Kidney Stones In Men - What Are The Kidney Stone Symptoms All Men Need To Keep In Mind?

By JB Johnson

For reasons that remain unclear to medical researchers, kidney problems in men are much more common than they are in either women or children.

A male American, for example, has about a one in seven chance of developing a kidney stone in his lifetime, compared to one in twelve for a female American.

And the numbers of people, including men, who get painful kidney disease are rising in this century, particularly in the United States, but also in all other developed countries.

Kidney stones are not 'just' a one-time, usually brief, though painful event. They are a sign of kidneys that are in trouble.

Men at highest risk of developing kidney stones are more likely to be in at least one (possibly several) of these groups:

The live in warmer parts of the world, for example the Southern United States

They're ages 20 to 49 (it is a myth that kidney stones are a problem of old age)

Have a family history of kidney disease or an inherited condition that is linked to kidney stones and kidney disease

Eat high levels of red meat, table salt or salty foods, sugar added to food or sweet foods, or caffeinated foods (such as coffee, chocolate, energy drinks)

Don't drink enough water daily or have the right amount of calcium in their diet (either too much or too little calcium in your diet increases your risk)

Engage in strenuous exercise (and don't get enough hydration before and after)

Have a prolonged period of bed rest

Are either Caucasian or Asian-heritage (people of African heritage can get kidney stones, but apparently do so less often)

Take certain medications, or use certain over-the-counter remedies, or take too-high daily levels of certain vitamins

Have gout, high blood pressure (hypertension), hyperparathyroidism, diabetes type 2 or inflammatory bowel disease

Have had an intestinal bypass or ostomy surgery

For men, the usual first sign of a kidney stone is discomfort or pain that is described as being similar to intense cramps, which may be in your lower back but more likely is in your side, lower abdomen, testicles or penis.

You may feel the urgent need to urinate, but pain when you do, or difficulty urinating.

And there may be blood in your urine.

The pain could bring on nausea and vomiting.

No matter what you do - sit, stand, or lie down - the pain is not relieved, though typically it will become more intense, then ease off, and repeat this pattern of ebb and flow over many hours.

If you also have fever and chills, it is likely there is a urinary tract infection along with the kidney stone.

Very small kidney stones usually pass out of your body within 48 hours or less. But if you are in intense pain, if there is blood in your urine, or you are having chills or fever, you may want to see your doctor or go to a medical clinic or emergency.

The doctor will do an examination and ask questions (to eliminate other possible causes of your pain) and, if it appears that you do have a kidney stone, may order a CT scan (occasionally, an x-ray is done for the same purpose, but a CT scan has become the preferred test) to show the size of the stone and where it is located.

Occasionally, an ultrasound test is used instead for diagnosis, when there is a concern about radiation exposure.

Having a kidney stone is a warning sign that your kidneys are weakening, or not functioning as they should. Eating less protein (specifically, red meat), drinking enough water, and getting moderate daily exercise are the main changes men need to make to help their kidneys function as they should.

It turns out that the healthy kidney diet and lifestyle is also a healthy choice if you are living with other conditions, such as diabetes type 2, or if you need to lose weight (and, specifically, dangerous belly fat).

Kidney stones in men are usually preventable, for almost all men, without drugs.

You should also be aware that once you have had a kidney stone, chances are you will have another in the future unless you make some changes, including adopting a healthy kidney diet [http://kidneystonedietguide.com].

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

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