Kidney stones are hard stone-like substance that forms in the kidneys. They may not trouble you as long as they are settled in one or both the kidneys. It is only when a kidney stone moves out of the kidney and enters the ureter (the tube that carries urine) on its way to the bladder that the pain begins. The pain can be from mild to severe depending on the size and shape of the kidney stone. The stone can block the flow of urine, and may cause bleeding too.
Kidney stone formation is a common occurrence and the stones are so tiny that they pass out with the urine without any hindrance. The larger ones may cause pain and make things miserable before making their way out of the body. A large stone may get stuck in the ureter causing pressure and pain. Chances of infection rise if the stone remains stuck in the ureter for long. This may also lead to damage of the kidneys.
Types of Kidney Stones
The crystals in the urine are responsible for kidney stones. When there is an imbalance in the minerals and salts found in the urine, it may lead to their formation. Different types of stones are formed depending on the salts present in the urine.
Calcium Stones: These are the most commonly occurring kidney stones. 75% to 85% of all kidney stone cases are calcium stone based. These stones comprise of calcium and oxalate, which are introduced to the body through the food we eat. Excessive intake of calcium and oxalate can help form calcium stones. Besides, excessive vitamin D intake, and hyperactive parathyroid glands can also cause kidney stones.
Struvite Stones: These stones are not very common and are found mostly in women. The bacteria that cause urinary tract infection are responsible for the production of ammonia. Struvite stones, also known as infection stones, are formed when there is excessive ammonia in the urine.
Uric Acid Stones: People who eat meat products in excess run the risk of forming uric acid stones, as meat ingestion leads to production of uric acid, a by-product of protein metabolism.
Cystine Stones: These are the least common of all stones and are made from cystine, an amino acid. Cystinuria, a hereditary disorder, is responsible for the formation of cystine stones.
Preventing the Formation of Kidney Stones
o If you are prone to kidney stones, or would like to avoid kidney stones in future, the most effective preventive measure is drinking a lot of fluids, especially water. Two to three liters of water a day is enough to flush your kidneys thoroughly of contaminants.
o It would help to learn the type of stones that are formed in the kidneys, and the cause of formation too. You could change your eating habits accordingly and adjust the intake of certain types of salts and minerals that help in the formation of kidney stones.
o If you are prone to calcium stones, you could discuss the matter with your doctor, who may suggest you to lower your calcium intake. Foods that are rich in calcium are milk and milk products, and leafy vegetables.
o If your kidneys have uric acid stones, then reducing your meat, poultry and fish intake will surely help. Your doctor may also prescribe medication to manage the uric acid level in the urine.
o People, who get struvite stones, could be given antibiotics to help remove bacterial infection.
If you have had a kidney stone once, there is always a likelihood of its recurrence. Thus, it would be in your best interest to follow the advice on prevention.
Ashely Farrar writes on all types of kidney stones. More information available at symptoms-kidney-stones-treatments.com.
Sedation Dentists Banish Fear Of The Dentist For Countless People.
For around 30 to 40 million people in north America alone almost nothing at all can come close to the fear of the dental surgery. For a significant number of of us that terrifying experience, encountered first as youngsters, stays with us for the remainder of our lives and a visit to the surgery is something we only contemplate when the very worst of tooth ache leaves us with absolutely no alternative.
There are a large number of reasons for steering clear of the dental office including a bad gag reflex, a basic fear of the dentist, an immunity to standard dental painkilling injections, memories of a bad dental experience, and sensitive teeth to name a few.
Nowadays, however, the coming of sedation dentists allows us to obtain the dental treatment necessary without that anxiety and those fears.
Sedation dentists don't knock patients out altogether, but put them into an extremely relaxed state so that they do not feel the slightest pain from the work being done and, invariably, do not even remember the work being undertaken.
There are a variety of choices open to the patient including:
Oral sedation - The patient is given a pill roughly an hour before the appointment. Oral sedation acts to relax the patient but without producing pain relief, so a local anaesthetic injection will also be used.
General anaesthesia - In this case the patient is given an injection to render them unconscious. As the patient is unconscious, a local anaesthetic is not needed for pain relief.
Nitrous oxide - Nitrous oxide gas (also called laughing gas) is used to induce a relaxed state. A local anaesthetic is given alongside nitrous oxide to eliminate pain.
