’s essential to follow up with your healthcare provider for monitoring and preventive care after experiencing kidney stones.

UroHealth Partners  | Urologist Omaha & Council Bluffs, IA

UroHealth Partners have 7 board-certified physicians and an attentive, dedicated staff. We have served Nebraska and Iowa since 1982 with two locations in Omaha and Council Bluffs. Our Omaha location includes an accredited outpatient surgical center with state-of-the-art equipment and a comfortable waiting area just minutes from Interstate 680. Our physicians successfully perform hundreds of traditional and no-scalpel vasectomies every year.

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Undescended testicles (formally known as cryptorchidism) occurs when a testicle has failed to pass into the scrotum prior to birth. It is a relatively common condition that affects newborns, infants, and baby boys. According to research, up to 5 percent of newborn male babies are affected by cryptorchidism, and about 10 percent of these cases involves both testicles (bilateral cryptorchidism).

The large percentage of cases resolve (the testicles descend into the scrotum) on their own by the time the affected children reaches around 3 months of age, and the majority of cases resolve within one year of life.

Undescended Testicle Symptoms and Treatment Omaha Nebraska

If the testicles do not descend on their own, medical intervention may be necessary. Treatment options include observation and examinations or surgery to correct the position of the testicle.

Children and adults who have undescended testicles that do not resolve on their own have an increased risk of male fertility problems, as well as testicular cancer.

Undescended Testicle Symptoms in Omaha

The most obvious sign of an undescended testicle is the visible absence of one or both testicles in the scrotum. The testicles develop in the abdomen during gestation; within a few months prior to birth, the testicles drop from the abdomen, pass through the groin, and position themselves in the scrotum; the loose fleshy sac that sits underneath the penis.

If you suspect your child has an undescended testicle, consult with your pediatrician. A thorough physical exam a medical professional will confirm whether or not your child has cryptorchidism.

Undescended Testicle Causes in Omaha, NE

Though the exact cause of cryptorchidism is unknown, medical researchers believe that the condition is related to a combination of factors including familial history, the prenatal care a mother receives while she is pregnant and her overall health during pregnancy, and physical changes that may have an impact on a male’s testicles.

There are risk factors that can increase the risk of an undescended testicle. These factors include:

• Being born prior to 38 weeks gestation (premature birth)
• A birth weight of less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces
• Genetic predisposition; someone else in the family also has the medical problem
• Fetal abnormalities; specifically abnormalities that can inhibit a baby’s development
• Exposure to toxic chemicals, such as cigarette smoke, secondhand smoke, and other known harmful substances while a baby is in-utero

Conclusion on Undescended Testicle Symptoms and Treatment

If you believe your child suffers from this medical problem, it’s important that you speak to your pediatrician. As stated, in most cases, the condition will resolve on its own before the child reaches his first birthday, and once the testicle descends, there are no further issues.

However, in some cases, the testicle(s) may not descend on their own; if that happens, serious complications may arise like the risk of testicular cancer. Therefore, it is important to always seek the expert insight of a medical professional if you suspect your child Is affected by cryptorchidism.

Additional Readings:

Pediatric Surgery for Undescended Testicles

Testicular Torsion is a Medical Emergency

UroHealth Partners  | Urologist Omaha & Council Bluffs, IA

UroHealth Partners have 7 board-certified physicians and an attentive, dedicated staff. We have served Nebraska and Iowa since 1982 with two locations in Omaha and Council Bluffs. Our Omaha location includes an accredited outpatient surgical center with state-of-the-art equipment and a comfortable waiting area just minutes from Interstate 680. Our physicians successfully perform hundreds of traditional and no-scalpel vasectomies every year.

CARE THAT COUNTS | BEST UROLOGIST IN OMAHA

WE MAKE THE PROCESS AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE

Nocturnal enuresis is the term used to describe when children urinate without control while they sleep. More commonly known as bedwetting. Incontinence is accidental or intentional urination in children who are at an age where they should be able to control their bladders.

Girls usually obtain bladder control before boys do. Doctors can diagnose incontinence in girls over five years old and boys over age six. Learn about bed wetting in children, different types, and treatments.

Causes of Pediatric Bedwetting (Nocturnal Enuresis) Urology Specialists Omaha

The exact cause is unknown, but many risk factors can make the ability to stay dry at night worse including:

• • Family History
  • Slow Development of Brain-Bladder Control
  • UTIs – Urinary Tract Infection
  • Smaller than Expected Bladder Capacity
  • Urine Production – Making Too Much Urine While Asleep
  • Constipation: hardened feces make bowel movements difficult.
  • Sleep Disorder (for example, obstructive sleep apnea)
  • Stress
  • Difficulty waking while sleeping
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Different Types of Pediatric Bedwetting (Nocturnal Enuresis)

• Diurnal Nocturnal Enuresis (daytime wetting)
• Nocturnal enuresis (wetting during the night)
• Primary Nocturnal Enuresis (occurs when the child has never fully mastered toilet training)
• Secondary Enuresis: occurs when the child has a period of dryness, but then returns to having periods of incontinence.

Secondary Enuresis: occurs when the child has a period of dryness, but then returns to having periods of incontinence.

How is Pediatric Bedwetting (Nocturnal Enuresis) Diagnosed

You’ll know if a child has enuresis if he/she is over the age of 6, and often wakes to a wet bed. You and your healthcare provider will want to learn the cause of the bedwetting.

Your child’s pediatrician will ask about how often this happens, and about other symptoms. Before your appointment, try to keep track of your child’s bathroom habits in a bladder diary. Include information such as:

• How often does your child urinate during the day and at night?
• How often does he/she pass stool and how hard or soft is the stool?
• Does your child drink fluids before bed?

