Kidney Stone Prevention and How To Get Involved
September 13, 2021 — A kidney stone is a hard, crystalline mineral material that is formed within the kidney or urinary tract. One in 20 people will develop a kidney stone at some point in their life.
What Is It?
There are several different types and they vary depending on the material that they are made of.
The first three most common kinds are made up of calcium oxalate, uric acid, or struvite. The least common kind is made up of cystine.
Kidney stones affect men more frequently than women. It is estimated that they are so painful that they send almost three million Americans to the doctor each year, including over 500,000 trips to the emergency rooms.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
The main symptom of kidney stones is severe pain in the lower abdomen or flank. The flank is the area over the kidney, which is found on each side of the lower back. Another symptom that is often experienced is blood in the urine or dark yellow or concentrated urine.
The diagnosis of a kidney stone would start with an examination and imaging tests. The provider will want to determine the size, shape, and location of any kidney stones, which will help the specialist in guiding their treatment plan.
Kidney Stones in Cystinuria
Kidney stones can also be formed by people who have a rare disorder called Cystinuria. Cystinuria is a rare inherited metabolic disorder characterized by excessive amounts of undissolved cystine in the urine, which can lead to the formation of crystals and stones.
It is estimated that approximately 33,000 people are living with Cystinuria in the US today. It affects approximately 1 in 10,000 people and the age of onset of symptoms is usually between 10 and 30.
Prevention and Treatment
Once diagnosed with a kidney stone, the doctor may try to let the stone pass without surgery, depending on the location and size. They may prescribe certain medications to help with less acid production in the urine.
If the stone is too large or if it is blocking the flow of urine from the bladder or kidney, or if an infection is a risk, it will need to be removed.
There are also ways to help with kidney stone prevention, such as:
- Drinking plenty of water
- Avoiding coffee, tea, and beverages with high-fructose corn syrup
- Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables
- Reducing excess salt in diet
Where Accessia Health Comes In
Accessia Health has an established fund to help patients with kidney stones, even those with Cystinuria. We provide financial assistance with copays and premiums.
To see if you qualify for assistance, check out our prescreening tool and apply today. You can also call us at 1-800-366-7741 or donate here.
*Please consult with your healthcare provider or seek professional medical treatment if you or a loved one have any medical concerns. Please do not disregard any professional medical advice or take any delay in seeking medical treatment based on anything that you may have read on our blog, our website, or in linked materials.*