Kidney Stones: Risk Factors
Drinking too little water is the most common cause of kidney stones. Diet also plays an important role. Eating a lot of protein, sodium, and high-oxalate foods, such as chocolate or dark green vegetables, can boost the risk for kidney stones in some people. Other risk factors include gaining weight and taking certain medications.
Avoiding Recurrence Of Kidney Stones
If you have had one kidney stone, some tips that may help to prevent a second stone forming include:
- Talk to your doctor about the cause of the previous stone.
- Ask your doctor to check whether the medications you are on could be causing your stones. Do not stop your medications without talking to your doctor.
- Get quick and proper treatment of urinary infections.
- Avoid dehydration. Drink enough fluids to keep your urine volume at or above two litres a day. This can halve your risk of getting a second stone by lowering the concentration of stone-forming chemicals in your urine.
- Avoid drinking too much tea or coffee. Juices may reduce the risk of some stones, particularly orange, grapefruit and cranberry. Ask your doctor for advice.
- Reduce your salt intake to lower the risk of calcium-containing stones. Dont add salt while cooking and leave the saltshaker off the table. Choose low- or no-salt processed foods.
- Avoid drinking more than one litre per week of drinks that contain phosphoric acid, which is used to flavour carbonated drinks such as cola and beer.
- Always talk to your doctor before making changes to your diet.
Drinking mineral water is fine it cannot cause kidney stones because it contains only trace elements of minerals.
Can Kidney Stones Cause Nausea And Headaches
As stones move into your ureters the thin tubes that allow urine to pass from your kidneys to your bladder signs and symptoms can result. Signs and symptoms of kidney stones can include severe pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills and blood in your urine.
Can kidney stones cause headaches and dizziness?
This widens the passages so a stone can fit through more easily. Side effects are generally mild and may include headache or dizziness.
Read Also: Does Caffeine Help With Headaches
Cluster Headaches Cause Years Of Needless Pain
The first time I experienced a cluster headache, I thought I was dying. I thought it was an aneurysm or stroke, because surely this amount of pain would kill me. But then, after around 90 minutes, it was gone, leaving my body drained and my mind full of fear.
Cluster headache is one of the most painful conditions people can experience. Those who have felt it rate the pain as considerably worse than that from childbirth, kidney stones and gunshot wounds. It is not like any other kind of head pain it is a different beast entirely. However, when people like myself head to the hospital or to our physicians, we rarely get the help we need. Medical professionals commonly chalk up the pain as a migraine attack a misdiagnosis that can take years or even decades to correct, meaning a long wait before effective treatment can finally be prescribed.
Part of Nature Outlook: Headache
I was told for six years that I couldnt have cluster headaches because I am a woman, and cluster headache is most common in men. My symptoms were dismissed by several clinicians. I relied on sumatriptan for relief. The drug helped to stop attacks in progress, but it cost US$215 for just two injections and came with severe side effects that I would not understand fully until my early 30s, when tests revealed evidence of a possible heart attack. Had I been offered other forms of treatment sooner, such as oxygen therapy, I could have avoided some of these injections.
Signs Of Acute Kidney Injury
Acute kidney injury is a rapid or abrupt decline in kidney function and is considered a medical emergency. It occurs when there is direct injury to one or both kidneys, a blockage in the ureter or another condition causing insufficient blood flow to the kidneys.
In adults, kidney failure can be caused by:
- Low blood pressure that occurs very suddenly and/or is severely low
Don’t Miss: Ophthalmic Migraine Vs Ocular Migraine
Does Creatine Cause Headaches
Creatine is a naturally occurring substance made of amino acids. It supplies the body with cellular energy. Red meat and seafood are the primary sources of dietary creatine, while endogenous creatine is synthesized in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas.
Most creatine is stored in and used by the muscles, which makes it a popular supplement for fitness-related activities. As with almost all supplements, there have been reported side effects associated with taking larger amounts of creatine.
While these side effects are generally gastrointestinal in nature, some people have also reported experiencing creatine headaches.
Fortunately, as far as supplements are concerned, research has shown that creatine is one of the safest supplements that the average person can take. Outside of anecdotal reports, theres virtually no research that suggests headaches are a direct side effect of creatine use.
In fact, the research on the reported side effects demonstrates quite the opposite, as well discuss later in the article.
Here are a few possible explanations for headaches that might accompany creatine use, especially in active individuals.
Other Kidney Stone Symptoms From Nausea To Cloudy Urine
In addition to pain, kidney stones can cause other symptoms:
- Nausea and vomiting
- A strong need to urinate
- Urinating more frequently
- A burning sensation or pain while urinating
- Blood in the urine the urine will look brown, pink, or red
- Gravel in the urine
- Urine that smells bad
- Fever and chills, if you also have an infection
You May Like: Headaches In Different Parts Of The Head
Chest Pain & Shortness Of Breath
A build-up of excess fluid in the wall of the heart or the lungs can cause shortness of breath and chest pain. This is a serious symptom of CKD and you should consider visiting your healthcare provider at the earliest in case youre facing either of these symptoms.
