Take Chare of Your Health - Oh, What a Pain!
Your kidneys are like the unsung heroes of your body,
silently working day and night to keep you healthy.
Take a moment to appreciate their hard work and show them some love...
- Anonymous
Gallstones and kidney stones can both be serious conditions, but there are significant differences between the two. The purpose of the kidney is to filter blood, remove waste products, and produce urine. The job of the gallbladder is to store bile produced by the liver and to aid in the digestion and absorption of fats. Unfortunately, both the kidney and the gallbladder can produce stones. A kidney stone is a mass of crystals composed of minerals -- calcium, oxalate and uric acid. Stones can be caused by dehydration or a diet rich in animal protein, sodium and/or sugar. Gallstones are hard, pebble-like and made of cholesterol or pigment (bilirubin) deposits. Gallstones are often caused by too much cholesterol or bilirubin in the bile, blood disorders, and rapid weight loss. Whereas kidney stones cause back pain and discomfort around the kidney area, gallstone pain emanates in the upper right side of the abdomen.
More about Gallstones…
Approximately 10% of U.S. adults have gallstones; 75% are women. Only 20% of those diagnosed will need treatment for their gallstones. Risk factors include: being over the age of 60, obesity, lack of exercise/sedentary lifestyle, high fat/high cholesterol diets, and diabetes. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ on the right side of the abdomen, underneath the liver. The liver makes bile; the gallbladder holds and stores bile for later use; and bile ducts carry the bile to organs.
While many people have gallstones and no symptoms, gallstones can become dangerous if they grow, travel through the biliary tract, and get stuck in a bile duct or the “neck” of the gallbladder. When a gallstone blocks the flow of bile, the bile backs up and can cause inflammation and infection. This blockage causes sudden pain (known as a gallstone attack) and often nausea, but it also creates the potential for serious complications if the blockage is severe or lasts a long time. Along with abdominal pain, patients with gallstones report sweating, fever, chills, a fast heart rate, yellowing of the skin and eyes, and dark urine. Some people feel pain in their right arm or shoulder, between their shoulder blades, or in the middle of their chest. This can be confusing because the feeling can resemble other conditions, such as heart attack or appendicitis.
If you are experiencing gallstone symptoms, it is important to see your doctor for blood and imaging tests. Blood tests help detect inflammation, infection, pancreatitis, and provide insights into which organs are affected. Imaging tests, such as an abdominal ultrasound or CT scan, can find most gallstones in and around the gallbladder. If a gallstone is stuck somewhere else in the biliary tract, other kinds of test may be required.
Most patients who need treatment for their gallstone(s) opt to have surgery to remove the gallbladder and ensure the gallstones cannot recur in the future. The procedure is usually able to be performed laparoscopically and with the removal of the gallbladder, bile will flow directly from the liver to the small intestine. For those who do not want to remove the gallbladder, there may be some other treatment options including medications and procedures such as using a catheter to drain the gallbladder and remove the stones.
Medical experts will recommend the following dietary suggestions to help prevent gallstones:
A diet high in fiber such as fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains including brown rice, oats, and whole wheat bread
Reduce intake of refined carbohydrates and sugar
Prefer healthy fats like those found in fish oil and olive oil to unhealthy fats, like those often found in desserts and fried foods
Drink lots of fluids
Focus on maintaining a healthy weight and avoid rapid weight loss.
More about Kidney Stones…
Unfortunately, people who have gallstones have a greater chance of having kidney stones and visa versa. Kidney stones are clusters of crystals formed by minerals, acids and salts in the urinary tract. Although most kidney stones will be eliminated with urine, they can be extremely painful. (The stones can be as small as a grain of sand or although it is rare, the size of a golf ball!) Calcium-oxalate stones are the most common type of kidney stones.
Factors that can increase the risk of developing kidney stones include:
History of kidney stones in the family
Dehydration
Diets -- such as a high-sodium diet
Obesity
Digestive diseases and procedures such as gastric bypass surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, or chronic diarrhea
Certain supplements and medications, for instance: vitamin C, laxatives, or calcium-based antacids
About 80% of kidney stones will pass on their own. A stone smaller than 4 millimeters will commonly pass within a week or two. However, large kidney stones can get trapped in the ureter (the tube that drains urine from the kidney to the bladder), causing the urine to back up and hinder the kidney’s ability to filter waste. The health risks of large kidney stones include: swelling of the kidney caused by urine backup; kidney infections; acute kidney injury causing kidney failure; frequent urinary track infections; and chronic kidney disease.
Similar to gallstones, about 1 in 10 people will have a kidney stone during their lifetime, but unlike gallstones, kidney stones are more common in men. Symptoms include: pain in the lower back, belly or side (this can be a dull or a very sharp, take your breath away pain); nausea; vomiting; pain when urinating; blood in the urine; feeling the need to urinate but cannot; and fever and/or chills.
Physicians will use imaging, blood and urine tests to diagnose kidney stones. Blood tests can help diagnose infections and the buildup of minerals. Urine tests can identify blood, crystals which form into stones, and infection in the urine. CT scans, ultrasound, and X-rays help the medical team see the size, shape, location, and number of kidney stones.
Kidney stone treatment procedures include:
Shockwaves to break apart the stones into small fragments that can be eliminated through the urine
A scope through the urethra and bladder and into the ureter can allow for the break up and removal of stone(s)
A tube placed directly into the kidney with an ultrasound probe can break up and remove the stones
Tips to consider and discuss with your physician to help prevent kidney stones:
Drink plenty of water throughout the day and remember if you are in a hot, dry climate or exercising, you need to drink even more water. (Your urine should be almost clear.)
Restrict foods rich in oxalates, for example: rhubarb, beets, okra, spinach, Swiss chard, sweet potatoes, nuts, tea, chocolate, black pepper and soy products
Maintain a diet low in salt and animal protein
Eat calcium-rich foods, but ask your doctor about taking calcium supplements
Medications to help control the amount of minerals and salts in your urine
Concerned about some symptoms you are experiencing? Do not hesitate to call your primary care physician to see if they recommend an appointment. Remember, it's up to you to be proactive and Take Charge of Your Health.