Caring for the Men in Your Life:
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract, affecting roughly one in 10 men, usually with his first occurrence in his 20s, and increasing in prevalence after age 40. Caucasian males are five times more likely to suffer from kidney stones than African-Americans.
What are kidney stones?
The urinary tract consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. The kidneys remove extra water and waste from the blood, converting it to urine which travels through a set of narrow tubes called ureters to the bladder. The urine is stored there until the body releases it through the urethra.
A kidney stone is formed when crystals separate from the urine and build up inside the kidney. Four types of stones may develop: calcium oxalate (in 70-80% of all cases), struvite (usually from urinary tract infections), uric acid and cystine (both of which are rare and usually caused by a genetic defect).
Symptoms
Kidney stones may cause severe pain in the lower back, just under the ribs. The pain is not consistent, but is very intense and will recur. Sometimes the pain moves into the groin area. Other symptoms include nausea and vomiting, blood in the urine, or a burning sensation during urination. Fever and chills may indicate an infection.
Treatment
An x-ray or ultrasound can usually detect a kidney stone. Often, it is small enough to pass naturally, and the doctor will send his patient home with orders to drink plenty of fluids and follow a special diet. Occasionally, medication is prescribed to dissolve the stone.
For larger stones, the doctor may use Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), a procedure that uses a machine to break the stone into smaller pieces using high-energy shockwaves. The smaller stones will then pass naturally. Only in rare cases is surgery necessary.
Prevention
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