As wealth increases in the developed world, so does the number of people presenting with the symptoms of a kidney stone. This is because -- like many other modern medical conditions, kidney stones are largely due to a more affluent diet, with high meat and salt consumption, washed down with colas and soda.
The world average for kidney stones is around 4%, but the USA leads the world in having the highest incidents of kidney stones, with 10% of the population currently destined to suffer at least one attack.
Whilst the cause of kidney stones is difficult to pin down exactly, a profile of the most likely victim can be generated. They will be a male, aged between 25 and 40, probably living in the southern USA and eating a diet with a large amount of red meat and beverages, such as cola, soda, tea and coffee. All these drinks are diuretic in that they actually dehydrate the body, which increases the chance of kidney stones.
Very often the stones will be "silent kidney stones", building up over many months -- years even -- without the sufferer even being aware of them. But when these, so called, silent kidney stones decide to move out of the kidney the stone is anything but silent! Once they start to move into the urinary tract, the pain will begin. The unrinary tract is a narrow tube, called the ureter, which links the kidney to the bladder.
Depending on the size of silent kidney stones, they can pass out of your body virtually un-noticed. But this only applies to stones smaller than about 1/4 inch (5 mm). Anything larger will stretch and even tear the ureter. On fact, one of the clearest symptoms of a kidney stone is bloody or dark-colored urine -- a sure sign the stone has entered the ureter and torn the delicate lining.
When the stone starts its passage, the pain can be excruciating. In fact, so bad can it be, many ladies compare it to the pain of childbirth. This usually starts in your back, above the waist and just below the rib cage, as a severe ache in the lower back on either or both sides. Later on, pain switches from your back to your front and, eventually down to your groin. That indicates the stone is managing to move along the urinary tract. During this time, you may feel the urge to urinate frequently and you can experience intense pain or burning when you do urinate.
The worst case scenario is if the stone is so large it gets jammed in the ureter, making a watertight seal.
That stops the urine passing out of the kidney and into the bladder. If the flow of urine is stopped, it puts pressure on the wall of the ureter tube, causing even more pain. Then the urine backs up into the kidney which can increase the chances of a kidney infection, if the blockage is not swiftly removed. You may find the pain is accompanied by the frequent urge to urinate, which may prove impossible, due to the blockage. This is when removal of the stone becomes a priority. Either by surgery, medication or by using a natural home remedy cure. So never ignore the symptoms of a kidney stone.
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source www.ArticleBiz.com by Paul Hooper-kelly
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