Diseases, Ailments, and Disorders in urinary system

KIDNEY STONES

DESCRIPTION, CAUSES, EFFECTS/SYMPTOMS,

PREVENTION/CURE/TREATMENT
 WHAT ARE KIDNEY STONES?

Kidney stones (renal lithiasis, nephrolithiasis) are hard deposits made of minerals and salts
that form inside your kidneys.
Kidney stones have many causes and can affect any part of your urinary tract — from your
kidneys to your bladder. Often, stones form when the urine becomes concentrated, allowing
minerals to crystallize and stick together.

Passing kidney stones can be quite painful, but the stones usually cause no permanent
damage if they're recognized in a timely fashion. Depending on your situation, you may need
nothing more than to take pain medication and drink lots of water to pass a kidney stone. In
other instances — for example, if stones become lodged in the urinary tract, are associated
with a urinary infection or cause complications — surgery may be needed.
 CAUSES
Kidney stones often have no definite, single cause, although several factors may increase
your risk.
Kidney stones form when your urine contains more crystal-forming substances — such as
calcium, oxalate and uric acid — than the fluid in your urine can dilute. At the same time,
your urine may lack substances that prevent crystals from sticking together, creating an
ideal environment for kidney stones to form.
 Types of Kidney Stones

Calcium stones. Most kidney stones are calcium stones, usually in the form of calcium oxalate.
Oxalate is a naturally occurring substance found in food and is also made daily by your liver. Some
fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and chocolate, have high oxalate content.
Dietary factors, high doses of vitamin D, intestinal bypass surgery and several metabolic disorders
can increase the concentration of calcium or oxalate in urine.
Calcium stones may also occur in the form of calcium phosphate. This type of stone is more common
in metabolic conditions, such as renal tubular acidosis. It may also be associated with certain
migraine headaches or with taking certain seizure medications, such as topiramate (Topamax).
 Types of Kidney Stones

Struvite stones. Struvite stones form in response to an infection, such as a urinary tract infection.
These stones can grow quickly and become quite large, sometimes with few symptoms or little
warning.
Uric acid stones. Uric acid stones can form in people who don't drink enough fluids or who lose too
much fluid, those who eat a high-protein diet, and those who have gout. Certain genetic factors also
may increase your risk of uric acid stones.
Cystine stones. These stones form in people with a hereditary disorder that causes the kidneys to
excrete too much of certain amino acids (cystinuria).
 symptoms
A kidney stone may not cause symptoms until it moves around within your kidney or passes
into your ureter — the tube connecting the kidney and bladder. At that point, you may
experience these signs and symptoms:

- Severe pain in the side and back, below the ribs - Nausea and vomiting
- Pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin - Persistent need to urinate
- Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity - Urinating more often than usual
- Pain on urination - Fever and chills if an infection
- Pink, red or brown urine is present
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine - Urinating small amounts
 prevention
- Drink lots of water
- Eat fewer oxalate-rich foods
- Control the amount minerals and salt you digest.
 U.T.I.

DESCRIPTION, CAUSES, EFFECTS/SYMPTOMS,

PREVENTION/CURE/TREATMENT
 WHAT IS U.T.I?

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of your urinary system — your
kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract — the
bladder and the urethra.
 CAUSES
Bacteria that live in the vagina, genital, and anal areas may enter the urethra, travel to the
bladder, and cause an infection. This can happen during sexual activity when bacteria from
your partner’s genitals, anus, fingers, or sex toys gets pushed into your urethra. UTIs can
also be caused by chlamydia, gonorrhea, or other organisms.

