-
The biggest kidney stone on record
weighed more than a kilogram
-
and was 17 centimeters in diameter.
-
The patient didn't actually
swallow a stone the size of a coconut.
-
Kidney stones form inside the body,
-
but unfortunately, they're extremely
painful to get out.
-
A kidney stone is a hard mass
of crystals that can form in the kidneys,
-
ureters,
-
bladder,
-
or urethra.
-
Urine contains compounds
that consist of calcium,
-
sodium,
-
potassium,
-
oxalate,
-
uric acid,
-
and phosphate.
-
If the levels of these particles
get too high,
-
or if urine becomes too acidic
or basic,
-
the particles can clump together
and crystallize.
-
Unless the problem is addressed,
-
the crystals will gradually grow
over a few weeks, months, or even years,
-
forming a detectable stone.
-
Calcium oxalate is the most common
type of crystal to form this way,
-
and accounts for about
80% of kidney stones.
-
Less common kidney stones are made
of calcium phosphate, or uric acid.
-
A slightly different type of stone
-
made of the minerals magnesium
ammonium phosphate, or struvite,
-
can be caused by bacterial infection.
-
And even rarer stones can result
from genetic disorders
-
or certain medications.
-
A kidney stone can go undetected
until it starts to move.
-
When a stone travels
through the kidney and into the ureter,
-
its sharp edges scratch
the walls of the urinary tract.
-
Nerve endings embedded in this tissue
transmit excruciating pain signals
-
through the nervous system.
-
And the scratches can send blood flowing
into the urine.
-
This can be accompanied
by symptoms of nausea,
-
vomiting,
-
and a burning sensation while urinating.
-
If a stone gets big enough
to actually block the flow of urine,
-
it can create an infection,
or back flow,
-
and damage the kidneys themselves.
-
But most kidney stones
don't become this serious,
-
or even require invasive treatment.
-
Masses less than five millimeters
in diameter
-
will usually pass out
of the body on their own.
-
A doctor will often simply recommend
drinking large amounts of water
-
to help speed the process along,
-
and maybe taking some pain killers.
-
If the stone is slightly larger,
medications like alpha blockers
-
can help by relaxing the muscles
in the ureter
-
and making it easier
for the stone to get through.
-
Another medication called
potassium citrate
-
can help dissolve the stones by creating
a less acidic urine.
-
For medium-sized stones up to about
ten millimeters,
-
one option is pulverizing them
with soundwaves.
-
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy
uses high-intensity pulses
-
of focused ultrasonic energy
aimed directly at the stone.
-
The pulses create vibrations inside
the stone itself
-
and small bubbles jostle it.
-
These combined forces crush the stone
into smaller pieces
-
that can pass out of the body more easily.
-
But zapping a stone with sound
doesn't work as well
-
if it's simply too big.
-
So sometimes, more invasive
treatments are necessary.
-
A rigid tube called a stent
can be placed in the ureter to expand it.
-
Optical fibers can deliver laser pulses
to break up the stone.
-
Stones can also be surgically removed
through an incision
-
in the patient's back or groin.
-
What about just avoiding kidney stones
in the first place?
-
For people prone to them,
-
their doctor may recommend
drinking plenty of water,
-
which dilutes the calcium oxalate
and other compounds
-
that eventually build up
into painful stones.
-
Foods like potato chips,
-
spinach,
-
rhubarb,
-
and beets are high in oxalate,
-
so doctors might advise limiting them.
-
Even though calcium
is often found in stones,
-
calcium in foods and beverages
can actually help
-
by binding to oxalate
in the digestive tract
-
before it can be absorbed
and reach the kidneys.
-
If you do end up with a kidney stone,
you're not alone.
-
Data suggests that rates are rising,
-
but that world record probably
won't be broken any time soon.