Passing kidney stones can be very painful and interrupt your daily life. If you think are experiencing symptoms of kidney stones, speak with your doctor immediately. The most effective way to diagnose kidney stones is by taking a kidney function test.
Anna Pharmacy offers kidney function tests in Wallington, Sutton, Hackbridge, and Carshalton. Schedule your appointment at a location nearest you.
Here’s a quick guide to the kidney function tests used to measure kidney function and detect kidney stones.
What Are Kidney Stones?
Urine contains many dissolved salts and minerals. When your urine has high levels of these salts and minerals, your body can form kidney stones which start small but can increase in size which cause health issues and pain.
Some stones do not cause any problems because they stay in the kidney. However, some kidney stones travel down the ureter (the tube between the bladder and kidney) to the bladder and are passed out of the body during urination. However, if the kidney stone gets lodged in the ureter and blocks the flow of urine, it can cause serious pain. Oftentimes, the stone
Symptoms
Some of the most common symptoms of kidney stones include:
A sharp pain in your side and back that starts suddenly and comes in waves as the body tries to get rid of the stone.
An intense feeling to urinate.
Frequent urination
Sensation of burning during urination.
Dark or red urine due to blood in the urine.
Nausea and vomiting.
Causes
· Low urine volume due to low water intake
· Low calcium levels caused by high salt levels
· Bowel conditions
· Obesity
· Medical conditions
· Certain medication
· Family history
Diagnosis
If your GP thinks that you have a kidney stone, there are a variety of diagnostic tests and procedure that can detect kidney stones and monitor kidney function, such as:
· Blood test
· Urine test
· Imaging – CT scan, Ultrasound, or X-Ray.
· Analysis of passed stones.
Treatment
Treatment for kidney stones depends on the type of stone, how bad it is, and the length of time you have been experiencing symptoms. There are different treatments that your GP may recommend.
· Wait for the stone to pass by itself
· Medication
· Surgery
If you are experiencing symptoms to kidney stones, Anna Pharmacy offers kidney function tests in Wallington, Sutton, and Hackbridge.