You’re more likely to get a UTI if you:

* have had one before * have diabetes
* are obese * use spermicides or a diaphragm
* have kidney stones or other obstructions in your urinary tract
 symptoms
Urinary tract infections don't always cause signs and symptoms, but when they do they may
include:
* A strong, persistent urge to urinate
* A burning sensation when urinating
* Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
* Urine that appears cloudy
* Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-colored — a sign of blood in the urine
* Strong-smelling urine
* Pelvic pain, in women — especially in the center of the pelvis and around the area of the
pubic bone
 prevention
• Drink plenty of liquids, especially water. Drinking water helps dilute your urine and
ensures that you'll urinate more frequently — allowing bacteria to be flushed from your
urinary tract before an infection can begin.
• Avoid potentially irritating feminine products. Using deodorant sprays or other feminine
products, such as douches and powders, in the genital area can irritate the urethra.
• Wipe from front to back. Doing so after urinating and after a bowel movement helps
prevent bacteria in the anal region from spreading to the vagina and urethra.
 BLADDER CONTROL

DESCRIPTION, CAUSES, EFFECTS/SYMPTOMS,

PREVENTION/CURE/TREATMENT
 WHAT IS BLADDER CONTROL?

Bladder control problems are conditions that affect the way a person holds or releases
urine. Accidental loss or leaking of urine, called urinary incontinence (UI), is one of the
most common bladder control problems. UI is not a disease, but a condition that may be
related to another health problem or a life event, such as pregnancy in women or prostate
problems in men.

Bladder control problems can be a small annoyance or can greatly affect a person’s quality
of life. A person may be too embarrassed or afraid to participate in activities or may be
unable to complete his or her normal routine. For example, a person may lose urine while
running or coughing. Or, it may be hard to get to a toilet in time.
 CAUSES
Certain drinks, foods and medications may act as diuretics — stimulating your bladder and
increasing your volume of urine. They include:

Alcohol
Caffeine
Carbonated drinks and sparkling water
Artificial sweeteners
Chocolate
Chili peppers
Foods that are high in spice, sugar or acid, especially citrus fruits
Heart and blood pressure medications, sedatives, and muscle relaxants
Large doses of vitamin C
 CAUSES
Being female: Women experience stress incontinence twice as often as men. Men, on the
other hand, are at greater risk for urge and overflow incontinence.

Advancing age: As we get older, our bladder and urinary sphincter muscles often weaken,
which may result in frequent and unexpected urges to urinate.

Even though incontinence is more common in older people, it is not considered a normal
part of aging.

Excess body fat: Extra body fat increases the pressure on the bladder and can lead to urine
leakage during exercise or when coughing or sneezing.
 CAUSES
Other chronic diseases: Vascular disease, kidney disease, diabetes, prostate cancer,
Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and other conditions may
increase the risk of urinary incontinence.

Smoking: A chronic smoker's cough can trigger or aggravate stress incontinence by putting
pressure on the urinary sphincter.

High-impact sports: While playing sports doesn't cause incontinence, running, jumping, and
other activities that create sudden pressure on the bladder can lead to occasional episodes
of incontinence during sports activities.
 symptoms
Stress incontinence : Urine leaks when you exert pressure on your bladder by coughing,
sneezing, laughing, exercising or lifting something heavy.
Urge incontinence : You have a sudden, intense urge to urinate followed by an involuntary
loss of urine. You may need to urinate often, including throughout the night. Urge
incontinence may be caused by a minor condition, such as infection, or a more-severe
condition such as a neurologic disorder or diabetes.
Overflow incontinence : You experience frequent or constant dribbling of urine due to a
bladder that doesn't empty completely.
Functional incontinence : A physical or mental impairment keeps you from making it to the
toilet in time. For example, if you have severe arthritis, you may not be able to unbutton your
pants quickly enough.
Mixed incontinence: You experience more than one type of urinary incontinence.
 prevention
• maintain a healthy weight – excess body fat strains the muscles of the pelvic floor. Lose
weight slowly and sensibly with improved eating habits and regular exercise. See your
doctor for more information
• seek medical advice – beware of self-diagnosis. Constipation is sometimes a symptom of
an underlying health problem. Always see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment
advice
• don’t smoke – if you smoke, quit. A chronic cough because of smoking weakens the
pelvic floor and contributes to the onset of incontinence
• treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) promptly – UTIs irritate the bladder lining. Seek
immediate treatment if you have symptoms.