Kidney Stones & Stress

Renal lithiasis, commonly referred to as kidney stones, is defined as hard deposits or crystallization of minerals; these stones form in your kidneys. The deposits occur when minerals, acids and calcium fail to dilute in your urine. When this concentration takes place, the substances then crystallize, and form kidney stones. According to a study conducted by the International Epidemiological Association, individuals who suffer from extreme stress are more likely to develop kidney stones than individuals with a less stressful lifestyle.

• Nurse

Stress

• Stress manifests itself in individuals in different ways. For many, stress can directly affect their health, in some cases with serious medical issues. When the International Journal Of Epidemiology advises that, "stressful lifestyles have been shown to increase calcium and uric acid," they are referring to an increased risk of developing kidney stones.

Symptoms

• Symptoms occur once the kidney stone has worked its way into your ureter, a tube that connects your bladder to your kidney. Once a kidney stone has entered the ureter, you may begin to experience pain during urination, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills, blood in your urine and back pain. Additionally, frequent urination and an odor when urinating will become evident in some individuals.

Risk Factors

• According to the Mayo Clinic, if you have a family history of kidney stones, or if you have had kidney stones in the past, you are more likely to develop them in the future. Moreover, they report that this condition most often befalls people who are between 20 and 70 years of age, and that men are more at risk than women. Furthermore, people who drink lots of water are less susceptible because drinking water throughout the day helps break down the concentrations that form kidney stones. But more susceptible are those with a diet rich in protein and sodium.

Treatment

• Most individuals will be able to pass the kidney stone on their own, without medical interference. However, in cases where the stone simply will not pass, medical treatment may be required. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a procedure used to administer shock waves to the general area of the kidney stone. The shock waves help break up the stone so that it may pass more freely.

Prevention

• According to the Mayo Clinic, in many cases kidney stones can be prevented. If you know you are at risk for any of the reasons listed here, drink at least 14 glasses of water a day. Additionally, you can decrease your risk of developing kidney stones by abstaining from foods rich in oxalates. Some of these include sesame seeds, spinach, collards, refried beans and sweet potatoes.