Table of Contents
Kidney stones
Kidney stones are usually more prevalent among men than women, but incidence of kidney stone in women is also on the increase. Nowadays, an increasing number of women are having problems with kidney stone or renal lithiasis. The kidney stones are usually solid crystals of minerals or acid salts formed within the kidney. The typical symptoms associated with this condition are painful urination and pain in lower abdominal, groin, back, and side areas. If the patient has infection, the symptoms may also include nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, pink, brown, or red urine, and, frequent inclination to urinate.
Kidney stones in women
The kidney stones in women can be caused by a number of factors. Kidney stone is mostly a hereditary condition and if it runs in your family, you are at greater risk of developing kidney stones. Likewise, pregnant women who take large quantities of calcium supplements also have increased chances of developing kidney stones. Dehydration or inadequate intake of water is another risk factor that causes kidney stones in women. It is recommended that women should take at least eight glasses of water a day to clear urine.
Causes of kidney stones
The kidney stones in women can also occur as a result of certain disease and medical conditions, such as chronic diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, hyperparathyroidism, renal tubular acidosis, gastric bypass surgery, and cystinuria. Obesity or overweight is also a risk factor for kidney stones. Studies have revealed that obese women with higher BMIs and large waist sizes are more likely to get kidney stones than the normal weight women.
Types of kidney stones
There are various types of kidney stones, including calcium stones, uric acid stones, struvite stones, cystine stones, and some other types of kidney stones. The most widely seen kidney stores in women are calcium stones and they are generally occurred as a result of increased level of calcium in the body. Many factors, such as a calcium and vitamin D rich diet, certain metabolic disorders and surgeries like intestinal bypass surgery can raise the level of calcium concentration in the urine.
The uric acid stones usually occur in women who have gout disease and in those who eat a diet high in uric acid. The women who do not drink enough water may also develop uric acid kidney stones. The struvite kidney stones are typically occurred as a result of urinary tract infections. These stones can become very large. The cystine stones are formed mainly due to a hereditary disorder, known as cystinuria. These are very rare types of kidney stones. The kidney stones in women can also form due to the urinary tract blockage. The consumption of certain medications, such as water pills or diuretics and protease inhibitor indinavir (a HIV medication) can also lead to the incidence of kidney stones.
