One of the common ailments of the urinary system is urolithiasis, in which a kidney stone forms. Symptoms in men may not appear at all for a long time. Most patients are not even aware of the presence of the disease. But if it makes itself felt, then the person experiences a number of painful sensations. Most often, it is in the representatives of the stronger sex that kidney stones are observed. Symptoms (in men, as a rule, they are more pronounced) and methods of treating the disease, we will consider in more detail in our review.
Characteristics of the disease
The process of formation of stones in the kidneys, urinary tract or bladder official medicine calls urolithiasis, or urolithiasis. The disease can occur in a person at any age. But most often diagnosed in patients 30-60 years old. Why do kidney stones form in men? Causes, symptoms and treatmentailments require detailed study.
Kidneys are paired bean-shaped organs located in the abdominal cavity. They perform vital functions: they are responsible for removing toxins and waste from the blood. But sometimes harmful substances are not completely removed. Such wastes begin to accumulate and form crystals. If these solids settle in the kidneys, then the patient is diagnosed with kidney stones.
Calculation does not appear immediately. Their education takes months, and sometimes years. A favorable environment for the appearance of stones is a high concentration of s alts and protein in the urine, which is observed when there is a malfunction in the functioning of the renal system.
Initially, calculi are small in size, and, as a rule, are of protein origin. It is they who become the framework on which the stones are formed. Small stones can come out on their own during urination. But if the stone is fixed in the kidney, then it begins to "overgrow" with new s alt deposits. In this case, it grows and can reach large sizes.
Calculations come in different types. Stones are often made up of calcium. But they may include amino acids (proteins) or uric acid. In most cases, stones with a mixed composition are observed.
Main types of stones
- calcium and oxalate;
- phosphate;
- cystine (protein);
- urate (from uric acid);
- stones containing magnesium;
- mixed.
Mixed kidney stones are the most common. Symptoms, treatment and causes of stone formation will be considered in more detail.
Main sources of illness
Until today, it is not known for certain what causes kidney stones in men. Symptoms, causes, treatment continue to be studied by physicians. This made it possible to identify several sources that lead to the appearance of calculi.
Doctors say that the main provoking factor is a genetic predisposition. It is noticed: if the patient's relatives suffered from kidney stones, then the patient has a high probability of developing the disease.
The congenital mechanism for the appearance of pathology is as follows. Even insignificant violations of metabolic processes lead to the deposition of insoluble s alts, from which calculi are subsequently formed. But exogenous and endogenous factors play an important role in their formation.
Internal causes are dictated by failures in metabolic processes, as a result of which high concentrations are observed in the urine:
- uric acid;
- oxalates;
- phosphates;
- calcium s alts.
In addition, an increased concentration of uric acid is observed in the blood.
External causes provoke such violations:
- features of microflora;
- poor water quality;
- malnutrition;
- insufficient fluid intake;
- unfavorable climate.
In addition, considering why kidney stones occur, the symptoms,treatment, factors provoking their formation, it is necessary to say about indirect causes. Stones are often diagnosed in women whose work involves a sedentary lifestyle. For men, hazardous production is becoming a dangerous factor.
A big role in the deposition of kidney stones is malnutrition. Doctors say that the basis of the disease is often a deficiency in the intake of vitamins A, B and the abuse of foods rich in:
- vitamin C;
- protein;
- oxalic acid;
- calcium;
- s alt.
The development of pathology can provoke concomitant diseases:
- diseases of the genitourinary system;
- disorders of the gastrointestinal tract;
- infectious diseases;
- pathology of the biliary tract;
- liver disease;
- immune diseases;
- severe injuries that limit mobility.
Prostatitis is a fairly common cause of stones in men.
Symptoms of the disease
Many people don't even know they have a kidney stone. Symptoms in men, for example, may be absent for a long time. Sometimes the pathology is discovered by chance, during the examination of the body.
In such patients, the first clinical manifestations occur only when the calculus begins to move through the ureter. In this case, the symptoms of kidney stones depend on the size of the formation. If the calculus is small, then it is capable ofexit the body on its own during urination. A large stone will cause many unpleasant symptoms and can only be removed surgically.
In some patients, the clinic of the disease is pronounced. Consider how kidney stones make themselves felt.
Symptoms that indicate illness:
- Pain. They are strong but unstable. Pain occurs in the lower back, gives to the stomach, groin area. In men, it can radiate to the genitals.
- Frequent urge to urinate.
- Nausea that can end in vomiting.
- Intermittent urination. Sometimes the patient can "go to the toilet" in only one, certain position.
- Cloudy urine. It may contain blood.
- Severe discomfort and burning during urination.
Renal colic
This is one of the main clinical signs of kidney stones. Large stones cause discomfort in the lumbar region.
The following factors can provoke renal colic:
- long running or walking;
- shaking in public transport, car;
- excessive physical stress.
However, unpleasant symptoms can be caused by a number of other ailments: pancreatitis, strangulated hernia, appendicitis. That is why it is important to be diagnosed in a medical institution.
Symptoms of kidney stones in men:
- Pain. It is localized in the lumbar region and canbe of a harsh nature. If the renal pelvis clogs with a large coral stone, then the pain becomes aching, dull.
- Abdominal distention is quite a characteristic sign indicating the presence of calculi in the kidney.
