Kidney Stones in actuality are mere crystallization of minerals in the kidney caused by various factors like kidney disorders - cystic kidney diseases, urinary tract infections, and certain metabolic disorders such as hyperparathyroidism.
Also more than 70 percent of people suffering with renal tubular acidosis, a rare disease that is generally inherited develop kidney stones.
There is also a school of thought that believes that high level of calcium in the urine causes crystals of calcium phosphate or calcium oxalate to form in the kidneys or urinary tract.
Diametrically opposed to this very idea is another vein that believes that lack of calcium intake in individuals increases the chances of kidney stones as calcium binds ingested oxalate in the gastrointestinal tract.
If the calcium that is ingested is not sufficient, the oxalate available for absorption into the bloodstream increases; this is then passed in greater amounts into the urine by the kidneys.
Oxalate is a very strong promoter of calcium oxalate precipitation in the urine.
Thus increasing the chances of calcium oxalate crystals.
Various symptoms indicate stones in the kidney, the most distinct one being spasm like shooting pain in lower back, Blood in the urine, Fever accompanied with chills, Fever usually means the stone has caused a blockage.
This kind of infection needs to be treated with antibiotics as well as by removing the kidney stone.
You might experience lack of appetite Nausea and vomiting, Cloudy urine with a bad smell, burning sensation while urinating.
This particular symptom can be mistaken for a urinary track infection especially in women.
Though many times the stones are so small that they pass out in the urine without us even realizing it! However if these stones increase in size, they block the passage in the kidney which causes acute pain when there is movement of these stones in the urinary tract.
In later stages the pain can be transferred or spread to the groin.
The doctor usually asks the patient to collect the stones by using a strainer to diagnose the type of stone.
There are medicines and cleansing items helpful in order to avoid surgery and any other kidney stones treatments like Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), urethral stent etc.
These medicines are harmless and result oriented, medically researched and tested through several processes.
Fortunately, surgery is not usually necessary and stones can be avoided by natural means.
Natural remedies mostly need the patient to follow basic rules like drinking a lot of water, If possible drink lime water, avoid cola drinks as they cause dehydration and prevent the body from naturally flushing out toxins.
Avoid having foods with high oxalate like spinach, chocolate, nuts, soybeans, rhubarb etc.
in too much quantity.
Fruit juices like cranberry juice, orange and blackcurrant juice are recommended.
Large doses of vitamin c should be strictly avoided.
Tablets of Potassium citrate are also recommended for stone prevention.
High protein diet is also suspected to increase the chances of stones.
Regulated intake of calcium is believed to help reduce chances of stone formation.
These preventive methods not only help in avoiding stone formation but also help us maintain a healthy balanced diet that leaves us feeling fitter.
But it needs to be noted that Kidney stones are caused by various factors, though the above mentioned recommendations might help till a certain degree there could be other factors besides dietary issues that might cause crystallization or stone formation.