Kidney stones are small, hard deposits that develop inside the kidneys. They’re also known as renal lithiasis or nephrolithiasis. Although they’re not usually life-threatening, they can be extremely painful and have serious long-term implications for people who experience them frequently.
If you know someone who is at risk of developing kidney stones, or if you have them yourself, this article will tell you everything you need to know about them. Keep reading to find out more about kidney stones, the causes, treatment options and preventative measures, and how Z Urology can help!
What Are the Symptoms of Kidney Stones?
If you have a kidney stone, you might not know it, or you might experience mild to severe pain in your abdomen, or groin. You might also have blood in your urine, feel like you need to urinate frequently, and have a constant urge to go to the bathroom. Kidney stones can also cause nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.
Large stones may block the flow of urine, which can lead to infection, blood in the urine, and pain when urinating. If you’re concerned that you might have a kidney stone, make an appointment with a urologist as soon as possible. They will be able to perform a physical exam among other tests to determine if you have a kidney stone based on the symptoms you’re experiencing.
What Causes Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones are caused by the formation of crystals in your kidneys. These crystals are minerals that come from your diet and combine to form a solid mass. As mentioned above, they’re mostly composed of calcium, uric acid, and phosphorus. Calcium is an essential mineral that is involved in many critical bodily processes, including the production of bones and teeth.
Uric acid is produced as a by-product of the breakdown of certain foods, such as red meat and certain vegetables. If you consume too much uric acid, it can lead to the formation of kidney stones.
How Are Kidney Stones Diagnosed?
If you’re experiencing symptoms of kidney stones, your urologist will likely perform a urine test, physical exam, and possibly an x-ray. A urinalysis can indicate the presence of blood or crystals in the urine, which can indicate a kidney stone. In some cases, they may order a CT scan or MRI to determine the exact location of the stone and its size.
One thing you should avoid is trying to diagnose a case of kidney stones by yourself. You should always go to a urologist to verify whether you have kidney stones or not as your symptoms could be caused by another medical problem altogether.
Treating Kidney Stones
If you’re diagnosed with a kidney stone, your doctor will likely prescribe pain medications and analgesic drugs to help alleviate the pain. In some cases, they may suggest surgery to remove the stone. If the stone is small enough, doctors may try to break it up and flush it out of your system without having to remove it surgically.
There are also natural remedies that you can use to help dissolve the stone. These include drinking lots of water and cranberry juice which contains high levels of acid that can help break down the stone, increasing your intake of magnesium. This can help prevent the formation of stones and taking herbs like alfalfa, parsley, and cornsilk to reduce the amount of uric acid in the body.
Keep in mind, you should never rely on home remedies alone when you have kidney stones. The best thing to do is to see a urologist and seek professional treatment.
Preventing Kidney Stones
If you’ve had a kidney stone in the past, you’re more likely to develop more in the future depending on your diet and lifestyle. However, there are some things you can do to lower your risk. For one thing, you should eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains, legumes, and nuts. You should also drink lots of water because it can help reduce the amount of calcium in the body.
You should also change your diet if you’re at risk of developing kidney stones. If you’re at a high risk of developing stones, you should avoid high-protein foods, such as red meat. You should also avoid foods that are high in oxalates as oxalates can contribute to a higher risk of developing kidney stones.
Why You Should See a Urologist When You Have Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are a serious health condition that can lead to extreme pain and even a medical emergency if not treated properly. If you’re experiencing symptoms of kidney stones, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible.
If you have kidney stones presently or if you have had them in the past, it’s a good idea to see a urologist. A urologist is a doctor who specializes in diseases of the urinary tract, particularly kidney stones. Urologists can help you manage your condition and prevent future kidney stones from forming.
They can also help you determine the best treatment options for your kidney stones. In addition to providing treatment for people who currently have kidney stones, urologists can also help people who are at risk of developing them in the future by providing dietary advice and suggesting certain lifestyle changes.
When you’ve had kidney stones in the past, you can lower your risk of developing them in the future by eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, drinking lots of water, and avoiding high-protein foods.
Think You Have Kidney Stones? Call Z Urology!
As you have discovered, kidney stones can be serious which is one of many reasons why you should get in touch with a urologist as soon as you can. If you live in South Florida and you have kidney stones, you should know that Z Urology is one of the most highly trusted urology clinics in the area.
There are so many services that the amazing staff and doctors at Z Urology can accomplish for your urinary health. We are proud of this fact and glad that we have helped so many whehter they have kidney stones, are getting a vasectomy, or are dealing with erectile dysfunction. But there is another service that we get many patients for. And that issue is the one of urinary reconstruction. Let us take a look at how this procedure works.
What is Urinary Reconstruction?
