Recognize the Signs and Symptoms of Bladder Stones to Watch Out for

Bladder stones are hard mineral clumps that occur in your bladder. They develop when minerals in concentrated urine crystallize and form stones. This often happens when you have trouble passing urine.

More than 90 percent of your urine is water. The rest contains minerals, such as salts, and waste products, such as proteins. Concentrated urine itself varies in color, ranging from dark yellow to brown, depending on the type of waste and minerals it contains.

Concentrated urine is often caused by dehydration or the inability to empty the bladder completely. This may be due to an enlarged prostate, bladder problems, or a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Definition
Urinary tract stones are stones that get stuck in the urinary tract, be it in the kidneys, ureters, or urethra. It is one of the diseases of the human urological system.

Urinary tract stones are made of salts and minerals in the urine that stick together and form stones. Most stones are small pebbles and are usually painless when they remain in the kidneys.

Urinary tract stones are a fairly common disease. In fact, it ranks as the third most common disease in urology after urinary tract infections and BPH (benign prostate enlargement).

Unfortunately, data on patients with urinary tract stone disease has not been well recorded in Indonesia. However, it is estimated that around 0.6% of the Indonesian population suffers from kidney stones that may be related to this disease.

Features and Symptoms

• Severe pain in the side and back, under the ribs.
• Pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin.
• Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity.
• Pain when urinating.
• Urine that is pink, red, or brown in color.
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Urinating more frequently than usual.
• Fever and fever if there is an infection.
• Urinating in small amounts.

Risk Factors

• Personal or family history. If someone in your family has kidney stones, you are more likely to get urinary tract stones too. If you have also had one or more kidney stones, you are at a higher risk of developing urinary tract stones again.
• Dehydration. Not drinking enough water every day can increase a person's risk of developing urinary tract stones. People who live in warm climates and those who sweat a lot may be more at risk than others.
• Certain diets. Following a diet high in protein, sodium and sugar can increase the risk of developing certain types of kidney stones (including urinary tract stones). The risk is even greater if you have a high-sodium diet. Too much sodium in the diet increases the amount of calcium that the kidneys have to filter and significantly increases the risk of urinary tract stones.
• Obesity. High body mass index (BMI), large waist size, and weight gain have been linked to an increased risk of urinary tract stones.
• Digestive diseases and surgeries. Gastric bypass surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, or chronic diarrhea can cause changes in the digestive process that affect calcium absorption and cancer, increasing levels of stone-forming substances in the urine.
• Other medical conditions. Diseases and conditions that can increase the risk of urinary tract stones include renal tubular acidosis, cystinuria, hyperparathyroidism, certain medications and some urinary tract infections.

Diagnosis

• Blood tests. Blood tests can tell if there is too much calcium or uric acid in your blood. Blood test results help monitor kidney health and may allow doctors to check for other medical conditions.
• Urine test. A 24-hour urine collection test can show if the body is removing too much stone-forming minerals or too little stone-preventing substances. For this test, the doctor may ask you to undergo two urine collections on two consecutive days.
• Imaging. Imaging tests can show stones in your urinary tract. Options range from abdominal X-rays to high-speed or dual-energy computerized tomography (CT) that can show the presence of very small stones.
• Other imaging procedures. These include ultrasound, non-invasive tests, and intravenous urography (intravenous pyelogram), or CT imaging (CT urogram) using a contrast media compound that can clarify the image of your urinary tract.
• Analysis of removed stones. You will be asked to urinate through a filter that will catch the expelled stones. The doctor will then examine the stones in the lab.

Treatment

• Drink water. Drinking as much as 2-3 liters of water a day can help cleanse your urinary system. Unless your doctor recommends otherwise, drink enough fluids (especially water) to produce clear or almost clear urine.
• Pain relief. Removing kidney stones may cause discomfort. To relieve minor pain, your doctor may recommend pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve).
• Medical therapy. Your doctor may give you medication to help you pass the kidney stones. This type of medication, known as alpha blockers, relaxes the muscles in the urinary tract, helping you pass the kidney stone more quickly and with less pain.
• Surgical Procedure. Extracorporeal shock wave lithostripsy (ESWL), Surgical removal of kidney stones, Ureteroscopy, Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)

Prevention

• Drink water throughout the day
• Reduce consumption of oxalate-containing foods
• Choose a low salt diet
• Reduce animal protein intake
• Ensure calcium needs are well met