According to National Institute US Health, every 10th person in the world is faced with a serious problem called urolithiasis. More often, men suffer from the formation of kidney stones than women, but in any case, an exacerbation of the disease causes an acute attack of pain that requires urgent hospitalization, and often surgery.
Symptoms of urolithiasis
Kidney stones, scientifically called stones, develop when Various types chemical substances, such as phosphorus, calcium, uric or oxalic acid, exceed the permissible concentration level in the body. Fine sand formed in the pelvis of the kidneys or bladder usually leaves the body without causing special problems. Another thing is large stones that provoke dagger pain that radiates to the groin or genitals. Other symptoms that accompany this painful condition include pain during urination, blood in the urine, nausea, vomiting, chills, fever, and anxiety.
Causes of urolithiasis
Factors that increase the risk of developing kidney stones include: “bad” heredity, overweight, dehydration, diseases of the digestive system, pathologies of the urinary tract, as well as food addictions, including the abuse of foods high in sugars, salt and proteins. In persons who have already encountered urolithiasis, the likelihood of a recurrence of this disease is high.
Diet is a key factor in the fight against urolithiasis. In this regard, the exclusion of some harmful foods from your diet will prevent the formation of kidney stones and support this paired organ. Let's take a closer look at these harmful products.
10 foods that cause kidney stones
1. Sorrel, spinach and rhubarb
Kidney stones are formed due to the accumulation of oxalic acid salts in the urine, i.e. oxalates, which means that those who consume foods rich in oxalates are at risk of this problem. To protect yourself, urologists recommend minimizing the use of sorrel, spinach, rhubarb, beets, cabbage and celery, milk and strawberries. In addition, you should control the consumption of foods rich in vitamin C, since in case of excess this vitamin can turn into oxalates. The formation of calculi in the kidneys contributes to the low content of vitamin B6 and magnesium, which means it is important to regularly replenish the level of these substances through food.
People who are at risk of developing urolithiasis should be aware that the disease is provoked by foods high in purines, such as sardines. An excess of purines in the body increases the uric acid content, which leads to sedimentation in the bladder or kidneys of uric acid stones.
According to the American Urological Association, a high intake of purines in combination with animal proteins can cause hyperuricosuria or hyperuricemia even in a perfectly healthy person who has not previously encountered kidney stones. It is for this reason that every person should limit their consumption of sardines to once a week and consume them in small quantities. In addition to sardines, purine bases are found in foods such as dried porcini mushrooms, veal liver, smoked sprat, tuna in oil, trout, anchovies, and beer.
3. Red meat
Eating large amounts of red meat can also cause kidney stones. The fact is that meat is rich in animal proteins, which, with an excess in the body, provoke an increase in uric acid and calcium in the urine. In addition, in the process of protein digestion, a by-product, nitrogen, appears, which is the main participant in the formation of toxins. These toxic substances can cause damage to the kidneys by triggering the mechanism for the formation of stones. To prevent this from happening, eliminate red meat from daily diet. It is enough to use it twice a week.
4. Carbonated drinks
Regular consumption of soda, energy drinks and even juices in packages and bottles increases the risk of developing urolithiasis. A 2007 study by the Moscow Research Institute of Epidemiology found that drinks such as Pepsi and Coca-Cola contain phosphoric acid, which causes changes in the urinary tract, contributing to chronic kidney disease and stone formation. .
In addition, a study published in 2013 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology suggests that people who regularly consume sugar and sweetened water are at a much greater risk of developing kidney stones than those who do not consume sugar and its substitutes. Instead of soda, go to plain water with addition lemon juice.
5. Soy products
Soybeans, as well as genetically modified soy products, are dangerous for the body and can affect kidney health. It is connected with high level oxalates, which cause the formation of sand, and then stones in the kidneys and urea.
