Are kidney stones harmful to the urinary system?

Kidney stones are very harmful to the urinary system and may cause severe pain, urinary tract obstruction, infection, and even damage kidney function. If symptoms are found, treatment should be started as soon as possible. Common intervention methods include drug dissolution, extracorporeal lithotripsy, and surgical stone removal.

1Possible hazards

Kidney stones are often formed due to excessive crystallization of minerals and salts in urine. The main hazards are reflected in the following aspects:

Severe pain: When the stones move or irritate the urinary tract, they often cause severe cramping from the waist to the groin, and may even be accompanied by systemic symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

Urinary tract obstruction: Large stones may get stuck in the ureter or urethra, blocking the normal discharge of urine and causing water accumulation in the kidneys. Long-term obstruction can seriously damage kidney function and even cause uremia.

Infection: Stones can easily cause urine retention, creating an environment for bacteria to grow, thereby inducing urinary tract infection, manifested by symptoms such as fever, urgency, and pain when urinating.

Renal function damage: If not treated promptly, multiple or large kidney stones will gradually damage the kidney structure and lead to irreversible renal function decline.

2 Common treatment methods

Medical lithotripsy: For small stones, drugs that promote stone removal can help the stones pass naturally, such as alpha receptor blockers such as tamsulosin. For calcium oxalate stones, potassium citrate can be taken to reduce crystal deposition.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy: Extracorporeal lithotripsy is suitable for smaller stones, which are broken up by shock waves and then excreted in urine, but it is not suitable for stones that are too large or have special compositions.

Minimally invasive surgical stone removal: For stones with larger diameter or multiple stones, percutaneous nephrolithotomy or ureteroscopic lithotomy is recommended, and open surgery can be performed if necessary.

3 Preventive measures in daily life

In addition to treatment, the following measures can help prevent kidney stones in people who are prone to them:

Increase water intake: Drink enough water, at least 2 liters per day, to reduce the concentration of minerals in urine and reduce the chance of stone formation.

Adjust your diet: reduce the intake of foods rich in oxalic acid, such as spinach and nuts, and at the same time appropriately supplement with lemon juice, calcium milk, and yogurt to reduce the risk of stone formation.

Increase exercise: Appropriate daily activities such as brisk walking can help small stones be expelled faster.

Kidney stones are a potential threat to the urinary system. Be sure to be alert to their symptoms. Once diagnosed, timely intervention is needed to avoid more serious complications. At the same time, improving healthy lifestyle habits can effectively reduce the risk of recurrence and protect kidney health.