Kidney Stones Can Put Kidney Function at Risk
10/20/2021
KNOXVILLE, TN (October 20, 2021) – If you feel a sharp pain in your back, side, lower abdomen, or groin, or have blood in your urine, you may have a kidney stone – a condition that is common and on the rise. Left untreated, kidney stones can cause serious complications in addition to severe pain. Dr. Katherine Cameron, a Urologist with Tennova Urology – Jefferson, is making sure patients know timely treatment can prevent permanent damage.
Kidney stones are hard, pebble-like pieces of material that form in one or both of your kidneys when high levels of certain minerals are in your urine. Kidney stones vary in size and shape – as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pea and rarely, as big as golf balls.
A small kidney stone may pass through your urinary tract on its own, causing little or no pain or other symptoms. A larger kidney stone may get stuck along the way and block the flow of urine. If kidney stones are not treated, they can cause blood in the urine; severe pain; urinary tract infections (UTIs), including kidney infections; and loss of kidney function.
“Kidney stones can be extremely painful, but we have minimally invasive techniques that can eliminate the stone,” said Katherine Cameron, M.D. “Kidney stones are not meant to be taken lightly. If you believe you are experiencing a kidney stone, don’t delay seeing your healthcare provider.”
The National Kidney Foundation reports that over half a million people go to emergency rooms for kidney stone problems every year. And it is estimated that one in ten people will have a kidney stone at some time in their lives.
If you have a family history of kidney stones, you are more likely to develop them. You are also more likely to develop kidney stones again if you’ve had them once, have high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity or if you don’t drink enough liquids.
“Diagnosing kidney stones requires physical examination, analysis of your medical history and tests that can all be performed in office,” explains Dr. Cameron. “By utilizing our same day appointments, we can get you in for an appointment faster to not only treat the stones, but educate on the benefits of healthy diets and medicines that can prevent these from forming again.”
Four dietary tips from the National Kidney Foundation can help you prevent painful kidney stones.
- Drink plenty of fluids when exercising and sweating. Sweat water loss leads to less urine production, allowing stone-causing minerals to settle and bond in the kidneys and urinary tract.
- Eat and drink calcium and oxalate-rich foods together during a meal to make it more likely they will bind to one another in the stomach and intestines before the kidneys begin processing. High levels of oxalate are found in peanuts, rhubarb, spinach, beets, chocolate and sweet potatoes.
- Maintain your calcium intake but cut back on sodium. A diet low in calcium increases your risk of developing kidney stones.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables and less animal-based protein to help decrease urine acidity which can reduce the chance for stone formation.
Dr. Cameron sees patients at Tennova Urology – Jefferson, located at 120 Hospital Drive Suite 100. If you suspect you may have a kidney stone, call (865) 647-1876 or visit tennovamedicalgroup.com.
SOURCES
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases:
National Kidney Foundation:
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