Urinary reconstruction is a procedure that involves creating a new way for urine to pass through the body after a bladder removal surgery has been completed. Unfortunately, some people do end up contracting bladder cancer or other diseases of the bladder. Urinary reconstruction or urinary diversion is required for the body to filtrate out the urine waste even once the bladder has been removed. There are a few different types of urinary reconstruction including Continent Urinary Diversion and Non-Continent Urinary Diversion. Through these methods, the flow of urine is diverted to a replacement bladder or route for the urine to exit the body.
Continent Urinary Diversion
There are two main forms of continent urinary diversion. Both usually involve the surgeon creating a pouch for the urine inside of the body as a replacement bladder. This replacement bladder is formed out of excess intestine. You’ll either have a stoma replacement where you will use a catheter to remove the urine from the body. The second involves the use of a neobladder. A neobladder is made of the intestine and formed into a pouch within the body. This pouch will then be connected to the urethra and urine will filtrate through the body normally.
Non-Continent Urinary Diversion
A non-continent urinary diversion is going to make use of an ostomy bag. An ostomy bag is a pouch outside of the body that connects through a catheter through the new passage for waste through the stoma. This pouch is continually used to drain urine from the body. These bags are made to fit comfortably under the clothes. All strenuous activity is still approved even with the allocation of the bag on the body. If you have any questions or concerns about your urinary reconstruction, then contact your health care provider.
If you feel you are in need of anything regarding prostate cancer, then contact Z Urology for a group that is dedicated to delivering world-class expertise in urology, along with an unwavering commitment to their patients. The three locations to choose from are located in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, and Pompano Beach.
You can go to the website directly and set up an appointment or you can call 954-714-8200. Either way, you contact, you will be setting up to see the leading urologist office in all of South Florida. With an extremely talented and professional staff of doctors and more, you are in truly good hands with the doctors and nurses at Z Urology. Z Urology is your leader in urological care. Go ahead and call now!
If you feel that you are in need of urological care or treatment and you are in the South Florida area, then you need to be familiar with the office of Z Urology. Z Urology is a local leader and provider of urological examinations, procedures, and treatments. The office has been providing the area with these services for nearly 20 years.
Dr. Z aka Dr. Zahalsky started his practice with a team of medical professionals that provided state-of-the-art urologic care for both men and women. Your urological health is important to not only treat in a rapid manner but to understand how to maintain its health. If you are seeking a team of medical professionals in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, or Pompano Beach, in South Florida that specializes in minimally invasive procedures, then contact Z Urology today.
Please Contact Z Urology If You Are Dealing With Any of the Following:
Urologic care includes all things that have to do with your genitourinary tract. This includes your kidneys, bladder, urethra, and your reproductive organs.
The illnesses and ailments that qualify in these areas are:
Prostate Cancer – Cancer that affects the prostate.
Bladder Cancer – Cancer that affects the bladder.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia – Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the enlargement of the prostate.
Infertility – Infertility is any condition that adversely affects the chances of initiating a pregnancy.
Erectile Dysfunction – Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection suitable for sexual intercourse.
Bladder/Kidney Stones - Kidney stones are solid pieces of material that form when substances normally found in the urine, such as mineral and acid salts, become concentrated and crystallize.
Urinary Dysfunction – Urinary dysfunction is a term that encompasses all errors within the urinary tract. This includes urinary incontinence on low levels such as leakage, to high levels such as a complete loss of all bladder control.
If you feel you are in need of a urologist in South Florida to aid in any of the above, then contact Z Urology for a group that is dedicated to delivering world-class expertise in urology, along with an unwavering commitment to their patients. The three locations to choose from are located in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, and Pompano Beach.
You can go to the website directly and set up an appointment or you can call 954-714-8200. Either way, you contact, you will be setting up to see the leading urologist office in all of South Florida. With an extremely talented and professional staff of doctors and more, you are in truly good hands with the doctors and nurses at Z Urology. Z Urology is your leader in urological care. Go ahead and call now!
Have you had stones? Do you know how painful stones can be? For many, it is just awful, and it becomes an emergency situation. Stone disease is one of the most painful urological disorders. More than a million kidney stone cases are diagnosed each year, with an estimated one out of ten people expected to suffer from a kidney stone at some time in their life.
This is where Z Urology in South Florida comes in to save the day. Let our team diagnose and treat the problem. There are three ways we tackle kidney / bladder stones. But first, what exactly are kidney stones?
Kidney stones are solid pieces that form when substances normally found in the urine, such as minerals and acid salts, become concentrated and crystallize. A stone ranges in size from a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball. It may remain in the kidneys or travel down the urinary tract into the ureter. Small stones typically pass on their own, causing little or no pain. However, larger stones get stuck along the tract and block the flow of urine, resulting in intense pain, bleeding, or both.
