Take Steps To Bypass Kidney Stones
Even though kidney stones can be common and recur once youve had them, there are simple ways to help prevent them. Here are some strategies that can help:
1. Drink enough water. A 2015 meta-analysis from the National Kidney Foundation found that people who produced 2 to 2.5 liters of urine daily were 50% less likely to develop kidney stones than those who produced less. It takes about 8 to 10 8-ounce glasses of water daily to produce that amount.
2. Skip high-oxalate foods. Such foods, which include spinach, beets, and almonds, obviously raise oxalate levels in the body. However, moderate amounts of low-oxalate foods, such as chocolate and berries, are okay.
3. Enjoy some lemons. Citrate, a salt in citric acid, binds to calcium and helps block stone formation. “Studies have shown that drinking ½ cup of lemon juice concentrate diluted in water each day, or the juice of two lemons, can increase urine citrate and likely reduce kidney stone risk,” says Dr. Eisner.
4. Watch the sodium. A high-sodium diet can trigger kidney stones because it increases the amount of calcium in your urine. Federal guidelines suggest limiting total daily sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams . If sodium has contributed to kidney stones in the past, try to reduce your daily sodium to 1,500 mg.
What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor
You may want to ask your healthcare provider:
- What type of prostatitis do I have?
- What is the best treatment for this type of prostatitis?
- What are the treatment risks and side effects?
- How can I avoid getting prostatitis again?
- What type of follow-up care do I need after treatment?
- Should I look out for signs of complications?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Prostatitis is a common problem that affects many men. Unfortunately, theres a lot of confusion about the disease. People use the word prostatitis to describe four different conditions. There isnt a one-size-fits-all treatment for prostatitis, which is why an accurate diagnosis is so important.
Prostate Stones What Are They
All of us are familiar with kidney stones, either knowing someone whos had them or maybe have experienced them ourselves. But have you ever heard of prostate stones? Also known as prostatic calculi, these small brownish-gray stones, about the size of a poppy seed, can form in and around the prostate gland. A man may have only one calculus, or he could have hundreds of calculi.
About 80% of prostate stones are made of calcium phosphate and can resemble nodules. What seems like a nodule is actually a tiny formation of calcified minerals with the prostate stone being harmless. It is believed these stones are formed either by secretions from the prostate thickening or when pus and another debris fuse together during an infection. The incidence of men with prostate stones is relatively unknown but has been reported to vary widely anywhere from 7% to 70% of men with prostate stones.
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Treatment Of Bacterial Prostatitis
The approach to treating bacterial infection of the prostate largely centers on appropriately selected antibiotic therapy. The best approach to treating nonbacterial prostatitis is less clear.
Overview of antibiotic therapy. Treatment of bacterial prostatitis is hampered by the lack of an active antibiotic transport mechanism and the relatively poor penetration of most antibiotics into infected prostate tissue and fluids. Most antibiotics are either weak acids or bases that ionize in biological fluids, which inhibits their crossing prostatic epithelium . Only free, non-protein-bound antibiotic molecules enter tissues. Ordinarily, substances with molecular weights of < 1000 pass through openings between capillary endothelial cells, but prostate capillaries are nonporous. Passage of a drug through prostatic capillary endothelium and prostatic epithelium is enhanced by a high concentration gradient, high lipid solubility, low degree of ionization, high dissociation constant , low protein binding, and small molecular size . A pH gradient allows electrically neutral molecules to pass through membranes, become ionized, and be trapped. Although ion trapping may increase prostatic drug concentration, the charged fraction has an unclear antimicrobial role. Fluoroquinolones are zwitterions that have a different pKa in an acidic versus an alkaline milieu, allowing concentrations in the prostate to be 10%50% of concentrations in serum .
How Is Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome Managed Or Treated
Prostatitis treatments vary depending on the cause and type. Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis doesnt require treatment.
For chronic pelvic pain syndrome , your healthcare provider may use a system called UPOINT to classify symptoms into six categories. Your provider uses multiple treatments at the same time to treat only the symptoms youre experiencing.
Approximately 80% of men with CPPS improve with the UPOINT system. The system focuses on these symptoms and treatments:
- Urinary: Medications, such as tamsulosin and alfuzosin , relax muscles around the prostate and bladder to improve urine flow.
- Psychosocial: Stress management can help. Some men benefit from counseling or medications for anxiety, depression and catastrophizing .
- Organ: Quercetin and bee pollen supplements may relieve a swollen, inflamed prostate gland.
- Infection:Antibiotics kill infection-causing bacteria.
- Neurologic: Prescription pain medicines, such as amitriptyline and gabapentin , relieve neurogenic pain. This pain can include fibromyalgia or pain that extends into the legs, arms or back.
- Tenderness: Pelvic floor physical therapy may include myofascial release . This therapy can reduce or eliminate muscle spasms.