It is important not to ignore any of the symptoms you might encounter. With CKD, most patients get diagnosed only when its too late. Be sure to visit your doctor if you notice any symptoms and are in doubt.
Read Also: How To Know If You Have Bad Kidneys
Should I Cut Calcium Out Of My Diet If I Develop Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stones
If you develop kidney stones composed of calcium, you may be tempted to stop eating foods that include calcium. However, this is the opposite of what you should do. If you have calcium oxalate stones, the most common type, its recommended that you have a diet higher in calcium and lower in oxalate.
Foods that are high in calcium include:
Its also important to drink plenty of fluids to dilute the substances in your urine.
You May Like: Can 5g Wifi Cause Headaches
Chronic Fatigue Treatment In Concord And Mint Hill North Carolina
Dr. Richard Natale specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of urological problems, including ones that cause chronic fatigue. Visit Carolina Urology Partners today and see how we can help revitalize your health and wellbeing.
To make an appointment, call us at 786-5131. You may also request an appointment online.
Kidney Stone Pain: Firsthand Recollections Of The Experience
Ive never had a kidney stone. I dont know what its like. Thats why I spent hours reading personal experiences to understand kidney stone pain better. Wikipedia told me the basics, and ArsTechnica, StraightDope, and Reddit gave me the personal stories and recollections that created an overall picture of how unpleasant and dreadfully painful kidney stones can be .
Was bad enough that I left the party and went to myoffice and spent a large part of the night rolling backand forth on the floor in my cube debating calling my ex to come get me. Sheended up laughing, then took me to the hospital. I still owe her for helpingme.
It was what I can imagine a knife stuck in my back beingtwisted all around would feel like.
A female nurse told me it’s the worst pain a man canever feel, because a man can’t go through labor. I had mine when I was 25 itlooked like a coffee grain. Before it passed, I literally thought I was goingto die. They gave me a morphine shot right in the vein, and it didn’t do athing. They followed that with Vicodin and I passed out. I woke up a few hourslater feeling just ok.
Someone told me that the pain from a kidney stone isclose to what a woman feels while having a baby. If that is true, I don’t blamethem at all for screaming.
Don’t Miss: Trigger Point Injections For Migraines
What Are Some Early
- Pain in stomach, back, side
- Has been compared to the pain of childbirth
- When a stone moves into the ureter, it causes a blockage, creating pressure in the kidney
- Pain can start suddenly and vary in intensity/locations comes in waves that can last for minutes back pain tends to spread
- Please note: the presence of back pain, or even pain that you identify as being near your kidneys, does not mean you should begin worrying you may have kidney stones. Please visit a doctor as soon as possible. They will be able to palpate the area and determine if the pain is coming from the area around your kidneys or the area around your spine.
Men:
Shortness Of Breath After Very Little Effort
Why this happens:
Being short of breath can be related to the kidneys in two ways. First, extra fluid in the body can build up in the lungs. And second, anemia can leave your body oxygen-starved and short of breath.
What patients said:
At the times when I get the shortness of breath, itâs alarming to me. It just fears me. I think maybe I might fall or something so I usually go sit down for awhile.
I couldnât sleep at night. I couldnât catch my breath, like I was drowning or something. And, the bloating, canât breathe, canât walk anywhere. It was bad.
You May Like: How To Treat Cervicogenic Headache
Can Kidney Stones Cause Bleeding Without Pain
Kidney stones can cause bleeding through the urinary passage. So when you pee if there is blood it may be due to a kidney stone. Many people who have kidney stones end up seeing blood in their urine. If there is pain associated with the bleeding, it is likely a kidney stone. If there is no pain, it may be bladder cancer.
What Can You Take For Headache If You Have Kidney Disease
Over-the-counter Tylenol is often the best choice for people with high blood pressure, heart failure, or kidney problems. However, high doses of Tylenol can damage the liver, so take the lowest dose you can to get enough pain relief. Never take more than 4,000 milligrams a day.
How should you lay down with kidney stones?
The practice involves laying inverted or upside down to allow gravity to aid in the passing of small stone fragments that may be stuck. The instructions include the following steps: Drink two, 8-ounce glasses of water.
You May Like: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Botox For Migraines
When And How Soon To See A Doctor If You Suspect A Stone
At the time of a first kidney stone attack, people often arent sure what is going on and need to be seen by a doctor to make sure the symptoms arent the result of a more serious problem, such as appendicitis, says Lieske.
