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What Is Renal Colic? Symptoms And Relief
Renal colic is pain that occurs due to a stone in the urinary tract. The urinary tract includes the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra. Treatments may include medication and surgical procedures.
Stones can develop anywhere in the urinary tract, and they can vary significantly in size. Most stones occur due to a buildup of minerals or other substances, such as uric acid, which stick together in the urine and create a hard mass.
There are several treatment options for urinary stones. However, as many stones pass without surgery, the management of renal colic is often the primary concern during treatment.
In this article, we explain how to recognize renal colic, what causes it, and ways to treat it.
The symptoms of renal colic vary depending on the size of the stone and its location in the urinary tract. Some small stones cause mild renal colic, and a person can pass them in the urine without much discomfort.
Larger stones can cause severe pain, especially if they become stuck and block any small passages in the urinary tract. Susceptible areas include the ureters, which are the tubes through which the urine passes between the kidney and the bladder.
The most common presentation of renal colic is pain on the affected side of the body between the lower ribs and hip. This pain tends to radiate to the lower abdomen and groin.
The pain typically comes in waves that each last 20–60 minutes before subsiding.
Renal colic is just one of the symptoms that urinary stones can cause. Other symptoms that commonly occur alongside renal colic include:
Symptoms of a related urinary tract infection (UTI) may occur for some people. These include fever, chills, and a cold sweat. Anybody experiencing any of these symptoms should talk to a doctor.
Anyone experiencing the following symptoms alongside renal colic should contact the emergency medical services or go to the emergency room immediately:
Renal colic occurs due to a stone becoming lodged in the urinary tract, which commonly occurs in the ureter. Here, the stone stretches the surrounding area of tissue while trying to pass through, which can be painful.
In addition, restricted urine flow may cause inflammation and increased pressure. The ureter may also spasm, causing pain.
Several different chemicals and minerals can make up a kidney stone. Stones develop due to a few different risk factors, including:
Doctors will often use blood tests to check for increased levels of stone-forming substances in a person's body. An imaging test can help locate any significant stones in the urinary tract, such as a plain film X-ray, CT scan, or ultrasound.
Medical treatment will often depend on the type of stone. There are several different types of stone, including:
People can pass most small stones in the urine. Doctors will recommend hydration, and they may prescribe pain relieving medications to help a person deal with the pain. They will monitor the person until the stone passes.
A range of procedures can help a person remove larger stones and relieve renal colic. These include:
Treatment may also include medications that help relieve symptoms or reduce the buildup of stones. These treatments may include:
A person can take several steps to help prevent kidney stones. Learn more here.
Pain management is an essential step in treatment, as it can improve a person's quality of life until the stone passes. Doctors may also recommend medications to calm the GI tract and manage any nausea and vomiting.
Placing a heat pack on the side or lower back may calm the muscle spasms that can occur in people with renal colic.
Avoiding renal colic starts with preventing the stones that cause the symptoms.
A doctor may prescribe a thiazide diuretic if a person has a tendency to develop calcium oxalate urinary tract stones.
In other cases, they may recommend that people increase their fluid intake and reduce the sodium in their diet.
Drinking more fluid may not always improve renal colic or help flush stones out of the urinary tract, but it will, at least, prevent dehydration.
Many people benefit from eating a healthful diet that is rich in a variety of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins. Doctors may also advise people to increase their intake of citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits.
Learn about the links between diet and kidney stones here.
Many stones will pass on their own, but they may still cause renal colic. Doctors will often explore the best combination of medical and surgical treatment options to help break down larger stones and allow them to pass.
Stones in the urinary tract can sometimes grow again after successful treatment. Taking preventive measures can help people prevent further stones from developing and reduce the symptoms of renal colic.
What Is Coronary Artery Disease?
Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease. It happens when something, like plaque buildup, reduces blood flow to the heart. It can increase your risk of heart attack.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) causes impaired blood flow in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Also called coronary heart disease (CHD), CAD is the most common form of heart disease and affects approximately 16.5 million Americans over the age of 20.
It's also the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. It's estimated that every 36 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack.
A heart attack can come from uncontrolled CAD.
When your heart doesn't get enough arterial blood, you may experience a variety of symptoms. Angina (chest discomfort) is the most common symptom of CAD. Some people describe this discomfort as:
These symptoms can also be mistaken for heartburn or indigestion.
Other symptoms of CAD include:
You may experience more symptoms when your blood flow is more restricted. If a blockage cuts off blood flow completely or almost completely, your heart muscle will start to die if not restored. This is a heart attack.
Don't ignore any of these symptoms, especially if they are excruciating or last longer than five minutes. Immediate medical treatment is necessary.
Symptoms of CAD for womenWomen may also experience the above symptoms, but they're also more likely to have:
Men have a higher risk of developing heart disease than women, however.
Due to decreased blood flow, your heart may also:
Your doctor will detect these heart abnormalities during diagnosis.
The most common cause of CAD is a vascular injury with cholesterol plaque buildup in the arteries, known as atherosclerosis. Reduced blood flow occurs when one or more of these arteries becomes partially or completely blocked.
Other rare causes of damage or blockage to a coronary artery also limit blood flow to the heart.
Understanding the risk factors for CAD can help with your plan to prevent or decrease the likelihood of developing the disease.
Risk factors include:
The risk for CAD also increases with age. Based on age alone as a risk factor, men have a greater risk for the disease beginning at age 45 and women have a greater risk beginning at age 55. The risk for coronary artery disease is also higher if you have a family history of the disease.
Diagnosing CAD requires a review of your medical history, a physical examination, and other medical testing. These tests include:
The four primary coronary arteries are located on the surface of the heart:
These arteries bring oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to your heart. Your heart is a muscle that's responsible for pumping blood throughout your body and needs oxygen all the time. A healthy heart moves approximately 3,000 gallons of blood through your body every day.
Like any other organ or muscle, your heart must receive an adequate, dependable supply of blood in order to carry out its work. Reduced blood flow to your heart can cause symptoms of CAD.
Everyone's outlook for CAD is different. You have better chances of preventing extensive damage to your heart the earlier you can start your treatment or implement lifestyle changes.
It is important to follow your doctor's instructions. Take medications as directed and make the recommended lifestyle changes. If you have a higher risk for CAD, you can help to prevent the disease by reducing your risk factors.
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