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Multipharmacy.com :: Health Info :: Posterior
The bladder is a muscular container, which stores urine. It is responsible for emptying waste products filtered from the kidneys. Waste substances such as calcium and uric acid are not readily soluble, and may crystallize if the composition of the urine changes. Problems arise when these crystals become too large to be flushed out, particularly if they are trapped in the narrow urethra (the tube linking the kidney and bladder).
A tiny stone in the urethra can cause great pain and lead to urinary retention, whilst a much larger stone in the bladder may go undetected for some time. The majority of bladder stones are formed of calcium, which comes from excess salt in the urine. Bladder stones are a common problem in men, and are most common in people over 45. If left untreated, bladder stones can irritate the muscles of the bladder wall and lead to incontinence.
Crystals in the urine are very common, and a change in the acidity of the urine can be enough to cause stones to form. This is often triggered by diet and not drinking enough fluids. The condition can also develop if urine stagnates in the bladder as a result of a ‘blind pouch’; a structural abnormality of the bladder that prevents urine from completely draining away. It is sometimes caused by an enlarged prostate gland pressing on the bladder that creates a cavity from which urine cannot entirely empty.
You may be more susceptible to developing bladder stones if you have a history of urinary tract infections, as recurrent infections can encourage stones to grow. Metabolic disorders such as gout increase the level of waste products in the urine and have a similar affect in causing bladder stones to grow.
A bladder stone may go unnoticed until it irritates the soft lining of the bladder wall. You may then see blood in the urine, particularly towards the end of urination.
Bladder stones may also cause:
- pain when passing urine
- a frequent and sometimes urgent need to empty the bladder, and
- blood in the urine.
- If a stone gets stuck at the entrance to the urethra, it may block the emptying of the bladder, or the jet of urine may suddenly stop halfway through.
If it is suspected that you have a bladder stone, your doctor will refer you to hospital for tests such as an abdominal x-ray, which will show up any stones. Bladder stones can also be detected through a dye test or by using ultrasound equipment.
Abnormalities in the bladder can also be viewed by cystoscopy. In this procedure a thin hollow viewing tube is inserted into the urethra in order to view the inside of the bladder. Blood and urine samples may be taken in order to rule out any underlying metabolic disorders.
Bladder stones usually need to be broken down in order to flush them out of the body. This is either done during cystoscopy, or by using a form of sound energy known as lithotripsy.
Lithotripsy is usually carried out in hospital, and uses high-energy sound waves to break bladder stones down into smaller fragments. These fragments are then small enough to be emptied in the urine. Painkillers are sometimes given before the procedure as there may be some discomfort, and the abdomen is likely to feel tender after treatment. You may also have blood in your urine, but serious complications are uncommon.
Lithotripsy prevents the need for surgery, which is only necessary if the stones are very large.
Measures to prevent the formation of new stones depend on the composition of the existing stones, but are often linked to diet. Most stones contain a high percentage of calcium, so following a diet low in calcium can help. If the stones contain uric acid, a diet low in meat, fish and poultry is recommended.
Drinking large amounts of fluids- eight to ten glasses of water a day- is helpful in preventing stones forming.
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source NHSDirect 151204
Product code:sym-bladderstones |
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