A 2009 study published in the International Journal of Biosciences focuses on the effects of eating GMO foods. The report refers to experiments on mammals, as a result of which it turned out that genetically modified foods primarily affect the liver and kidneys. Oxalate-rich and non-fermented soy products such as soy milk and tofu cheese. To protect yourself from kidney problems when choosing soybeans, scientists say, preference should be given to organically grown varieties. In addition, only fermented soy products such as miso or tempeh should be included in the diet.
6. Refined carbohydrates
Simple carbohydrates such as sugar, white rice, high-grade flour and other foods cause insulin levels to spike, as a result of which calcium is washed out of the bones, which is deposited in the bladder. A study conducted in 1986 and published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology confirmed that it is the excess of refined sugar and sugary drinks that leads to kidney problems and provokes urolithiasis. If you are at risk for kidney stones, avoid starchy and sugary foods.
Excessive consumption of caffeine in food and, especially, in drinks, can cause calcium to be removed from the bones and deposited in the bladder or ureter. And this is an alarming bell, talking about the imminent appearance of kidney stones. Researchers from France in 2004 did a series of analyzes and concluded that excessive consumption of caffeine, which is rich in black tea and coffee, increases the risk of oxalate formation in the urine. In addition, caffeine has a mild diuretic effect, which contributes to dehydration of the body, which means it creates the prerequisites for the formation of stones.
Add to this the fact that caffeine causes a number of health problems, causing insomnia and high blood pressure. To maintain your health, it will be right to reduce the consumption of black tea and coffee to two cups a day, as well as to minimize the use of "energy drinks", carbonated drinks, chocolate and cocoa.
8. Artificial sweeteners
Many of us add artificial sweeteners to tea and coffee instead of sugar in an attempt to reduce our calorie intake. However, such products are not safe for the body and can lead to impaired kidney function if consumed continuously.
According to a 2009 study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, people who eat artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, or sucralose have an increased risk of kidney dysfunction. In addition, artificial sweeteners do not have the best effect on the blood, facilitating the removal of calcium salts from it and their sedimentation in the kidneys or urea. What to do in such a situation? Nutritionists advise using only natural sweeteners, namely honey or stevia extract.
Separately, it should be said about alcohol - worst enemy organism that causes irreparable damage to the liver and kidneys. In addition to severe toxic damage, alcohol acts as a diuretic, increasing the risk of dehydration. And this process leads to disruption of the functioning of the kidneys, with all the ensuing consequences. In addition, the impact alcoholic beverages on the body can disrupt the ability to remove uric acid from the body, which causes the formation of kidney stones. In this regard, experts advise to stop drinking alcohol or reduce it to a minimum, which means up to 1-2 glasses of dry wine per week.
10. Salt
Excessive salt intake is a key factor in the formation of kidney stones. Salt retains fluid in the body, as a result of which the normal excretion of urine is disturbed, and its stagnation provokes the deposition of calcium salts and the formation of calculi. In addition, the abuse of salt contributes to an increase in blood pressure, which leads to vascular and heart pathologies, which means heart failure, stroke and kidney disease. To protect yourself from such harmful effects, limit your salt intake to 3 grams per day, or rather replace table salt with Himalayan salt. In addition, you can use a variety of spices and herbs to enhance the flavor of your meals and eliminate salt entirely from your diet. Health to you!
At least 15% of the world's population has experienced the consequences of urolithiasis at least once in their lives, and the prevalence of this disease is constantly increasing.
These dense salt formations can also appear in other organs of the urinary tract - the bladder, ureters, urethra. The risk of kidney stones is 19% for men and 9% for women.
Symptoms of kidney stones
The most common symptom is severe, most often sharp pain in the abdomen or lower back. Pain usually occurs when the stones have already begun to pass through the urinary tract. A stone stuck in the ureter can cause urinary retention. In addition, the following symptoms may be observed: blood in the urine, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, cloudy urine with a pungent odor.
What can be done to prevent kidney stones?
The biggest risk factor for kidney stones is dehydration. However, the consumption of certain foods and various bad habits may increase the risk of developing stones.
Drink more water
A large amount of liquid reduces the chance that salt crystals will collect together and form a stone. Doctors recommend that women drink at least 9 glasses of fluid a day, and men at least 13. At least half of the fluid you drink should be clean water. Coffee, carbonated and sweetened drinks increase the risk of stone formation.
Eat less salt
Increased consumption of sodium chloride - table salt - to dehydration. The daily nome of salt for an adult in cool weather is no more than 5 grams.
It should be borne in mind that many foods contain a large amount of salt: sausages, smoked meat, most prepared meals and semi-finished products, potato chips, most canned soups, cheeses, canned meat and fish, canned vegetables, crackers, sauces.
Limit foods high in calcium oxalate
Kidney stones can be made up of many different compounds, but the most common stones are calcium oxalate (salts and esters of oxalic acid) – at least 67% of kidney stones contain it.
Consuming foods rich in calcium along with foods containing oxalates may reduce the risk of stone formation: in this case, oxalates can be bound before they reach the kidneys.
Foods rich in oxalic acid: grapefruit and cranberry juice, fried potatoes, spinach, cashews and peanuts, sorrel and rhubarb, beets, asparagus, celery and parsley, tomatoes, eggplant, bell peppers.
Foods rich in calcium: good source calcium is the majority of dairy products. In addition to them, they contain a lot of calcium: canned fish with bones, tofu, dried apricots, raisins, pumpkin seeds, soybeans, leaf salad, green onions, carrots.
Maintain a healthy weight
Get rid of excess weight, but do it gradually and. Diets low in carbs and high in animal protein are effective for weight loss, but they place increased strain on the kidneys and may increase the risk of stone formation.
Drink less coffee
And it can cause dehydration. The recommended upper limit for adults is 400 milligrams of caffeine daily, which is equivalent to about 4 cups of coffee. It is important to remember that some carbonated and energetic drinks, chocolate and tea also contain caffeine.
Avoid sugary drinks
Especially those containing high fructose corn syrup are associated with an increased risk of stone formation.
Increase your intake of citrates
About 60% of people with kidney stones also have low levels of citrate, the salt of citric acid. The high content of citrates prevents the formation of kidney stones.
Good sources of citrates are: lemon or lime juice, orange juice, melon, mango juice, some varieties of red pepper, berries, apricots, pineapples.
Eat less acidic foods
Highly acidic urine can increase the risk of kidney stones and make the stones more painful. Increased - these are pH values \u200b\u200bfrom 4.5 to 5.5. Constant indicators of acidity within these limits are a prognostic sign of the formation of urate and oxalate stones. To reduce the acidity of urine, you must first reduce the consumption of protein foods.
Foods that increase urine acidity: red meat and pork, poultry, fish, most cheeses, especially parmesan, eggs.
The best treatment is prevention, so it will be right to protect yourself than to endure pain and get rid of the problem later. Today we will talk about kidney stones, this phenomenon is preceded by various factors.
Kidney stones - what is it?
Small solid fragments that cannot leave the kidneys without outside help in the form of treatment, sometimes they block the passages of the urinary tract, provoke severe pain. Metabolic disorders lead to the formation of insoluble salts, from which stones are formed. They can be located anywhere in the body, and their number can be different.
Leads to the formation of stones:
- The use of poor-quality water or monotonous food.
- The climatic features of the region of residence can also influence.
- The use of medications.
- Various developmental anomalies.
- Insufficient amount of vitamin D, A.
- Frequent pyelonephritis, cystitis.
- hereditary predisposition.
At the same time, the lion's share falls on food, monotonous food, poor-quality water, lack of vitamins, you can eliminate it yourself by balancing your diet. But there are foods that can contribute to the formation of kidney stones, they should be excluded from your menu or consumed occasionally and rationed.
1 Caffeine
Caffeine is enemy number one if you drink coffee in the morning on an empty stomach. Naturally, it activates the body to work, allows you to wake up and cheer up, but at the same time loads the kidneys, and increases the risk of urolithiasis. Be aware that caffeine, in addition to coffee, is also found in tea, Coca-Cola, energy drinks, they should also not be drunk on an empty stomach, and it is better to refuse harmful drinks altogether. The ideal option for starting the body to work would be a glass or two of clean water at room temperature, and after that you can already have breakfast. When you drink caffeinated beverages on an empty stomach, you increase the amount of calcium in your urine, which can lead to kidney failure.
2 Seafood
Oxalates found in seafood can cause kidney stones. In particular, those who have a predisposition or a hereditary factor should avoid such nutrition. As a result of their use, sodium and calcium accumulate in the kidneys, which leads to the formation of urolithiasis. Therefore, normalize the use of seafood. You should also eat less chocolate, peanuts. You should not be like the same type of food, eat a lot of beets, bran, cookies, and even celery. When using ponds containing calcium, oxalates are absorbed worse.
3 Red meat
Animal proteins and fats lead to the formation of kidney stones. It is important to remember that everything is good in moderation, meat should not be transferred, it is difficult for the body to process these components. Meat also contains purines and uric acid, so its excessive consumption causes the formation of stones and can cause gout. There are also purines in other foods (asparagus, cabbage, legumes).
4 Sugar substitutes
Many use sweeteners instead of sugar, add them to drinks, thinking that they reduce calories. Of course, substitutes significantly lower the glycemic index of tea, coffee, while they have a lot of other negative factors. One of them is promoting the formation of urolithiasis, reducing kidney function. It is better to replace them with natural sweeteners, honey, maple syrup.
5 Salt
Excessive salt intake is the very first factor that contributes to the formation of kidney stones. Any food that we eat already contains salt, especially in sausages, canned vegetables, peas, and corn. Salt delays the excretion of fluid, hence puffiness, bags under the eyes, as well as the formation of kidney stones. The accumulation of salts adversely affects the work of many organs. blood pressure may cause weight gain.
6 Dairy products
Milk and dairy products are very useful for children and adults. They replenish vitamin and mineral reserves, improve bowel function. If a person has a predisposition to the formation of urolithiasis, the consumption of dairy products should be minimized. People at risk can get calcium and other valuable substances from vegetables (almonds, nuts).
What are the best foods to eat to prevent kidney stones?
First of all, you should adjust your daily routine by including physical training in it. Join a gym and visit it regularly three times a week. You should also eliminate bad habits from your life (alcohol and smoking do not carry anything good in themselves), and introduce a rule to drink more water.
If in a normal state you should drink up to 2 liters of water per day, then having a predisposition, you should increase this dose. The more water you drink, the more urine will be produced. Together with it, excess harmful substances are removed, the urinary ducts are cleaned. It is also recommended to drink plenty of liquids in any form, juices, teas, but not soda.
The symptoms of kidney stones are almost always individual, so describe your case in the comments, or write in the question and answer section.
Reasons for the formation of kidney stones
Factors contributing to the development of KSD can be divided into exogenous and endogenous. The first group includes the nature of nutrition (a large amount of protein in the diet, insufficient fluid intake, deficiency of certain vitamins, etc.), physical inactivity, and age, gender, race, environmental, geographical, climatic and housing conditions, profession, intake of certain medicines.
Endogenous factors include genetic factors, urinary tract infections and their anatomical changes leading to impaired urine outflow, endocrinopathy, metabolic and vascular disorders in the body and kidney.
Under the influence of these factors, there is a violation of metabolism in biological media and an increase in the level of stone-forming substances (calcium, uric acid, etc.) in the blood serum and, as a result, an increase in their excretion by the kidneys and supersaturation of urine.
In this regard, salts precipitate in the form of crystals, which entails the formation of microliths first, and then urinary stones.
However, one supersaturation of urine is not enough for the formation of a calculus. For its formation, other factors are necessary: a violation of the outflow of urine, urinary tract infection, a change in the pH of the urine (normally this value is 5.8–6.2) and others.
There are many classifications of urinary stones, but the mineralogical classification is currently the most widely used. Up to 70–80% of urinary stones are inorganic calcium compounds: oxalates (wedelite, vevelite), phosphates (withlockite, apatite, carbonateapatite), etc.
Stones from uric acid derivatives occur in 10-15% of cases (ammonium and sodium urates, uric acid dihydrate), and magnesium-containing stones - in 5-10% of cases (newberite, struvite). And the least common is the occurrence of protein stones (cystine, xanthine) - up to 1% of cases.
However, mixed stones are most often formed in the urine. The need is due to the peculiarities of the methods of removal and conservative anti-relapse treatment for one or another type of stones.
Reasons for the formation of stones (list)
Modern medicine does not offer a single concept of the causes of urolithiasis. Among the factors that cause ICD are the following:
- hereditary predisposition;
- various anomalies of the kidneys (horseshoe kidney, doubling, dystopia, ureterocele, spongy kidney, etc.);
- urodynamic disorders, inflammatory changes, urinary tract obstruction;
- congenital and acquired diseases of other organs;
- endocrine disorders (hyperparathyroidism, diabetes mellitus);
- sedentary lifestyle, hypodynamia, stagnation of blood in the pelvic organs, impaired microcirculation;
- climatic and biogeochemical factors, the content of various impurities in drinking water;
- pollution environment, poor socio-economic conditions;
- the presence of pesticides, herbicides, insecticides in soil and food;
- influence of preservatives, dyes, stabilizers, emulsifiers and other food additives;
- uncontrolled use of medications, especially such as diuretics, antacids, asetazolamide, corticosteroids, theophylline, citramon, alopurinol and vitamins D and C;
- abuse of laxatives;
- prolonged stress;
- inflammatory processes, both bacterial and autoimmune, the presence in the body of metabolic products of microorganisms;
- features of the diet and related changes in urine pH, impaired protein digestibility, excess purine metabolism products, hypercaloric nutrition;
- lack of crystallization inhibitors (zinc, manganese, cobalt ions) and solubilizers (substances that maintain the colloidal stability of urine and help maintain salts in dissolved form, such as magnesium, sodium chloride, hippuric acid, xanthine, citrates);
- metabolic disorders (hyperuricemia, hyperoxaluria, cystinuria, urine pH< 5,0 или > 7,0).
Reasons for the reappearance of stones
Doctors consider the following diseases predisposing to the appearance of stones: hyperparathyroxism, renal acidosis, cystinuria, sarcoidosis, Crohn's disease, frequent urinary tract infections, as well as long immobilization.
The problem is that urolithiasis is a recurrent disease. Often, stone formation becomes chronic. Experts list the following risk factors for recurrent stone formation:
- stones containing brushite;
- stones containing uric acid, ammonium urate, or sodium urate;
- infectious stones;
- residual stones or their fragments, more than three months after therapeutic treatment;
- the first episode of stone formation before the age of 25 years;
- frequent formation of stones (3 or more in 3 years);
- familial urolithiasis;
- genetic: cystine, xanthine, dehydroxyadenine stones, primary hyperoxaluria, renal tubular acidosis, cystinuria, hypercalciuria;
- the only working kidney;
- nephrocalcinosis;
- disruption of the parathyroid glands, hyperparathyroidism;
- medicines: preparations containing calcium and vitamin D, ascorbic acid in high doses, sulfonamides, triamterene, indinavir;
- gastrointestinal diseases and conditions: Crohn's disease, resection of the small intestine, small bowel bypass anastomosis, malabsorption syndrome;
- anomalies: spongy kidney, horseshoe kidney, diverticulum or cyst of the calyx, ureteropelvic stenosis, ureteral stricture, vesicoureteral reflux, ureterocele.
What contributes to the formation of kidney stones
Violation of purine, oxalic acid or phosphorus-calcium metabolism often leads to crystalluria. In chronic pyelonephritis, the main role in stone formation is played by metabolic products of microorganisms (phenols, cresols and volatile fatty acid), as well as the presence of protein in the urine, which serves as the basis for the deposition of crystals and the formation of microliths.
Sometimes calculi have a homogeneous composition, however, often, kidney stones are of a mixed mineral composition, so we can only talk about the predominance of one or another type of mineral salts, from which the stone base is formed.
Therefore, strict dietary prescriptions are not always appropriate, although the exclusion from the daily diet of products such as coffee, strong tea, chocolate, fried meat, as well as limiting the intake of animal protein and foods containing a large amount of calcium are necessary measures for any type of stone formation.
The role of vitamins and minerals in the diet therapy of urolithiasis should not be underestimated. But you should not get carried away with multivitamin complexes, especially those containing calcium in their composition. Such drugs are aimed at children and elderly age when the need for calcium increases.
At the same time, it must be remembered that calcium is absorbed only in the presence of a sufficient amount of vitamin D, which an adult also does not need to consume separately with good nutrition, since vitamin D is formed in the body under the influence of ultraviolet radiation and accumulates in the liver (for the winter).
A large amount of vitamin D is found in fatty fish. In addition, to prevent stone formation, food should contain sufficient amounts of potassium and magnesium. It should be borne in mind that magnesium is also absorbed only in the presence of vitamin B6.
Thus, diets for urolithiasis should be balanced and take into account the peculiarities of the nature of stone formation.
Where do kidney stones and sand come from
Sand and kidney stones are a consequence of a metabolic disorder, which is often hereditary. Sand and kidney stones can be salts of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, oxalic and uric acid.
In addition, there are cysteine and xanthine stones that occur when protein metabolism is disturbed. But most often, sand and kidney stones have a mixed composition.
Factors predisposing to the formation of sand and kidney stones are a sedentary lifestyle, dietary habits (various hereditary metabolic disorders require special diet), living conditions, profession, urinary tract infections, anatomical and physiological features of the structure of the urinary tract, vascular disorders.
Signs of the appearance of sand in the kidneys
A sign of the appearance of sand and kidney stones are renal colic. Renal colic indicates that sand or stone passes through (or is stuck in) the urinary tract.
At the same time, severe pains appear in the lumbar region, extending to the groin and thigh. When passing sand, pain often appears during urination, a change in the color of urine from a large amount of sand or from an admixture of blood.
At the same time, small stones and sand are of the greatest concern, while large stones usually do not make themselves felt for the time being. But if a large stone “gets stuck”, then this can already cause serious complications.
How to identify sand and kidney stones
First of all, the patient himself draws attention to the fact that after pain in the lower back, the color of his urine changes, and this should be the reason for going to the doctor.
The doctor prescribes first laboratory research blood and urine in order to identify the presence and nature of sand and exclude inflammatory diseases urinary tract.
The next stage is an ultrasound and X-ray examination of the urinary tract. In most cases, these research methods can detect kidney stones, but there are stones that cannot be detected with these studies.
If, nevertheless, the signs of the disease and laboratory tests indicate that the stone must still be, then the treatment necessary in such cases is carried out.
Diet in the presence of sand and kidney stones
Food should not contain spicy dishes, concentrated meat broths, coffee, chocolate, cocoa, legumes, alcohol. If oxalic acid salts (oxalates) predominate in the urine, then it will be necessary to limit milk and dairy products, chocolate, coffee, sorrel, lettuce, strawberries, citrus fruits.
With the predominance of calcium and phosphorus salts in the urine, it is necessary to limit the amount of milk, cottage cheese, cheese and fish.
With any type of salt, the patient should drink daily (first courses are included) up to 2 or more liters of water per day (weak tea, compote, juices, low-mineralized mineral water etc.).
This is necessary so that a large amount of fluid flushes out the sand, and does not allow it to accumulate in the urinary tract, forming stones.
First aid for renal colic
If you have, you have already been examined about this and are sure that the cause of colic is sand or small stones, then heat can be used to relieve pain. It can be a heating pad or a warm bath.
Heat helps to expand the urinary tract and in such conditions a small pebble or coarse sand will come out. To enhance the effect, you need to take an antispasmodic (for example, no-shpu) - this will also relieve spasm.
If the pain does not go away, then you need to call ambulance, since prolonged spasm of the urinary tract can lead to complications.
Attention! This method is not suitable for unexamined patients, since the cause of pain may be a tumor, and it will grow intensively from heat.
The effect of urinary stasis on the formation of kidney stones
An essential factor in the mechanism of stone formation are changes that lead to stagnation of urine, such as abnormal structure of the calyx and pelvis, valves and narrowing of the ureter, incomplete emptying of the bladder in prostate adenoma, urethral strictures, organic diseases of the spinal cord.
The influence of obstructed outflow of urine affects the fact that salts fall out in stagnant urine and an infection develops. Obstructed outflow from the pelvis slows down the circulation of urine in the renal tubules, thereby disrupting the secretion and resorption of the constituent elements of urine.
The important role of impaired urinary dynamics is evidenced by the fact that in the vast majority of cases (80-90%) stones are formed in one, and not in both kidneys.
True, with primary hydronephrosis, stones are rarely formed, but this is due to the low concentration of urine due to atrophy of the renal parenchyma.
Clinical and experimental observations indicate a connection between nephrolithiasis and chronic infection not only of the urinary system, but also of other organs and tissues.
In infections of the urinary tract itself, the significance of microorganisms is even clearer. The formation of phosphates and carbonates is especially favored by infectious pathogens that break down urea with the formation of ammonia and alkaline urine reactions.
This property is mainly possessed by Proteus bacillus and pyogenic staphylococcus aureus. In view of the fact that this flora very often accompanies these stones, they especially often recur.
Formation of primary and secondary kidney stones
Infection plays a particularly important role in the etiology of secondary stones that develop on the basis of the inflammatory process in the urinary organs in the presence of concomitant disorders of urinary dynamics.
The percentage of relapses after surgical removal of kidney stones is three times higher in the presence of infection in the kidneys than with aseptic stones.
There are primary stones formed in the tubules and on the renal papillae in normal, uninfected urine (mostly oxalates and urates), and secondary, formed in the renal pelvis (phosphates and carbonates). The formation of secondary stones, which usually occur in the presence of an infection of the urinary system and impaired outflow of urine, is explained by the fact that inflammatory process changes the pH of urine, violates the integrity of the epithelial cover of the renal pelvis and calyx.
The amount of colloids secreted by the kidneys (their daily amount is 1-1.5 g) decreases, their physico-chemical properties change under the influence of infection. Crystalloids and hydrophobic colloids precipitate out.
Inflammation products - mucus, pus, bacterial bodies, torn epithelium - participate in the formation of the organic core of the stone, on which the crystalline shell of the stone is formed.
This process develops faster than with primary stones, since in stagnant, infected urine, often alkaline, precipitation of salts occurs very intensively.
It is known that small kidney stones up to 1-1.5 cm in diameter often pass on their own. Naturally, the question arises why these stones did not stand out earlier, when their dimensions were smaller, calculated in tenths of a millimeter or microns.
Secondary kidney stones
With secondary stones, the reason for this is a violation of the dynamics of urination, which underlies their pathogenesis, as well as fast growth stones under the influence of concomitant urinary infection.
As for the primary stones formed during normal peristalsis of the renal cavities and ureters, with free outflow of urine and the absence of urinary infection, the reason is that the primary stones are formed on the renal papillae or in the renal tubules and remain fixed for a certain time.
Based on extensive experimental, radiographic and clinical studies, it has been proven that primary stones originate at or near the apices of the renal papillae.
In the lumen of the collecting duct of the papilla or outside it, a calcareous plaque is deposited, which forms a bed (matrix) of a stone, as it grows, the epithelial cover above it disappears, exposing an uneven surface, thus coming into contact with urine.
The further formation of the stone, i.e., the deposition on the bed of salts falling out of the urine, is essentially a natural and at the same time a secondary process. Anything foreign body in the urinary system reduces the ability of urine to retain salts in a supersaturated solution.
They precipitate and settle on the core, the uneven surface of which, which has a higher surface tension compared to urine, becomes an adsorption center for them. Having reached a certain size, the stone is torn away from the papilla with or without a bed (see Fig. 2 and 3).
Rice. 2. Normal renal papilla
Rice. 3. Renal papilla after separation of the stone
In the first case, there may not be a recurrence, in the second, a new stone is formed on the same bed. On small stones of the ureter, one can sometimes find a slightly concave surface, which the stone adhered to the bed, and on it whitish calcareous crumbs related to the substance of the bed.
Surprisingly, they can even harm the kidneys healthy foods, which saturate the body with vitamins and support the work of other organs.
When consumed in excess, even the most seemingly harmless foods can harm your health. Therefore, carefully monitor your diet, especially those who suffer from kidney disease. We present a list of products that "kidney" is better to refrain from
Sorrel, spinach and rhubarb
These foods are rich in oxalates - these are salts of oxalic acid, thanks to which kidney stones appear. Urologists advise to reduce the use of these products to a minimum.
Beets, cabbage, celery, milk and strawberries can be added to this list. With vitamin C, you also need to be careful, because in case of excess, it can turn into oxalates.
The formation of calculi in the kidneys contributes to the low content of vitamin B6 and magnesium, which means it is important to regularly replenish the level of these substances through food.
sardines
Foods high in purines can also harm people who are prone to urolithiasis. An excess of purines in the body increases the uric acid content, which leads to sedimentation in the bladder or kidneys of uric acid stones. There are a lot of purines in sardines.
In addition to sardines, purine bases are found in white dried mushrooms, veal liver, smoked sprat, tuna in oil, trout, anchovies and beer.
Alcohol
In addition to severe toxic damage, alcohol acts as a diuretic, increasing the risk of dehydration. And this process leads to disruption of the functioning of the kidneys, with all the ensuing consequences.
In addition, the effects of alcoholic beverages on the body can disrupt the ability to remove uric acid from the body, which causes the formation of kidney stones.
Salt
Salt retains fluid in the body, as a result of which the normal excretion of urine is disturbed, and its stagnation provokes the deposition of calcium salts and the formation of calculi.
In addition, the abuse of salt contributes to an increase in blood pressure, which leads to vascular and heart pathologies, which means heart failure, stroke and kidney disease.
To protect yourself from such harmful effects, limit your salt intake to 3 grams per day, or rather replace table salt with Himalayan salt.
artificial sweeteners
If you regularly use artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, or sucralose, you increase your risk of kidney problems.
In addition, artificial sweeteners do not have the best effect on the blood, helping to remove calcium salts from it and deposit them in the kidneys or urea.
red meat
Not only is red meat already officially recognized (by the World Health Organization) as a carcinogen, it also causes kidney stones. The fact is that meat is rich in animal proteins, which, with an excess in the body, provoke an increase in uric acid and calcium in the urine. In addition, in the process of protein digestion, a by-product, nitrogen, appears, which is the main participant in the formation of toxins.
Carbonated drinks
"Soda" contains phosphoric acid, which causes changes in the urinary tract, thereby contributing to the appearance of chronic kidney disease and the formation of stones.
soy products
Soybeans, as well as genetically modified soy products, are dangerous for the body and can affect kidney health. This is due to the high level of oxalates, which cause the formation of sand, and then stones in the kidneys and urea.
To protect yourself from kidney problems, choose organically grown varieties of beans. In addition, only fermented soy products such as miso or tempeh should be included in the diet.
Refined carbohydrates
Simple carbohydrates such as sugar, white rice, premium flour and other foods cause insulin levels to spike (due to a high glycemic index), as a result of which calcium is washed out of the bones, which is deposited in the bladder. It is better to refuse sweet and flour products altogether.
Caffeine
Excessive amounts of caffeine can cause calcium to be removed from the bones and deposited in the bladder or ureter. This is an alarming bell, talking about the imminent appearance of kidney stones. But caffeine is not only in coffee, but also in tea!
You can afford a couple of cups a day, but you should not overdo it with an invigorating drink, like with all the others on our list. Take care of yourself!
