Mahaska Health Partnership Educates on Kidney Stones
Mahaska Health Partnership
MAHASKA COUNTY – Kidney stones effect one in ten people during some point in their lives and can be very painful. Adult Nurse Practitioner Megan Childers encourages you to learn the symptoms of this common diagnosis.
According to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), the number of people in the United States diagnosed with kidney stones has been increasing in the last 30 years. The peak age for developing kidney stones is between 20 and 50 years of age and men are much more likely to develop stones than women.
“A kidney stone is a hard object that forms from the chemicals in your urine,” explained MHP Adult Nurse Practitioner Megan Childers. “Stones form when there is not enough liquid to dissolve the chemicals in urine.”
Usually, the chemicals that create stones are eliminated by the kidney, but sometimes there are too many factors working against your body to prevent them from forming states the NKF. Childers said possible factors that contribute to the formation of kidney stones include drinking too little water, obesity, eating food with too much sugar or salt as well asother causes.
Some kidney stones are very small and others can be as large as a golf ball. The larger the stone or stones, the more prevalent the symptoms. Common symptoms include severe lower back pain, persistent stomach ache, blood in the urine, nausea or vomiting, fever and chills and cloudy, pungent urine.
“If you experience any of the symptoms associated with kidney stones, the best thing you can do is see your primary healthcare provider,” urged Childers. “Depending on the size of the stone, you may be instructed to drink extra fluid to pass the stone or have it surgically removed.”
The NFK says that stones are usually diagnosed through medical history review, a physical examination and an imaging test such as CT scan or X-ray. Depending on the results of the imaging test, your doctor can determine the best plan of action to help you return to your normal life and outline measures to prevent future occurrences.
Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, call 641-672-3240 or visit www.mahaskahealth.org.
