Bladder stones

　　Bladder calculi can be divided into primary and secondary types, mainly occurring in males. Primary bladder calculi are mostly caused by malnutrition, and now, except for some remote mountainous areas where they are more common in infants and young children, they are not common. Secondary bladder calculi mainly occur secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia, and with the extension of life expectancy, this disease is also increasing. In addition, calculi are prone to occur in individuals with urethral stricture, bladder diverticula, foreign bodies including long-term drainage catheters, and neurogenic bladder dysfunction, etc. The main causes of bladder calculi include:

　　1. Metabolic diseases:Metabolic bladder calculi include cystine, uric acid, and xanthine calculi.

　　2. Foreign bodies in the bladder:Bladder foreign bodies such as bullet heads, catheters, wax blocks, sutures, wires, hairpins, etc., can act as a core, and urinary salts precipitate around them to form calculi.

　　3. Bladder exstrophy-urethral cleft:In individuals with bladder exstrophy and urethral cleft, the vast majority occur in the bladder. Due to anatomical, histological, and functional abnormalities before bladder and urethra reconstruction, calculi are prone to form.

　　4. Lower urinary tract obstruction:It is the most common cause of bladder calculi. Lower urinary tract obstruction, such as urethral stricture, congenital malformation, benign prostatic hyperplasia, bladder neck obstruction, cystocele, tumor, etc., can cause small calculi and urinary salt crystals to sediment in the bladder, forming calculi. At the same time, this is also a common cause of bladder calculi in males. Many small renal and ureteral calculi and urinary salt precipitates formed in an oversaturated state can be excreted with urine after being discharged into the bladder without obstruction under the condition of normal micturition.

　　5. Nutrition:High intake of animal proteins can increase the content of calcium and uric acid in urine, decrease the urine pH value, and promote the formation of calculi. Excessive intake of sucrose can promote the absorption of calcium and oxalate in the intestines, leading to increased excretion of calcium in urine. Insufficient intake of vegetables and dietary fiber is prone to the formation of calculi. In addition, abnormal intake or metabolism of vitamins, minerals, and salts can also increase the chance of urinary stone formation.

　　6. Secondary bladder infection:Secondary infections caused by lower urinary tract obstruction and bladder foreign bodies, especially bacterial infections that can decompose urea, can increase the urine pH value, causing the precipitation of calcium phosphate, ammonium, and magnesium salts to form calculi. Metabolic diseases such as cystinuria, abnormal metabolism of oxalate, calcium, and phosphorus are also prone to cause calculi formation.

　　7. Caused by intestinal mucus:After the intestinal bladder augmentation surgery, the incidence increases significantly.

　　8. Other factors:For example, the eggs of schistosomiasis can form calculi in the bladder as the core. The degeneration, necrosis, and calcification of the tumor surface can lead to the formation of calculi disease.

　　Bladder stones are a common type of calculus disease, but many patients do not know what the symptoms of bladder stones are, so they delay the best treatment opportunity, not only increasing the difficulty of treatment but also triggering other complications, causing more serious harm to the body. Below, I will introduce the main complications of bladder stones in detail:

　　1, Long-term obstruction can cause dilatation of the ureter and renal pelvis, renal积水, and renal function damage.

　　2, Most patients have symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, dysuria, and terminal hematuria, and there is often a phenomenon of interrupted urination. Prostatic hyperplasia can cause secondary stones, which may only cause difficulty in urination. Large bladder stones can sometimes be felt during rectal examination.

　　3, Friction between the bladder mucosa and the rough stone can cause bleeding, infection, and mucosal ulceration, and occasionally severe bladder ulceration may occur, even piercing into the vagina or rectum, forming a urinary fistula. Long-term stimulation by stones and inflammation can cause the bladder mucosa to undergo cancerous changes, triggering bladder squamous cell carcinoma.

　　Many patients with bladder stones show no symptoms in the early stage, so many people think it is a minor disease and ignore it. Over time, not only does it increase the difficulty of treatment, but it may also trigger a series of complications, often costing more time and money. Therefore, it is very necessary to understand the common symptoms of bladder stones. Below, I will explain the common symptoms of bladder stones:

　　1, Pain:The pain in the symptoms of bladder stones can be dull pain in the lower abdomen and perineal area, or it can be obvious pain, often induced or exacerbated by activity.

　　2, Painful urination, urination disorders, and hematuria:It occurs more frequently during the day because when we are at rest at night, it may be alleviated or disappear.

　　3, Sudden interruption of urination:Pain radiates to the distal urethra and the glans penis, and is accompanied by difficulty in urination and bladder irritative symptoms.

　　4, Frequent urination, urgency, and dysuria:When the bladder mucosa is stimulated by the stone, the symptoms of bladder stones may include frequent urination, urgency, and dysuria, with increased pain at the end of urination, and may be accompanied by terminal hematuria. Patients often change their positions, such as lying down, to relieve pain.

　　5, Hematuria and purulent urine:Due to the exertion during urination, abdominal pressure increases, which can lead to prolapse. There is often terminal hematuria. When complications such as infection occur, the irritative symptoms of the bladder will worsen, and purulent urine may appear. If the stone is located in a bladder diverticulum, it may only manifest as urinary tract infection.

　　Bladder stones are a type of urinary calculus. Most urinary system stones originate in the kidneys and bladder, while ureteral stones often secondary to kidney stones. Urethral stones are often caused by obstruction when bladder stones are flushed out with urine. The prevention of bladder stones is very important, and proper preventive measures can effectively reduce the probability of developing bladder stones, thereby reducing pain and maintaining health. Bladder stones are also a disease that is more common in men. According to statistics, the ratio of men to women with bladder stones is 9:1, because men have longer urethras and prostate problems, which are prone to cause obstruction of the bladder outlet and result in an inconvenience in urination. The main preventive methods for bladder stones include:

　　1. Dietary regulation for prevention. The diet should be diversified, rich in nutrition and vitamins, such as fresh vegetables, cucumbers, green beans, mung bean sprouts; fresh fruits such as apple snow pear, watermelon, grapes, orange, tangerine, and so on.

