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Consultancy Corner: Urinary stones, the summer irritant
Adequate hydration, sensible diet and taking precautions against the scorching heat in the coming months could help one keep kidney stones at bay
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
Alas, summer is here. Apart from the hot weather, on the health front, urinary stone disease is the commonest problem which people face during the summer months. Over the recent past, possibly due to global warming and rising temperatures, the number of people suffering from urinary stones are on the rise. In fact, we see such cases right through the year, nevertheless this condition peaks in summer.Â
A kidney stone is a piece of solid material that forms in the kidney when minerals in the urine become very concentrated. Small stones often pass through the body with little discomfort, but larger stones can be very painful and even block the urinary tract. Though plenty of facts and myths are written about the dietary influence in formation of stones, exposure to heat and dehydration are by far the commonest reasons for stone formation. The basic reason remains the inability of the kidney to dissolve all the metabolic salt provided to it in the consumed water.Â
How do you beat it? Simple. Add more water. Salt gets dissolved. This is the fundamental principle in advising patients to drink more water. Having said this, it has to be understood that some individuals are more prone to stone formation than others, due to reasons other than diet and dehydration. We at this point in time probably don’t have a complete understanding of the reasons for stone formation.
Common symptoms that need urological attention:Â
- Pain in the stomach or while passing urine.
- Pain and vomiting.Â
- Passing blood in the urine.Â
- Fever with urinary tract symptoms.Â
Evaluation:Â
- Initial evaluation always remains an Ultrasonography.Â
- It is simple, non- invasive, easily available and relatively inexpensive.Â
- For complex scenarios, a CT scan is used based on ultrasound findings.Â
Treatment:Â
Most stones in the urinary tract are managed by conservative means. Larger stones that continue to cause pain symptoms and stones that threaten the function of the kidneys are to be dealt by treatment methods ranging from Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) to endoscopic stone surgery. The advances in technology have meant that open surgeries for stones are of historical interest only.Â
Tips:Â
- Avoid heat exposure if possible.Â
- Restrict intake of meat, chocolates, nuts and carbonated beverages.Â
- Avoid dehydration. Take 2 glasses (250 ml per glass) of water with each meal and 2 in between each meal, which makes it 10 glasses (2.5 litres)Â
- The urine that is passed has to be nearly clear, without causing pain in the passage to the patient. This implies adequate hydration.Â
If you have a tendency towards stone formation, an annual ultrasound during summer is advisable.
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