As a general rule, you need to seek medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Severe pain that makes sitting still or getting comfortable impossible
- Pain with nausea and vomiting
- Pain with fever and chills
- Blood in the urine
- A strong need to urinate
- A burning sensation while urinating
If you cant see your doctor that day, head to the ER.
If stone pain and fever develop, go directly to the ER, says Timothy F. Lesser, MD, a urologist at Torrance Memorial Medical Center in Torrance, California. A kidney stone with a urinary tract infection may cause and must be treated immediately.
If urine is trapped behind a kidney stone that is blocking the ureter, the urine can become infected, says Seth K. Bechis, MD, a urologist at UC San Diego Health in San Diego. This, in turn, can cause an infection of the kidney tissue or result in the infection spreading to the bloodstream, causing sepsis, he explains.
While men are more prone to kidney stones than women, women are more likely to get UTIs, says Lieske. So its not surprising that women are also more likely to get a urinary infection associated with their kidney stones, he says.
Will You Have Kidney Stones With Metformin Hydrochloride
A study for a 36 year old woman who takes Lamictal NOTE: The study is based on active ingredients and brand name. Other drugs that have the same active ingredients are NOT considered. WARNING: Please DO NOT STOP MEDICATIONS without first consulting a physician since doing so could be hazardous to your health. DISCLAIMER: All material available on eHealthMe.com is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment provided by a qualified healthcare provider. All information is observation-only, and has not been supported by scientific studies or clinical trials unless otherwise stated. Different individuals may respond to medication in different ways. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. The use of the eHealthMe site and its content is at your own risk. You may report adverse side effects to the FDA at or 1-800-FDA-1088 . If you use this eHealthMe study on publication, please acknowledge it with a citation: study title, URL, accessed date.Continue reading > >
Don’t Miss: Dr. Reddy’s Migraine Medicine
Kidney Stone Pain Relief
If you’ve been diagnosed with kidney stones, you should:
- Drink plenty of fluids to try to flush out the stone. Aim for 2 to 3 quarts a day. Water is best.
- Take over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
- Ask your doctor about prescription medicines like nifedipine or tamsulosin that relax your ureter to help stones pass through.
See your doctor right away if you have severe pain or signs of an infection or urinary blockage.
Show Sources
What Are The Most Common Types Of Kidney Stones
The most common type of kidney stone is a calcium oxalate stone. This type happens when calcium and oxalate combine in your urine. It can happen when you have high quantities of oxalate, low amounts of calcium and arent drinking enough fluids.
Stones caused by uric acid are also fairly common. These come from a natural substance called purine, which is a byproduct of animal proteins .
You May Like: How To Treat Migraine Headache
Diagnosis Of Kidney Stones
When you have kidney stone symptoms, as described above, see your health care provider. Shell check your medical history, give you a physical examination, and order imaging tests, as needed.
Your doctor may ask you to drink extra fluid to help flush out the stone. By straining your urine, you may be able to save a piece of the stone. This will enable your doctor to determine the type of stone, what may be causing the condition, and how to reduce your risk of recurring stones.
If your stone doesnt flush out, your doctor may order a high-resolution CT scan from the kidneys to the bladder or a KUB X-ray to determine the size and location of the stone.
Another test used for some patients is the intravenous pyelogram , an X-ray of the urinary tract taken after injecting dye.
Subgroup Analysis Of Ckd Risk By Age Sex Comorbid Conditions And Anti
Table 3 shows that the HR for subsequent CKD was significantly higher in subjects with migraine of both sexes compared with that in the control subjects. The HR of CKD following migraine was higher in younger and middle-aged subjects, but not in elderly subjects . Additionally, subjects with migraine with other comorbid conditions had higher risk of developing CKD than those without any comorbid conditions. However, the interaction between number of comorbidity and migraine was not significant . It seemed that there is no obvious correlation between developing CKD and concomitant chronic diseases in subjects with migraine. On the other hand, subjects with migraine who were not prescribed any anti-migraine agents were found to have a significantly increased risk of CKD .
Read Also: What Triggers An Ocular Migraine
Over 80% Of The People Who Try My Remedy Get Rid Of Their Kidney Stones I Hope Youre One Of The 80%
Recent statistics gathered from my customers has shown that 80% of my customers have passed their kidney stones using my home remedy.
I need to be honest with you and admit that my remedy does not work for 100% of kidney stone sufferers. But the good news is, my remedy does work for the vast majority of those with kidney stones.
Why doesnât it work 100% of the time? Because everyone is unique, and everyone with kidney stones has different sizes and types of kidney stones. Most kidney stones are made of calcium oxalate and are less than 5mm in diameter, but some kidney stones are made up of different materials . Also, some kidney stones are simply too large to dissolve using any natural remedy.
Fact: 256 of the last 300 people who have used my remedy have passed their kidney stones without pain!
So how can you know if you are likely to be in the 80%?