Nature Cure Yoga Management For Kidney Stones

A kidney stone is a hard, crystalline mineral material formed within the kidney or urinary tract. 

Kidney stones are a common cause of blood in the urine and often severe pain in the abdomen, flank, or groin. Kidney stones are sometimes called renal calculi. One in every 20 people develops a kidney stone at some point in their life. 

The condition of having kidney stones is termed nephrolithiasis. Having stones at any location in the urinary tract is referred to as urolithiasis. 

Men are especially likely to develop kidney stones. The prevalence of kidney stones begins to rise when men reach their 40s, and it continues to climb into their 70s. People who have already had more than one kidney stone are prone to develop more stones. A family history of kidney stones is also a risk factor for developing kidney stones. 

Causes:  

• Kidney stones form when there is a decrease in urine volume and/or an excess of stone-forming substances in the urine. The most common type of kidney stone contains calcium in combination with either oxalate or phosphate. Other chemical compounds that can form stones in the urinary tract include uric acid and the amino acid cystine. 
• Dehydration from reduced fluid intake or strenuous exercise without adequate fluid replacement increases the risk of kidney stones. 
• Obstruction to the flow or urine can also lead to stone formation. 
• Kidney stones can also result from infection in the urinary tract; these are known as struvite or infection stones. 
• Heredity: Some people are more susceptible to forming kidney stones, and heredity may play a role. 
• A number of different medical conditions can lead to an increased risk for developing kidney stones: 
• Gout results in an increased amount or uric acid in the urine and can lead to the formation of uric acid stones. 
• Hypercalciuria (high calcium in the urine), another inherited condition, causes stones in more than half of cases. In this condition, too much calcium is absorbed from food and excreted into the urine, where it may form calcium phosphate or calcium oxalate stones. 
• Other conditions associated with an increased risk of kidney stones include 
• Hyperparathyroidism, 
• Kidney diseases such as renal tubular acidosis, and 
• some inherited metabolic conditions including cystinuria and hyperoxaluria.  
• Chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension) are also associated with an increased risk of  
• People with inflammatory bowel disease or who have had an intestinal bypass or ostomy surgery are also more likely to develop kidney stones. 
• Some medications also raise the risk of kidney stones. These medications include some diuretics, calcium-containing antacids, and the protease inhibitor indinavir (Crixivan), a drug used to treat HIV infection. 

Sign And Symptoms:  

• While some kidney stones may not produce symptoms (known as “silent” stones.) 
• People who have kidney stones often report the sudden onset of excruciating, cramping pain in their low back and/or side, groin, or abdomen. 
• Colicky pain: “loin to groin”. Often described as “the worst pain […] ever experienced”. This can also occur in the lower back. 
• Nausea/vomiting: embryological link with intestine-stimulates the vomiting center. 
• Hematuria: blood in the urine, due to minor damage to inside wall of kidney, ureter and /or urethra. 
• Pyuria: burning on urination when passing stones (rare). More typical of infection. 
• Oliguria: reduced urinary volume caused by obstruction of the bladder or urethra by stone or extremely rarely, simultaneous obstruction of both ureters by a stone. 
• Post renal azotemia: the blockage of urine flow through a ureter. 
• Hydronephrosis: the distension and dilation of the renal pelvis and calyces. 
• If infection is present in the urinary tract along with the stones, there may be fever and chills. 
• Sometimes, symptoms such as  
• Difficulty urinating, Urinary urgency, Penile pain or testicular pain may occur due to kidney stones.