Bladder is that organ in the body that stores in the urine. It is in the pelvic area. Sometimes small masses of minerals get accumulated in the bladder and they join to form the bladder stone. This usually results from due to stagnation of the urine in the bladder and thereby the salts and minerals in the urine concentrating to leave a residue.
This happens when there is a urinary tract infection and also due to an enlarged prostate. Nutrition and diet control play an important role in reducing the onset of this infection. In the USA the incidence of formation of bladder stones is on the decrease due to the spread of awareness of the cause and effect of this condition. But in the developing countries it continues to be a problem. If it is not treated many related complications could arise.
Causes of Bladder Stone
Kidneys filter the liquid waste from the blood and this liquid waste is urine. The ureters which are two tubes leading from the kidney enter the bladder carrying this liquid waste. It is stored in the bladder. When the pressure in the bladder builds up, the urine is voluntarily eliminated through another tube called the urethra that leads from the bladder.
Sometimes the urine in the bladder is not released and tends to accumulate. When this happens the mineral and salt wastes in the urine concentrate which crystallize and form the bladder stones.
Urine is accumulated in the bladder when it is not passed out. This could be due to different regions. An enlarged prostate gland could obstruct the normal flow of urine. An infection in the urinary tract could also result in restricting the normal flow.
However there are certain underlying conditions which cause bladder stones.
BPH or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is one of the major reasons that leads to the formation of bladder stones. This condition results in the prostate gland enlarging and thereby compressing the urethra denying the regular flow of urine.
Bladder diverticula: Sometimes there are some areas in the bladder that are weak. Theses areas tend to form pouches outwardly. The urine may stagnate in these diverticular regions resulting in the accumulation of urine leading to formation of stones.
Another condition called neurogenic bladder wherein the nerves that carry the message to the brain and back from the brain to tighten or release the muscles that help in the release or elimination of urine are damaged. This also causes the urine to accumulate as it is not passed out.
All these conditions can result in bladder stone.
Symptoms of Bladder Stones
Intense pain in the lower abdomen and pain while passing urine are the two most common symptoms which are associated with this disease. Nocturia and pain in the penile region as well as incontinence are the other major symptoms. Blood or dark coloration in the urine are other associated symptoms which are common to this disease.
Men are most likely to get affected by this ailment as they posses the prostate gland and many men over 45 years of age develop an enlarged prostate. The risk increases with advancing age. Less of inadequate intake of fluid might also trigger the disease in men. Urinary infections and certain medical conditions like gout can cause this disease.
Bladder Stone Treatment
Conducting urine tests to check the concentration of urine and X-rays of the prostate and/or bladder are must do tests which are associated with bladder stone.
Blood test as well as ultrasound scans to detect the stones are other necessary treatment. The inside of the bladder can be examined by a technique called cytoscopy. Cytoscope is a fiber optic camera is gently inserted into the bladder. This is done through the urethra which the tube that is used to eliminate the urine and runs from the bladder. The stones thus found are then broken down into minute particles and is washed out through the urine.
Advice for Bladder Stone
Surgical intervention becomes necessary only if these stones are too large or hard to be broken down in to minute particles small enough to be passed out through the urethra. It is also very important that the patient after treatment either surgical or non-invasive appreciates the risk factor and takes preventive methods so that it does not recur. The patient should increase the fluid intake and take measures to treat the underlying medical conditions such as enlarged prostate, gout or urinary tract infection.
