A kidney is a pair of bean-shaped organs in your body, and it performs many crucial functions. The main work of the kidney is to filter waste and excess water from the blood and to produce urine. It also balances the blood pressure. Kidney stones are hard objects made of mineral and salt deposits in the kidney and cause severe pain. However, people want to know whether kidney stones cause high blood pressure. We are mentioned in this blog, can kidney stones cause high blood pressure, the link between kidney stones and high blood pressure, how to manage both kidney stones and blood pressure, and the factors affecting them.
Knowing the Kidney Stones and High Blood Pressure
A kidney stone does not directly cause high blood pressure, but it can impact the cyclical ways. Here is information about the kidney stone and blood pressure.
What is a Kidney Stone?
A kidney stone is a solid particle of mineral and salt built in the kidney and often causes severe pain when it moves in the urinary tract. The stone can be smaller than a sand grain and larger than approximately 10 mm or above. It is also known as renal calculi or urolithiasis.
There cannot be any issues if the stone remains in the kidney. When the kidney stone travels through the urinary tract and reaches the ureter, the tube between the kidney and bladder. Once the stone reaches the bladder, this may be passed out of the body through urine. If it stays and is lodged in the ureter, this can cause severe pain.
What is Blood Pressure?
The force of blood pressing against the walls of your blood vessels and arteries as the heart pumps and circulates it throughout your body. It is known as blood pressure. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is measured in two numbers. The lower figure number, diastolic pressure, indicates the pressure during the interval between heartbeats. The upper number is represented by systolic pressure, the pressure during a heartbeat.
Link Between Kidney Stones and High Blood Pressure
Kidney stones and high blood pressure are linked to an indirect or cyclical relationship, where the condition worsens. High blood pressure can damage the kidney blood vessels and cause chronic kidney disease and metabolic syndrome. This also increases the chances of kidney stones. However, kidney stones can also increase the chances of chronic kidney disease and kidney infection. This can affect the blood pressure. There are some factors in the relationship between kidney stones and high blood pressure.
- Recurrent Kidney Stones: People who have faced multiple kidney stones in their lives are more likely to face chronic kidney disease. The damaged kidney is the main cause of chronic kidney disease because the kidney stones damage the kidney and make it hard to filter properly. And when fluids are not properly filtered by the kidneys, then there is a high chance of a rise in blood pressure.
- Metabolic Syndrome, Hypertension, and Kidney Stones: High blood pressure is a component of metabolic syndrome. It can increase calcium levels in the urine, and metabolic syndrome reduces urine pH and increases sodium levels. This can increase the risk of stone formation.
- Kidney Stone and High Blood Pressure, Urinary Obstruction: Sometimes a large kidney stone gets stuck in the urinary tract. It causes discomfort and pain because of a blockage in the passage of urine flow. Hence, the kidney starts swelling as the urine is stored in it continuously. This disturbance in kidney function can cause high blood pressure.
- Inflammation due to Kidney Stones and High Blood Pressure: Large kidney stones increase the risk of urine blockage and inflammation in the urinary system and other parts of the body. However, chronic inflammation affects the blood vessel’s ability to dilate and constrict, which can lead to hypertension.
Symptoms of Kidney Stones and Blood Pressure and their Diagnosis
Kidney stones may indirectly cause high blood pressure through kidney damage, and pain increases the stress and causes secondary hypertension. However, the symptoms of kidney stones and hypertension are linked to severe side and back pain when moving into the groin. And through nausea, vomiting, frequent urination, and blood in the urine.
Symptoms of Kidney Stones
Symptoms of kidney stones usually occur when the stone begins to move. There are some common symptoms mentioned.
- Severe pain in the lower abdomen
- Painful sensation during urination
- Blood in urine
- Nausea and vomiting
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
Most people don’t recognize the symptoms of high blood pressure until they become severe. There are some common symptoms mentioned.
- Difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath
- Chest pain and Nose bleeding
- Severe headache, vomiting, or nausea
- Abnormal heartbeat
Diagnosis of Kidney Stones and Blood Pressure
Kidney stones may indirectly cause high blood pressure through kidney damage, and pain increases the stress and causes secondary hypertension. Diagnosis involves better visualisation through an imaging view, such as a CT scan, an ultrasound, and a blood test. It is performed for the observation of stone size, location, and blood pressure monitoring.
Treatment Options for Kidney Stones and High Blood Pressure
There are multiple ways available for the treatment of high blood pressure and kidney stones together. Most of them are medications, and some treatments. Addressing kidney stones to manage potential blood pressure related to pain relief with Drugs, alpha-blockers like tamsulosin, for stone passage.
However, blood pressure management through ACE inhibitors or ARBs is recommended. Stay hydrated and increase the amount of fluid, primarily water, daily by 2-3 liters. It is one of the best ways to control both kidney stones and blood pressure. There are some of the treatment options for kidney stones and high blood pressure.
Treatment Option for Kidney Stones
There are some common kidney stone treatments:
- Hydration: Drinking 2 to 3 liters of plain water daily helps flush out stones and use NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen for pain.
- Uretroscopy: It is a process that uses a minimally invasive scope or lasers to remove small stones through the urethra.
- Alpha Blockers: These medications, like tamsulosin, its used for ureter muscle relaxation for easy stone pass.
Treatment Option for Blood Pressure
There are some common blood pressure treatments:
- Healthy Diet: Eat healthy foods and follow the diet plan a such as sodium and high-potassium foods.
- Work Out: Do a physical activity or exercise daily for 20-25 minutes.
- ACE Inhibitors: These are the best blood pressure medications for kidney disease, such as lisinopril, used for vessel relaxation.
Management of Kidney Stones and High Blood Pressure
Kidney stone is a very popular and common disease nowadays, and there are multiple people facing these stones. And diabetic people who have kidney stones have to deal with the issues related to blood pressure, too.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: You should follow the kidney stone diet chart because your overall health is mostly dependent on your body weight. A overweight can make kidney stones more likely to occur. However, daily physical exercise can support stable blood pressure levels and help to maintain a healthy weight.
- Keep Yourself Hydrated: To keep the health of the kidneys and to maintain the blood pressure, water is one of the best things you can have in an adequate amount.. Also, maintaining hydration of the body helps to prevent kidney stones.
- Intaking a High Calcium-Rich and a Low-Sodium Diet: A high-sodium diet can increase calcium in your urine, which can cause kidney stones. If you consume food that is rich in calcium, such as milk and cheese, Calcium binds the oxalates and prevents them from mixing in urine.
- Medications and Diet Plan: There are multiple medicines in this market. But the most common medicines are ARBs, ACE inhibitors, and Alpha blockers that can help both kidney stones and high blood pressure. A healthy diet also reduces the risk of kidney stones.
Myths and Misconceptions of Blood Pressure and Kidney Stones
There are a lot of myths and misconceptions related to kidney stones and blood pressure are there. Some of the most common and popular myths regarding this are:
- Myth: Kidney stones directly cause permanent high blood pressure.
- Fact: In most circumstances, the kidney stones present with acute pain, vomiting, and headache. Hypertension is only seen in rare cases linked to the kidney.
- Myth: Hypertension can be eased by having fresh cranberry juice, which breaks down the stones into little pieces.
- Fact: It prevents UTIs, but does not break down stones or manage your blood pressure. You need medical treatment.
Conclusion
Kidney stones are associated and an increased chance of causing high blood pressure, but they can not cause it directly. This can cause in worsening condition that can affect the blood pressure. We hope this blog helps you and clears your doubt related to the most common question, “Can kidney stones cause high blood pressure?” We also mentioned how to prevent and treat kidney stones and high blood pressure at home. And also mentioned the best medication related to this issue. And if you are suffering from this disease, early detection, taking medication, and following your diet plan should be your priorities for your faster recovery.