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How Is Prostatitis Diagnosed
A doctor can often tell if you have prostatitis by asking about your symptoms and past health. He or she will also do a physical exam, including a digital rectal exam. In this test, the doctor puts a gloved, lubricated finger in your rectum to feel your prostate. You may also need blood and urine tests to find out which type of prostatitis you have or to look for another cause of your problems.
What Is An Enlarged Prostate Gland
As men age, the inner part of the prostate can enlarge. This results in blockage to the flow of urine as it squeezes the urethra restricting its passage. The name given to an enlarged prostate gland is Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy or BPH.
Nobody is sure why the prostate enlarges but it begins with the male ageing process and usually starts in men in their early 50s.
What symptoms can it cause?
An enlarged prostate gland causes:
- Poor flow
- Bothersome symptoms not responding to medications designed to relax the prostate
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Horse Gram Radish Juice
The scientific term for horse gram is Macrotyloma uniflorum. It is a legume/seed and is an excellent source of iron. To get the full effects, you want to boil 6 g of horse gram and 25 ml of extracted radish juice in 125 ml water. After straining it, drink it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. This will help break down the stones.
Things That Can Help You Take A Pass On Kidney Stones
- By Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men’s Health Watch
If youve ever passed a kidney stone, you probably would not wish it on your worst enemy, and youll do anything to avoid it again. “Kidney stones are more common in men than in women, and in about half of people who have had one, kidney stones strike again within 10 to 15 years without preventive measures,” says Dr. Brian Eisner, co-director of the Kidney Stone Program at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.
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What Will My Out Of Hospital Recovery Be Like
You can expect to have blood in the urine and or pass small clots for the first couple of weeks after your HoLEP. This is an expected outcome and will settle in time.
It may take several months for you to notice improvement in your symptoms and urine flow. You should judge the success of your operation at approximately 3 months.
We advise you to avoid strenuous activities following surgery for the first 4 weeks and gradually build up. Avoid constipation as straining on the toilet may result in prostate bleeding. Laxatives may be required during this period to keep your bowel motions soft. You can usually resume work after 4 weeks following surgery providing you do not perform any strenuous tasks. At 6 weeks you should be able to resume full activities including sexual activity.
It is also important to notify your doctor or attend the Emergency Department if:
- The bleeding is getting heavier, not lighter
- You develop a fever
- You have problems passing urine or worsening pain
- to download Holmium Laser Enucleation Prostatectomy info sheet
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Enlarged Prostate This Treatment Can Help You Avoid Sexual Side Effects
Benign prostatic hyperplasia , or enlarged prostate, is a common condition in men older than age 50. BPH occurs when the prostate gland becomes enlarged and begins to press on the urethra the tube that carries urine out of the body.
When the prostate continues to grow, it can lead to urinary symptoms that include:
- Leaking or dribbling of urine
- Frequent nighttime awakenings to urinate
- Urinary retention or urgency
- A weak urine stream
BPH is not prostate cancer and it doesnt lead to cancer. However, the two conditions may have similar symptoms in the early stages
So its important that men who experience these symptoms be evaluated by a mens health specialist to rule out cancer and determine the best treatment options to relieve their symptoms.
Without treatment, BPH can lead to serious complications in some men, including incontinence, kidney or bladder damage, urinary tract infections and bladder stones. In some extreme cases, BPH can cause a total inability to urinate and require emergency catheterization.
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What Causes Bladder Stones
It is easier for bladder stones to form in the bladder under certain conditions. Men with prostrate enlargement can have difficulty emptying their bladders completely. Concentrated urine in the bladder, resulting from this problem, is a breeding ground for bladder stones. If you have nerve problems that affects your bladder then you may be at risk for bladder stones. Nerve disorders like stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal cord injuries can make it difficult to completely empty the bladder, and increase the likelihood of stone formation in the bladder.
Do You Need Treatment If You Have Prostate Calcification
When prostatitis sufferers do tests, they may be aware by doctors that there are calcification spots on their prostate, it’s called prostate calcification, which is one of the causes of prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia. These calcification spots themselves do not usually cause symptoms, but the prostate infections they causes can bring much pain and discomfort to males.
For instance, chronic prostatitis can cause many unbearable symptoms, including pain in pelvic and genital areas, urinary frequency and urgency, painful and burning urination, weak urine flow, difficulty urinating, etc. Here you will know more about prostate calcification.
Formation of prostate calcification
Early stage prostate calcification is a fibrosis of prostate. Common it is occur with no symptom. Such a fibrosis may occur in your body but you feel nothing about it. However, on some patients, they may suffer from anxiety, poor sleep, and burning and dampness at perineum area. As prostate fibrosis develops, there would be calcification spots.
Development of prostate calcification
Prostate stone is a later stage calcification. Prostate stones can cause chronic prostatitis and accompany urinary tract infection. It is a direct cause of secondary UTI.
Harm of prostate calcification
Do You Need a Treatment if You Have Prostate Calcification?
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What Are The Risks
As with any surgical procedure there are small risks involved.
