Before jumping on to find out how long does it take to pass kidney stones, let’s dive in and find out what are kidney stones? Kidney stones are termed as solid masses which are built up of minerals and chemicals within the urine that ultimately crystalizes to form stones. In normal cases, chemicals like uric acid and calcium are flushed out of urine when in excess but in some situations, these excess minerals and chemicals build up stones. Certain lifestyle habits can result in the formation of kidney stones like excess consumption of proteins, vitamin D, less intake of fluids, excess weight, suffering from a metabolic disorder and others. Individuals who have a family history of kidney stones are more likely to suffer from kidney stones. The kidney stones result in severe back pain, blood in urine, constant urge to urinate, foul or cloudy urine. Kidney stones are formed in kidneys and then they pass to ureter which is a tube that connects the kidneys and bladder. Small-sized kidney stones pass out in urine naturally but huge sized stones get stuck within the ureter and need the help of healthcare professionals to remove it.
Several factors determine how long does it take for the kidney stones to pass out. The size of the kidney stones is one major factor. Small stones less than 4mm can pass out in urine in 80% of the cases and can take around 31 days to excrete in urine. Stones ranging between 4-6mm need some sort of therapeutic option in some cases but in 60% cases, they naturally excrete in urine during 40-45 days. Stones that are larger than 6mm need medical treatment in most situations. There are only 20% cases where the stones can pass out naturally. It can take around 12-14 months to pass out naturally in urine.
Consider watching this video to know how to manage and treat kidney stones.
Another factor that affects the excretion of kidney stones includes location. Stones that are located at the ureter end which is close to the bladder can pass out easily. 79% of such kidney stones pass out naturally.
There are certain home remedies which encourage the removal of kidney stones from the body. You should consume lots of water along with citrus juices like grapefruit, oranges, berries, and others. The more fluids you consume, the more urine you pass making it easy for the kidney stones to move out of the body. Eat a healthy diet that is low in calcium, potassium, proteins, and sodium. A healthy lifestyle helps in the natural removal of kidney stones from the body preventing it to grow further. Passing out the kidney stones from the body is a painful procedure so it is advised to take painkillers and consult your healthcare professional. There are certain medications and procedures which are advised for excretion of kidney stones from the body like alpha-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and lithotripsy. Lithotripsy is a non-surgical process where high-energy shock waves are used for breaking the stone into pieces. Dehydration can also result in the formation of kidney stones so aim to consume 8-10 glasses of water each day. In certain conditions, where the stone is quite large to pass in urine, immediate surgical procedure is advised as the kidney stones can result in UTI or renal damage. Kidney stones are quite painful so if you think you have one, it is better to immediately visit the doctor and evaluate for the treatment plan.
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Team Doctor ASKY!