Anyone can develop kidney stones, but those that are MORE LIKELY include:
Men
Overweight individuals
Those with a family or personal history of kidney stones
Dehydrated individuals
People who maintain diets high in protein, sodium, or sugar
Individuals with certain bowel conditions, such as chronic diarrhea and Crohn’s disease
Gastric bypass surgery recipients
So how does Z Urology get rid of kidney stones? There are three ways of treatment. All involve some form of lithotripsy. If you are not sure what that is, let’s read further.
What is a Lithotripsy
Lithotripsy is a medical procedure involved in removing kidney / bladder stones through the use of different processes. Through the lithotripsy procedure, these stones are broken down through the use of laser or shock waves.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)
This is the most common form of removing a kidney or bladder stone. The procedure involves using shockwaves that come from outside of the body. Z Urology will target the area where the stone is and begin breaking it into smaller pieces. This is a non-invasive procedure. Once the stones have been broken down into a “dust,” they may travel through the urinary tract without much issue. Sometimes the stones may still be slightly too large and further treatment may be required.
Laser Lithotripsy
Laser Lithotripsy is a minimally invasive form of kidney/bladder stone removal. This procedure involves the use of a ureteroscope. This acts as a camera for your urologist. He uses this camera to navigate through the urinary tract into the ureter or kidney. Once inside, he will locate the stone. If necessary, a stent will then be placed within the ureter to protect it as the stones pass through. Once the stones have completely passed, your urologist will remove the stent. This usually takes a few days to a couple of weeks for the process.
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy is another form of lithotripsy. This procedure is required when the stones are just too large for other procedures, there were remaining stones after an extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, or if the kidney stones are damaging the area where they are present.
If you are in need of a urologist in South Florida that can help you deal with kidney / bladder stone pains or concerns, then contact Z Urology for a team that is dedicated to delivering world-class expertise in urology, along with an unwavering commitment to their patients. Our three locations to choose from are located in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs and Pompano Beach.
You can go to the website directly and set up an appointment or you can call 954-714-8200. Either way, you contact, you will be setting up to see the leading urologist office in all of South Florida. With an extremely talented and professional staff of doctors and more, you are in truly good hands with the doctors and nurses at Z Urology. Z Urology is your leader in urological care. Go ahead and call now!
Do you currently have kidney stones? Did you ever have them? Do you have someone close to you that suffers from them? Well, if you know, kidney stones are quite a “pain”. Literally and figuratively. The good news, is that there is a solution, and Z Urology can help!
What are Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones usually form when you do not drink enough water and as a result, urine becomes concentrated. This allows the minerals to stick together and form crystals. Those crystals we commonly refer to as stones. These stones are hard deposits of minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys.
Kidney stones affect one in eleven people in the United States. They are more common in men and those who are overweight. They are also higher in levels with those that have diabetes.
The kidney stones that stay in the kidneys typically will not cause pain. Passing the kidney stones, however, can be very painful. This is what everyone fears.
Oh, the Pain!
People usually get severe pain that starts on one side of their mid-back and radiates around to the front of the stomach and then towards the groin. For many, the pain is so severe that people throw up. In extreme cases, blood can be spotted in the urine.
If the kidney stones are small enough, they can be passed at home with pain medication and by drinking a lot of water to help “push” the stone out. If the stone is too large or gets stuck or infected, you may need surgery. Z Urology can help you deal with all of this.
Kidney Stone Prevention
To help prevent kidney stones, make sure you drink as close to ten cups of water per day. Do everything you can to decrease the amount of salt in your diet. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Get the recommended amount of calcium per day. Some of the best ways to get calcium are found in dairy, fish, leafy greens, and beans.
Please contact Z Urology if any of the following is going on for you:
The pain is so severe you can’t sit still or find a comfortable position.
You are throwing up.
You can not keep fluids down.
You are experiencing fevers and chills.
You have blood in your urine.
If you feel you are in need of a urologist to help you deal with kidney stone issues, then contact Z Urology for a group that is dedicated to delivering world-class expertise in urology, along with an unwavering commitment to their patients. The three locations to choose from are located in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, and Pompano Beach.
You can go to the website directly and set up an appointment or you can call 954-714-8200. Either way, you contact, you will be setting up to see the leading urologist office in all of South Florida. With an extremely talented and professional staff of doctors and more, you are in truly good hands with the doctors and nurses at Z Urology. Z Urology is your leader in urological care. Go ahead and call now!
are small, hard deposits that develop inside the kidneys. They’re also known as renal lithiasis or nephrolithiasis. Although they’re not usually life-threatening, they can be extremely painful and have serious long-term implications for people who experience them frequently. 
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