The kidneys filter the blood and turn waste into urine for disposal. It is essential to keep the body clean from toxins and other harmful things. While people can live with one kidney, that does not mean you do not have to take care of them.
If you are careless with what you put into your body, you are at risk of developing kidney stones.
What Are Kidney Stones?
There is only so much your kidneys can handle. If too much waste comes in, it will not keep up, and crystals form inside them. These will attract other waste materials and chemicals until it becomes a more solid stone. It will continue to get bigger until it passes out of your system through urine.
Sizes of kidney stones observed in a patient vary from as small as a grain of rice to as big as a golf ball. Safe to say that if it grows inside you, you will feel something.
Kidney Stone Symptoms
Sometimes, you would not even know you have kidney stones, and they pass naturally. But if it becomes large enough, you can experience kidney stone symptoms like:
- Finding blood in your urine
- Difficulty or feeling pain when urinating
- Experiencing sharp abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Smelly and cloudy urine
- In more severe cases, you may experience fever and chills.
How Kidney Stones Form
The most common cause of kidney stones is not drinking enough water. Fluids are crucial in helping your body get rid of the toxins in your blood. Without water, your kidneys may be unable to flush them out and form stones. Think of a toilet not having enough water to rid of the waste.
Other things can aggravate the condition. For example, people who experienced kidney stones before are more likely to develop them again. It is also more common among people with a family history of kidney stones.
Other causes and risk factors include:
- Obesity
- Eating excessive salt or sodium
- You have another health condition that increases toxins in your kidney, like uric acid.
- Taking certain medications
- Having a health condition affecting the digestive system
- Surgery on your intestines
Preventing Kidney Stones
The best way to fight kidney stones is to prevent them from forming in the first place. That takes some changes to your lifestyle. The most crucial one is to remember to drink enough fluids every day. Eight to twelve cups of water per day are the suggested amount for most. But if you already have a kidney condition, it is best to consult with your doctor on the amount.
Next is to remove as much sodium from your diet as possible. That includes reducing the meat you consume.
If you have prescribed medication, take them only as instructed by your doctor, no more and no less.
Treating Kidney Stones
The treatment you will receive for kidney stones depends on the size and type. If it is small enough, your doctor can prescribe medication to help it pass naturally through your system.
Other potential treatments include lithotripsy, where shockwaves break down the stone so you can pass them. Ureteroscopy is an invasive procedure where a doctor uses a tool to get in there and break up the stones. The last option is surgery.
When to Go to Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care for Kidney Stones
You should seek immediate medical attention if you are feeling unbearable pain around your abdomen or cannot urinate any more. Those are clear signs that the stone has become problematic.
Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care is the only health system in Hamilton County offering ER and urgent care services under one roof. Unlike most ER or urgent care centers, patients are only billed for the level of services they need. The ER is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The urgent care center is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. No appointments are not necessary for in-person visits; however, pre-registration is available.
Riverview Health Emergency Room Urgent Care has five convenient locations:
- Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care Carmel is located at 14585 Hazel Dell Pkwy., Carmel, IN 46033, and may be reached at 317.406.4280.
- Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care Fishers is located at 9690 E. 116th St., Fishers, IN 46037, and may be reached at 317.406.4585.
- Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care West Carmel/Zionsville is located at 10830 N. Michigan Rd., Zionsville, IN 46077, and may be reached at 317.406.4713.
- Riverview Health Westfield Hospital is located at 17600 Shamrock Blvd, Westfield, IN 46074, and may be reached at 317.214.5555.
- Riverview Health Noblesville Hospital is located at 395 Westfield Road, Noblesville, IN 46060.