Why is kidney stone disease increasing?

In recent years, the number of kidney stone cases in Vietnam has tended to increase significantly. According to specialist doctor II Nguyen Van Truyen, Deputy Head of the Department of Interdisciplinary Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thuan My ITO Dong Nai Hospital, out of 10 patients coming to the department for examination, there are up to 6 cases of kidney stones or urinary tract stones. This number reflects the alarming prevalence of this disease.

Doctor Nguyen Van Truyen checks the health of a patient after kidney stone surgery using modern techniques. Photo: An Yen

One of the main reasons for the increase in kidney stones in Vietnam is the hot and humid climate. Hot weather causes the body to lose water through sweat, but many people drink little water, leading to concentrated urine and easy formation of stones. A salty diet, unscientific eating habits, lack of exercise and sitting in one place for a long time are also factors that increase the risk of the disease. In addition, some cases of congenital urinary tract malformations, ureteral stenosis, etc. also obstruct the flow of urine, creating conditions for stones to develop.

Kidney stones can be divided into two groups: symptomatic and asymptomatic. Many people have kidney stones but have no symptoms at all, only discovered during regular health check-ups using ultrasound or X-ray. In the symptomatic group, patients often experience renal colic, one of the most severe pains, flank pain, urinary disorders, hematuria, painful urination or signs of infection such as fever, chills. Some cases only have dull pain in the lumbar region, which can be easily mistaken for musculoskeletal disorders, so regular check-ups are very important.

To prevent kidney stones, Dr. Truyen recommends that people should drink enough water (1.5-2 liters per day or more when exercising, sweating a lot), limit salty foods, increase physical activity, and not sit in one place for too long. People with high risk factors should have annual health check-ups for early detection.

Regarding treatment, Thuan My ITO Dong Nai Hospital is synchronously implementing modern methods such as: retrograde endoscopic lithotripsy with laser, percutaneous endoscopic stone removal surgery, small tunnel percutaneous nephrolithotomy, laser surgery to treat prostate enlargement for cases with other pathologies. These methods aim to help patients avoid painful open surgeries and long recovery times. In particular, percutaneous endoscopic lithotripsy can now be performed in the prone, supine or lateral position, making it suitable for many types of patients, especially those who are obese or have heart or lung disease. Locating stones using ultrasound instead of X-rays or C-arm machines also helps reduce the risk of X-ray exposure for both patients and surgical teams.

Peace

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202512/vi-sao-benh-soi-than-gia-tang-c43183e/