　　2. Remove urinary tract obstruction factors, actively deal with urethral stricture, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and so on, to relieve urinary tract obstruction.

　　3. Actively treat urinary tract infections.

　　4. Prevent and treat metabolic diseases. For example, those with hyperparathyroidism should undergo surgical treatment.

　　5. Adjust the acid-base balance of urine. According to the composition of the stones, adjusting the acid-base balance of urine can prevent the recurrence of urinary stones. For example, uric acid and oxalate stones are formed in acidic urine, while phosphates and carbonates stones are formed in alkaline urine.

　　6. For patients who have been lying in bed for a long time, they should be encouraged and helped to move more to reduce bone demineralization and improve urine flow.

　　7. Develop the habit of drinking plenty of water. Drinking plenty of water can dilute urine, dilute the concentration of calcium and oxalate in urine, flush the urinary tract, and is conducive to preventing stone formation and promoting the excretion of urinary stones. It is recommended to drink 1500-2000 milliliters of water per day. You can also drink fruit juice, light tea, and other beverages such as chrysanthemum crystal, mugwort bamboo sugar crystal, and summer chrysanthemum, which have a certain significance for preventing stones.

　　Under normal circumstances, for the diagnosis of bladder calculi, it mainly depends on physical examination, medical history, ultrasound, X-ray examination, and cystoscopy when necessary.

　　1. Urine test:It can show a significant increase in red blood cells and white blood cells in the urine.

　　2. Ultrasound:It can detect the size and number of stones. It can also distinguish between bladder calculi and bladder diverticulum calculi, and so on.

　　3. Abdominal X-ray:It can show the shadow of non-transparent stones in the bladder area and at the same time understand whether there are stones in the upper urinary tract.

　　4. Cystoscopy:It is the most reliable diagnostic method, which can directly visualize the stones inside the bladder and simultaneously observe other lesions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, bladder neck stenosis, cystitis, bladder foreign bodies, and so on.

　　Ureteral calculi are one of the most common urological diseases, with various causes. The key is to prevent stones. Regardless of the type of stone, attention should be paid to dietary habits.

　　One: It is advisable to eat light vegetables and consume more watermelons, winter melons, pears, fresh lotus roots, and other foods.

　　Two: Increase water intake to maintain smooth urination.

　　Three: If stones have been excreted, further examination should be conducted to determine the type of stone.

　　1. For those with oxalate stones or urine tests showing a high amount of oxalate: Avoid eating bamboo shoots, spinach, soybeans, beetroot, tomatoes, potatoes, asparagus, apples, and cocoa.

　　2. Uric acid stones: Eat less meat, animal internal organs, lentils, fish, black tea, cocoa, coffee, chocolate, and eat more corn flour, oatmeal, pollen, eggs, fruits, beets, carrots, celery, cucumbers, eggplants, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and drink more tea.

　　3. Phosphate stones: Eat acidic foods such as plums, walnuts, and milk, high-calcium foods such as milk, cheese, and beans.

　　Many people with kidney stones in life do not choose surgical treatment directly, but choose the method of treating with traditional Chinese medicine to slowly regulate, thereby achieving the purpose of removing stones. Bladder stones are a very common disease related to the bladder. There are many methods to treat bladder stones, and the following will analyze the methods of treating bladder stones from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine.

　　1. Lower焦 damp-heat type

　　Symptoms include continuous pain in the lower back or lower abdomen, accompanied by fever, nausea and vomiting, frequent urination, urgency, dysuria, and loose stools, or hematuria, yellow and greasy fur, slippery and rapid pulse.

　　Treatment should focus on clearing heat and dampness, promoting urination and removing stones. Medicines such as Pai Shi Chong Ji, Jin Qian Cao Chong Ji, Fen Qing Wu Lin Wan, and Zishen Pill can be taken.

　　2. Qi stagnation and blood stasis type

　　Symptoms include intermittent severe pain in the lower back or lower abdomen, or hematuria, or only pain in the lower back or lower abdomen,涩尿滴沥不尽，symptoms may vary in severity, tongue with dark red or blood spots, thin white fur, wiry and涩 pulse.

　　Treatment should focus on promoting Qi and blood circulation, promoting urination and removing stones. Medicines such as Ni Xie Tong, Shaofu Zhu Yu Wan, and Qing Lin Chong Ji can be taken.

　　3. Deficiency of both the spleen and kidney

　　Symptoms include long-term stones, back pain, weak and soft knees, fatigue, poor appetite, loose stools, poor urination, deep and fine pulse.

　　Treatment should focus on nourishing the spleen and kidney, promoting urination and dissolving stones. Medicines such as Jin Gui Shen Qi Pill, Liu Jun Zi Pill, and Pai Shi Chong Ji can be taken. Treatment should focus on strengthening the spleen and warming the kidney, strengthening Yang and dissolving stones, clearing heat and dampness, and dissolving blood stasis. Medicine often adopts surgery to remove stones, while folk medicine often adopts the method of dissolving stones with medicine without surgery.

　　Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes treating the root cause, so patients with bladder stones must undergo a related physical examination at a hospital when choosing traditional Chinese medicine treatment, and then let the doctor choose the most suitable prescription based on the patient's physical condition. Of course, when choosing traditional Chinese medicine treatment, daily diet should be avoided, and many foods that should not be eaten should not be eaten in large quantities.