Kidney Stone Center - Altoona, PA
Altoona Urologist Doctors for Kidney StoneType of Physician: Urologist What is a Urologist? A certification by the Board of Urology; practitioners are competent to manage medical and surgical disorders of the adrenal gland and of the genitourinary system. Urologists have comprehensive knowledge of, and skills in, various surgical techniques for innate and acquired conditions of the reproductive and urinary systems and their related structures. Specialty: Urology Common Name: Urologist Doctors in Altoona * Steven O Bossinger MD  Kansal Associates  Blair Urologic Associates  Stephen J Yanoshak DO  Sheldon P Rosenthal MD  Laurel Urology Inc  Laurel Urology Inc  Laurel Urology Inc  Urologic Associates  Urologic Associates  Urologic Associates  Urologic Associates  Geisinger Medical Group  DuBois Regional Medical Center Urology  DuBois Regional Medical Center Urology  DuBois Regional Medical Center Urology  Roger E Vega MD LLC  Richard Bloom DO  Leonard E Maliver MD  Paul W Shank MD  Tri-County Urology  Urology Associates of Chambersburg PC  Urology Associates of Chambersburg PC  Urology Associates of Chambersburg PC  Urology Associates of Chambersburg PC  Jaiveer T Reddy MD  GU Inc  GU Inc  GU Inc  GU Inc  Drs Kapoor & Kapoor  Lee H Koster MD  Drs Desai & Desai  Mohammad M Zaitoon MD  Kumaresn Ganabathi MD  Bruce V Gronkiewicz MD  Urology of Central PA Inc  Urology of Central PA Inc  Urology of Central PA Inc  Urology of Central PA Inc  Adams Hanover Urology Associates  Adams Hanover Urology Associates  Suburban Urologic Associates PC  Suburban Urologic Associates PC  Suburban Urologic Associates PC  Suburban Urologic Associates PC  Anthony Golio MD  R C Lin MD  The Urology Institute of Pittsburgh  Drs Antoon & Gupta  Drs Antoon & Gupta  Kyriakos C Davides MD  David Jacobs MD PC Altoona, PennsylvaniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-08
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Kidney StonesRead the Kidney Stones article » What is a kidney stone?A kidney stone is a hard, crystalline mineral material formed within the kidney or urinary tract. Kidney stones are a common cause of blood in the urine (hematuria) and often severe pain in the abdomen, flank, or groin. Kidney stones are sometimes called renal calculi. The condition of having kidney stones is termed nephrolithiasis. Having stones at any location in the urinary tract is referred to as urolithiasis, and the term ureterolithiasis is used to refer to stones located in the ureters.
Who is at risk for kidney stones?Anyone may develop a kidney stone, but people with certain diseases and conditions (see below) or those who are taking certain medications are more susceptible to their development. It is estimated that one out of every 10 people in the U.S. will develop stones in the urinary tract at some point in their lives. Most urinary stones develop in people 20-49 years of age, and those who are prone to multiple attacks of kidney stones usually develop their first stones during the second or third decade of life. In residents of industrialized countries, kidney stones are more common than stones in the bladder. The opposite is true for residents of developing areas of the world, where bladder stones are the most common. This difference is believed to be related to dietary factors. Urinary tract stones are about three times more common in males than in females. The prevalence of kidney stones begins to rise when men reach their 40s, and it continues to climb into their 70s. A Caucasian male has a one in eight chance of developing a kidney stone by age 70. People who have already had more than one kidney stone are prone to developing further stones. A family history of kidney stones is also a risk factor for developing kidney stones. Kidney stones are more common in Asians and Caucasians than in Native... Recommended Reading Related to Kidney StonesIntroductionWhile the patient's history and physical examination are the building blocks of making a medical diagnosis, the ability to peer inside the body can be a powerful tool. Ultrasound is an imaging technique that provides that ability to medical practitioners. What is an ultrasound?Ultrasound produces sound waves that are beamed into the body causing return echoes that are recorded to "visualize" structures beneath the skin. The ability to measure different echoes reflected from a variety of tissues allows a shadow picture to be constructed. The technology is especially accurate at seeing the interface between solid and fluid filled spaces. These are actually the same principles that allow SONAR on boats to see the bottom of the ocean. What is ultrasonography?Ultrasonography is body imaging using ultrasound in medical diagnosis. A skilled ultrasound technician is able to... Other Related Kidney Stone ArticlesEmergency Contact for Altoona
Nearby Altoona Hospitals *Altoona Regional Health System Bon Secours Hospital Campus Altoona Regional Hospital James E Van Zandt VA Medical Center HEALTHSOUTH Altoona Rehabilitation Hospital Nason Hospital Tyrone Hospital Miners Medical Center J C Blair Memorial Hospital Windber Medical Center Crichton Rehabilitation Center Memorial Medical Center Lee Campus Good Samaritan Medical Center Memorial Medical Center Select Specialty Hospital Johnstown UPMC Bedford Memorial Mount Nittany Medical Center Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Kidney Stones by Our Doctors
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Related Diseases & Conditions
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Lower Back Pain
- There are many causes of back pain. Pain in the low back can relate to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area.
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Dehydration
- Dehydration is the excessive loss of body water. There are a number of causes of dehydration including heat exposure, prolonged vigorous exercise, and some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The best way to treat dehydration is to prevent it from occurring.
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Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)
- Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst, hunger, and fatigue. Treatment of diabetes depends on the type.
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Fever
- Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degrees F. (37 degrees C.), in practice a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C.). Fever is part of the body's own disease-fighting arsenal: rising body temperatures apparently are capable of killing off many disease- producing organisms.
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Gout
- Gout is a condition that results from crystals of uric acid depositing in tissues of the body. Gout is a condition that can lead to abnormally elevated levels of uric acid in the blood, recurring attacks of joint inflammation (arthritis), deposits of hard lumps of uric acid in and around the joints, and decreased kidney function and kidney stones.
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High Blood Pressure
- High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg -- a systolic pressure above 140 with a diastolic pressure above 90. There are two causes of high blood pressure, primary and secondary. Primary high blood pressure is much more common that secondary and its basic causes or underlying defects are not always known. It is known that a diet high in salt increases the risk for high blood pressure, as well as high cholesterol. Genetic factors are also a primary cause. Secondary high blood pressure is generally caused by another condition such as renal hypertension, tumors, and other conditions. Treatment for high blood pressure is generally lifestyle changes and if necessary, diet.
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Blood in Urine
- Blood in the urine is termed hematuria. Hematuria, whether it be gross or microscopic, is abnormal and should be further investigated.
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Urinary Tract Infection (UTI In Adults)
- Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the kidney, ureter, bladder, and/or urethra. Not everyone with a UTI has symptoms. Common symptoms include a frequent urge to urinate and a painful, burning when urinating.
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Abdominal Pain
- Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
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Hyperparathyroidism
- Hyperparathyroidism is a disorder of the parathyroid glands. There are two types of hyperparathyroidism, primary and secondary. When the parathyroid glands produce too much hormone, hyperparathyroidism is the resulting condition. Most cases of hyperparathyroidism have no evident cause. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, depression, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or confusion. Increased calcium and phosphorous excretion may cause kidney stones. The main treatment of hyperparathyroidism is parathyroidectomy.
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Hydronephrosis
- Hydronephrosis is a condition in which the kidney swells, due to a backup of urine. Hydronephrosis generally occurs with another disease.Symptoms of hydronephrosis include nausea, vomiting, urinary tract infection, fever, painful urination, increased urinary frequency and urgency, flank pain, and swelling of the abdomen. Treatment of hydronephrosis depends on the cause.
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Blood In Semen
- Blood in semen is also known as hematospermia. Blood in semen can be caused by many conditions affecting the tubes that distribute semen from the testicles (seminal vesicles) or the prostate gland. Symptoms that may accompany blood in semen include blood in the urine, fever, painful urination, pain with ejaculation, tenderness, and swelling in the testes or groin area. Urinalysis, ultrasound, and MRI may be used to diagnose blood in the semen. Treatment depends upon the underlying cause of blood in the semen.
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Cystinuria
- Cystinuria is a common genetic condition that causes excess buildup of a protein, cystine, in the urine. Cystinuria leads to the formation of stones in the bladder, ureter, and kidney. Signs and symptoms of cystinuria include hematuria, flank pain, renal colic, obstructive uropathy, and urinary tract infections. Cystinuria may be treated with medication, shock wave therapy, and by increasing fluid intake.
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Intestinal Problems of IBD)
- The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The intestinal complications of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis differ because of the characteristically dissimilar behaviors of the intestinal inflammation in these two diseases.
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Nausea and Vomiting
- Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often precedes vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are not diseases, but they are symptoms of many conditions. The causes of vomiting differ according to age, and treatment depends upon the cause of nausea and vomiting.
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Testicular Pain (Pain in the Testicles)
- Testicular pain, or pain in the testicle or testicles are caused by a variety of diseases or conditions such as testicular trauma, testicular torsion, testicular cancer, epididymitis, and orchitis. Common symptoms of pain in the testicle or testicles are abdominal pain, urinary pain or incontinence, fever, nausea, vomiting, and pain in the scrotum or testicle. Treatment depends on the cause of the testicular pain or pain in the testicles.
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Kidney Infection
- Kidney infection (pyelonephritis) usually is caused from bacteria that have spread from the bladder from a UTI (urinary tract infection), poor hygiene, sexual intercourse, pregnancy, catheter, cystoscope exam, surgery, kidney stones, or prostate enlargement. Symptoms of kidney infection include: back pain, frequent urination, pain during urination, fever, and or pus or blood in the urine. Kidney infection is usually treated with antibiotics.
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Hypercalcemia (Elevated Calcium Levels)
- Hypercalcemia is a condition in which calcium levels in the blood are elevated. Hypercalcemia is associated with other conditions such as hyperparathyroidism, lung cancer, breast cancer, kidney failure, and elevated levels of vitamin D. Symptoms of hypercalcemia include constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, kidney stones, to name a few. Treatment depends on the cause of hypercalcemia.
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Polycythemia (High Red Blood Cell Count)
- Polycythemia (elevated red blood cell count) causes are either primary (aquired or genetic mutations) or secondary (diseases, conditions, high altitude). Treatment of polycythemia depends on the cause.
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Bladder Infection
- E. coli is the most common cause of bladder infections. Bladder infection symptoms and signs include frequent urination, burning urination, and foul smelling urine. Mild bladder infections may go away by increasing one's intake of fluid. More severe infections may be treated with a few days of antibiotics.
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Lower Back Pain
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Medications
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Procedures & Tests
5 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
11 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
6 articles -
Health News
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Health Features
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