- Problem urination. In most cases, the patient has a need to "go to the toilet" frequently. If there is urinary retention, then such a clinic indicates blockage of the ureter with a stone.
- Increase in pressure.
- Presence of blood in the urine. The symptom indicates damage to the walls of the ureter by a stone. However, it may be a sign of other serious ailments, such as a tumor of the kidney, bladder, glomerulonephritis.
- Problems with bowel movements.
- Severe dizziness caused by a sudden change in body position.
- Fever. Symptoms may indicate pyelonephritis or other inflammatory processes in the kidneys.
Pain syndromes develop with varying frequency. Sometimes they are observed several times during the month. Some people suffer from renal colic once every 2-3 years. Often, unpleasant symptoms last 1-2 hours. But sometimes she is able to torment the patient for a day or more, with short breaks.
Possible Complications
If ignored for a long time with a pathology such as a kidney stone, the symptoms in men and women can develop serious consequences.
Untreated disease can lead to:
- pyelonephritis;
- hydronephrosis;
- urosepsis;
- kidney failure.
Such consequences sometimes develop asymptomatically. Unfortunately, some of them pose a threat to the life of the patient. So, pyelonephritis can provoke purulent inflammation. Hydronephrosis leads to swelling of the kidney, which is rapidly complicated by insufficiency.
Disease diagnosis
Thus, it is imperative to see a doctor if you suspect that kidney stones have formed. Symptoms in men are a strong signal that treatment is needed.
To make a diagnosis, the urologist prescribes a special examination:
- Common urinalysis. It detects the number of red blood cells and provides information about urinary tract infections.
- Daily urine. Determines the state of metabolic processes that could provoke the process of stone formation.
- Biochemistry of blood. Determines the levels of urea, creatine, calcium, uric acid in plasma serum.
- Complete blood count. Characterizes inflammatory processes.
- Ultrasound of the kidneys. The study provides information about obstruction (hydronephrosis), and determines the localization of stones in the bladder and kidneys.
- Intravenous urography, pyelography. A contrast agent is used for examination. The analysis provides information about the exact location of the stones, their shape and size. Detects anatomical abnormalities leading to stone formation.
- Radioisotope nephroscintigraphy. Provides the most accurate representation of renal anatomy.
Treatment methods
If diagnosed with urolithiasis in men, the symptoms and treatment should be discussed with the doctor. No independent attempts to combat pathology in this situation should be made. This is fraught with serious consequences and aggravation of an existing disease.
There are various methods of dealing with the disease:
- drug therapy;
- open operations;
- nephrolithotripsy through the skin;
- remote lithotripsy;
- endoscopic surgery.
In most cases, minimally invasive methods are used. Open surgery is rarely resorted to, and only in cases where other methods of treatment are ineffective.
Drug therapy
If urolithiasis of the kidneys is diagnosed in men, its treatment must be carried out comprehensively.
The choice of methods to combat pathology is determined only by the doctor and depends on many factors. This is:
- place of stone localization;
- its volume, density, structure;
- structure of the ureter;
- absence or presence of comorbidities.
A variety of medicines are used to get rid of kidney stones:
- antibiotics;
- antispasmodics;
- painkillers;
- drugs that promote the discharge and dissolution of calculi;
- Dietary supplements.
It should be reminded once again thatself-medication is very dangerous! Stone-clearing drugs are prescribed only if the size of the stones does not exceed 5 mm, since large formations can cause blockage of the ureter and provoke renal colic.
Excellent drugs that dissolve calculi are the drugs Fitolizin, Cyston. Such medicines relax the muscle tissues of the kidneys and ureters, destroy deposits, and stimulate the release of the calculus in a natural way. The treatment process can take a long time, but always ends with success.
It should be remembered that universal medicines that allow you to dissolve stones simply do not exist. Each medicine has an effect on a certain type of calculus - alkaline or acidic. That is why it is very important to get diagnosed and take the drugs prescribed by the doctor.
In addition, a prerequisite for successful treatment is diet. The doctor can recommend nutrition only after the examination, carefully analyzing what causes kidney stones symptoms in men. Diet treatment also depends on the type of calculus.
Surgery
The following invasive methods are used:
- External lithotripsy. This method is abbreviated as DLT. With the help of shock waves, the stone is destroyed. This intervention is well tolerated by patients. A positive result is observed in 90% of all cases. But, unfortunately, DLT cannot destroy some stones.
- Percutaneous nephrolithotripsy. Herused to get rid of dense or large stones that the above method cannot cope with. The nephroscope is inserted into the kidney through the skin. He breaks the stone with special ballistic or ultrasonic devices.
- Open surgical method. It is used to remove large stones in patients with various complications.
Disease prevention
Now you know how dangerous a kidney stone is. Symptoms in men, as well as in women, require mandatory treatment. This is the most important method of prevention. For any discomfort, be sure to consult a doctor and undergo an examination. After all, even successful therapy does not give confidence that in the future the calculus will not form again.
Effective methods of prevention are the following activities:
- Keep a proper diet, limiting the intake of s alty, sour, fatty, spicy foods.
- Use the mineral water recommended by your doctor.
- Give up alcohol.
- Avoid stress.
- Do not overeat or gain weight suddenly.
- Protect the body from hypothermia, especially in the lumbar region.
- Get moving.
And remember that you should have an annual check-up with a urologist! Such recommendations will minimize the risk of relapse.