If your urology specialist provider needs more information, your child may have the following tests done along with a physical exam:

• Urine culture & urinalysis: Urine tests check for infection, along with unwanted blood, and other elements in the urine.
• Blood test: Blood tests can check the kidney and thyroid. They can also check cholesterol levels and the presence of anemia, diabetes, and hormone problems.
• Bladder scan: This type of ultrasound shows how much urine is still in the bladder after urinating.
• Urodynamic testing: These tests check to see how well the lower urinary tract stores and releases urine.
• Cystoscopy: During this test, a narrow tube with a lens is inserted into the bladder. Checking for tumors or other more serious medical conditions.

Pediatric Bedwetting Treatment Options

Many treatment options are available for bedwetting, some work better than others. Often, treating bedwetting starts with simple changes like:

• Reducing the amount of fluids your child drinks 1-2 hours before bed avoiding a full bladder.
• Creating a schedule for bathroom use (changing toilet habits)
• Bedwetting alarm devices
• Prescription Drugs

You can use these strategies one at a time, or together.

The following strategies have not been shown to help:

• Stopping food and fluid intake
• Night waking
• Pelvic muscle exercises
• Alternative therapies

Drugs

Desmopressin acetate (DDAVP)

Desmopressin is made from the hormone “vasopressin”.

In normal conditions, vasopressin is produced by the kidneys when the body tries to conserve water. For example, athletes secrete more vasopressin when they are active and sweating. Most people have naturally higher levels of vasopressin during sleep. That is part of the reason we can sleep through the night without needing to pass urine.

In many children with enuresis, this hormone surge is absent. DDAVP is available as a pill. You can take it an hour before going to bed for 3-6 months, with a one-week break. Decreasing the volume of urine made, and used with a schedule of drinking less fluid.

Oxybutynin and Tolterodine

These prescription drugs stop the bladder from having spasms with overactive bladder symptoms. When a child has a small bladder capacity, It is helpful to increase that capacity.

Imipramine

Doctors have used Imipramine, which is an anti-depressant medication to treat children with bedwetting for many years. It does not mean that depression is a cause for bedwetting.

It is not clear how imipramine helps, however, it is believed to improve the child’s sleep patterns and bladder capacity. Side effects can include irritability, insomnia, drowsiness, reduced appetite, and personality changes.

Usage and storage of this drug safely is crucial because overdose can be deadly.

Finally, your healthcare provider should look for signs of constipation. Doctors recommend treatment with dietary advice and laxatives. This may help with your child’s bedwetting issue long term.

UroHealth Partners

UroHealth Partners’ board-certified physicians and attentive, dedicated staff have served Nebraska and Iowa since 1982.

WE MAKE THE PROCESS AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE

Urinary incontinence is a condition that is marked by uncontrollable urinary leakage. While it is often associated with older people, anyone can suffer from incontinence, no matter their age. There are several types of urinary incontinence, and the cause indicates the type. Below, we’ll provide an overview of the most common types of this condition.

What are Types of Urinary Incontinence?

Stress Urinary incontinence

This is the most common form of incontinence. It is not related to the mental stress that a person may be experiencing. Stress urinary incontinence is a result of the stress – or pressure – that is being placed on the bladder. With this type of incontinence, urine may lead when pressure is placed on the bladder during certain activities. Such activities include jumping, running, lifting heavy weights, coughing, sneezing, or laughing. The most common causes of stress incontinence include pregnancy, childbirth, trauma to the bladder, and obesity.

Urge incontinence

Also known as overactive bladder, urge incontinence happens when individuals feel the sudden urge to urinate. That urge is followed by the involuntary loss of small or large amounts of urine. Often people who suffer from this type of incontinence experience an increased need to use the bathroom. As a result, they may not be able to control their bladder and end up releasing it before they can visit the restroom. Urinary tract infections, pregnancy, childbirth, trauma to the muscles in the pelvic region, menopause, and neurological disease, like multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease can lead to urge incontinence.

Overflow incontinence

This form of incontinence can occur if a blockage or an obstruction to the bladder occurs; a tumor pressing into the bladder, urinary stones, an enlarged prostate, or constipation, for example. It can also be caused by neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), and Alzheimer’s, or it can be the result of an injury to the pelvic floor muscles or a spinal cord injury. Whatever the cause, with overflow incontinence, the muscles of the bladder do not function properly. Therefore, the bladder cannot be fully emptied, which results in frequent dribbling of urine.

Functional incontinence

With this condition, the urinary tract is healthy; however, a mental or physical impairment prevents the individual from making it to the restroom in time to urinate. This condition is known as functional incontinence. Upon feeling the urge to urinate, a person who is suffering from poor mobility may not be able to get to the restroom in time. Therefore, urine leaks out of the bladder.

Reflex incontinence

Similar to urge incontinence, reflex incontinence occurs when the bladder experiences involuntary spasms, a strong urge to urinate can occur, whether or not the bladder is full. These involuntary spasms can cause the bladder to leak urine before a person is able to make it to the restroom. However, with reflex incontinence, a large amount of urine can lead from the bladder, as opposed to urge incontinence, which is usually marked by a small flow of urine leakage.

Mixed incontinence

More than one type of incontinence can occur at one time. When this occurs, it is referred to as mixed incontinence. Typically, it is characterized by a combination of stress and urge incontinence. This involves the strong urge to immediately urinate (urge), as well as the urine leakage when engaging in strenuous activity (stress).

UroHealth Partners

UroHealth Partners’ board-certified physicians and attentive, dedicated staff have served Nebraska and Iowa since 1982.

WE MAKE THE PROCESS AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE