The challenge with kidney stones

Matters concerning urinary tract health are getting increasingly common today, says seasoned urologist Dr. Cletus Georges. For instance, kidney stones are a perennial problem that continues to affect many people.

Kidney stones are actually solid masses that can be found in your urinary system. As these are crystalized minerals, they can range in size. Kidney stones are known to be as small as a grain of rice or even as big as a baseball. There are some kidney stones that are small enough to be passed naturally through urination, but there are also ones which need surgery to be removed.

These kidney stones form because of a person’s inadequate daily fluid intake, explains Dr. Cletus Georges. The most common substances that make up kidney stones are calcium, oxalate, uric acid, and phosphate. These are waste products that are intended to exit the body. However, once kidney stones gain a significant amount of mass, they may increase in size over a period of time. Until such a point that they alert the patient with a surprising pain, they continue to go unnoticed.

When the problem is at its worst, the stones prevent urine from exiting the body. The result is a ridiculous amount of pain and bleeding. In such cases, surgery at the soonest possible time is needed, says Dr. Cletus Georges.

Known risk factors for kidney stone issues are having diets that are high on the previously mentioned substances. There is also a genetic predisposition for developing kidney stones. Certain medical conditions that increase one’s chances of having them are high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, and gout.

The best way to avoid it is to watch what you eat and ensure that you hydrate yourself properly. At the first instance that you experience any known symptoms of the presence of kidney stones, set an appointment with your trusted urologist.

Dr. Cletus Georges has helped many individuals who have problems that affect the urinary tract. He holds his medical practice in Florida. For more about his work, please visit this page.