Intravenous sedation - In this case an injection is given to the patient, as opposed to a tablet. As is the case with oral sedation this method doesn't provide pain relief, so an injection of local anaesthetic is also used.
Sedation can be used for quick and simple procedures lasting up to an hour, or for more complex multiple treatments, that may last for as long as perhaps six hours.
The advent of sedation dentists is probably one of the largest improvements to dental care in recent years and enables dentists to perform treatment on patients who would not otherwise think about having treatment.
People who avoid dental work because of anxiety and fear need no longer worry as sedation dentists have made this vital element of our health care system accessible to all.
For more information on sedation dentists visit Sedation Dentists and Dentistry today.
Rediscovering sex after disability
It was never such a thing as a simple dating and easy sexual life for disabled people. In today's society visibly disabled people is the only minority more stigmatized than the obese. It is very hard to build up healthy relationships when your body is sick and abilities are limited. Sex and disability are rarely discussed in the same sentence. As a result more than 50 % of disabled people do not have regular sexual life, many do not have a partner and think this is the way their life suppose to be.
Lisa is a gorgeous and sexy blonde who has a problem walking since the car accident a few years ago. When she's wearing her favorite mini skirt you can notice that most of the men around are checking her out. However, she has no boyfriend and her most erotic fantasy today is just to be with somebody who would not ask a million of questions about her body. And who would not have a million doubts about her ability to enjoy the sexual life. She says that for her it is much easier to meet a guy, than to start any kind of relationship with him. She's feeling that all the girls out there are much better than her, and Lisa is loosing her hope for a normal sexual life day after day.
Michael is a 30 years old man whose illness changed his body and, therefore, his mind. A couple years ago he found a beautiful woman who seems to be so kind and understanding that he would not believe his luck for a while. They had such a great time together, cuddling, laughing and watching old movies. Until one day Debbie said that she is not ready to share her life with disabled man. That she is not satisfied in a bed and wants him to be more aggressive and active love which he can't be. Debbie left him and had no desire for relationship since that day.
Speaking in general, a disability, while physically limiting, is no more limiting to that person's sexuality than one's ethnicity or gender. In reality, issues of sexual expression and attractiveness are no more or less important for the disabled than for the healthy people. It is mostly their negative experiences and a set of social stereotypes that make them feel unconfident and left aside. For example, it is often assumed that all persons who use wheelchairs are paralyzed, and therefore unable to make full use of their reproductive organs. While this may be true for some in the community, a large proportion of wheelchair users can function sexually as well as the next person. However, due to the lack of society's knowledge and sexual education, the disabled person's chances of meeting a potential sexual partner are greatly reduced.
So what is the solution for the people with limited abilities in terms of the sexual life, dating and partnering? There are few aspects that can be analyzed in order to get an answer. Surely, it would take a while for a complete change of society's view of disability, but some changes in people's attitudes and some tips on better sex techniques may play a significant role.
First of all, if Sex and Disability Topic would be discussed more open in our society, then people would be more educated about it and will have a tendency to become stereotype free. Discussions, interviews and some research would help to understand psychology of the disabled person without a negative cliché. As we, as a society, become more aware of the needs, limits and abilities of disabled people, we will become more comfortable with the idea of having a disabled person as a partner.
Second, advanced sexual education among the disabled people would help them to realize that they are capable of having healthy sexual relationships. Some special techniques and devices (such as sex toys: harnesses, massagers, vibrators, etc) would help in cases when a particular kind of disability places a limit on the variety of sexual contacts and experiences. For example, in case of mobility-impaired person partnering with able-bodied partner the able-bodied person can maneuver the impaired person's body into different positions, stimulating erogenous zones as desired. With a help of some toys this experience is can be absolutely as satisfying as the one between two able-bodied persons.
And finally and the most important, a key factor in re-discovering a sex life after disability is recognizing that while life is different, it doesn't have to be bad. Until full sexual drive and confidence return are regained, touching, cuddling, massaging and even talking can be rich experiences. As a fact, we all should learn to see past the person's disability altogether, and learn to know and love that person as the intellectual, emotional and romantic person he or she is capable of being.
You can find more info on this subject at http://www.XToysUSA.com and
http://www.XToysZone.com