The general risks include:
- Undergoing a general or spinal anaesthetic- in Australia, it is considered safe with few risks due to the extensive training undertaken. Your anesthetist will discuss these issues in more detail before your surgery.
- Formation of blood clots in the legs or lungs
- Heart, lung or kidney issues
The specific risk of HoLEP include:
What Is A Holmium Laser Enucleation Prostatectomy
A HoLEP is a procedure that enables the surgeon to remove the inside portion of the prostate gland that is restricting the flow of urine. The operation is performed via the urethra with no cuts in the skin.
The procedure is carried out either under a general or spinal anaesthetic. Your anaesthetist will recommend the best option for you.
A small camera called a cystoscope is inserted down the urethra towards the area that is being narrowed by the prostate. A laser fibre is deployed through the cystoscope allowing the safe removal of the inner part of the prostate and the attached urethra. The remaining prostate that is left behind forms an outer shell. The tissue that has been cut away is removed and sent to the lab for examination under a microscope. A urethral catheter is inserted into the bladder at the end of the operation. The catheter has a channel which allows fluid to continuously run through and wash out any blood clots that form in the first 12 hours post-operatively.
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Let Kidney Stones Pass
Stones typically take several weeks to a few months to pass, depending on the number of stones and their size. Over-the-counter pain medications, like ibuprofen , acetaminophen , or naproxen , can help you endure the discomfort until the stones pass. Your doctor also may prescribe an alpha blocker, which relaxes the muscles in your ureter and helps pass stones quicker and with less pain.
If the pain becomes too severe, or if they are too large to pass, they can be surgically removed with a procedure called a ureteroscopy. Here, a small endoscope is passed into the bladder and up the ureter while you are under general anesthesia. A laser breaks up the stones, and then the fragments are removed.
What Are Prostate Stones
The prostate gland might be small in size, but it does play a critical part in reproductive health. Problems with the prostate can affect structures other than the prostate too.
Men with prostate problems often find that their urinary function is adversely affected, for example. Several conditions can affect the prostate gland. Some are more serious than others.
A particularly common issue in men is prostate stones. This is different from bladder stones. While not as serious as prostate cancer, the complications of prostate stones are often overlooked. The condition plays a role in the development of prostatitis too.
We take a closer look at what prostate stones are in this post. We also consider the symptoms and causes of the condition. The post also shares some useful details about the treatment options.
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Are Bladder Stones And Kidney Stones The Same Thing
Bladder stones and kidney stones are not the same thing. It might seem that bladder stones are kidney stones that have relocated into the bladder. A kidney stone can move on to the bladder, but then it is a kidney stone that is in the bladder. Bladder stones are formed in the bladder, and kidney stones are formed in the kidney. Each type of stone may have some of the same minerals in them.
The causes of these two different types of stones are usually not the same. Bladder stones are usually caused by insufficient emptying of the bladder due to a primary health condition. Kidney stones are usually caused by mineral imbalances. Both types of stones can be caused by insufficient water intake and nutritional deficiencies. Both types of stones can also benefit from some of the same treatments.
A New Treatment Option For Bph
Experts at University Hospitals now offer a new, minimally invasive approach to treat BPH called UroLift®.
Instead of removing prostate tissue, this procedure implants a device that pulls the prostate away from the urethra on both sides and holds it in place. This widens the urethra and restores normal urine flow.
Its like opening a curtain, says UH urologist Irina Jaeger, MD.
This procedure is a nice alternative, because the side effects are very minimal, it can be done in the doctors office in 15 minutes or less and very little sedation is required, she says. And the results are pretty instant.
UroLift®has been in use for six years. Studies have shown that the procedure is safe, effectively relieves symptoms and does not affect sexual function.
The only side effects are a little irritation immediately after the procedure. Patients are typically back to their normal routines within a day or two.
For more information about UroLift® and other treatments for BPH, or to schedule a consultation with a mens health expert, call or visit our website.
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What If I Can’t Have Surgery
Surgery isnt always an option you may not be fit or well enough for an operation, or you may not like the idea of it. If surgery isnt suitable for you and lifestyle changes and medicines havent worked, your doctor or nurse may suggest using a catheter. This is a thin, flexible tube used to drain urine from your bladder. The catheter may be permanent or temporary.
A permanent catheter is passed up into the bladder through your penis, or through a small cut in your abdomen. The catheter is usually attached to a drainage bag, which you strap on to your body under your clothing. Your doctor or nurse will usually change your catheter every 12 weeks.
A temporary catheter is where you put a catheter in yourself when you need to urinate, rather than leaving one in all the time. Your doctor or nurse will show you how to put the catheter in and tell you how often to use it. Some men can urinate quite well without a catheter and only use it once a day to make sure they empty their bladder regularly. Other men need to use a temporary catheter several times a day.
You can lower your chances of getting a urine infection by keeping your catheter and the area around it clean. You may find the following tips helpful.
Let your nurse know if your catheter isnt draining properly. If urine hasnt drained from your bladder for 2 to 3 hours, contact your GP or district nurse straight away.