What causes hydronephrosis in adults?

Are you feeling that gnawing pain in your side? Or does it feel like a knife has been stuck into your back while someone is slowly twisting it, imitating the opening scene from Game of Thrones? Let’s face it – nobody likes kidney problems. Hydronephrosis is one such problem which affects thousands of adults around the world. But what exactly causes this issue and how can we prevent it? Let’s dive deep and find out!

The Basics: Understanding Hydronephrosis

Before discussing what causes hydronephrosis in adults, let’s understand what hydronephrosis actually means.

Hydronephrosis is a condition marked by swelling in one or both kidneys due to urine buildup. It occurs when urine backs up into the kidney, leading to pressure on the kidney tissue. This can occur for several reasons including an obstruction caused by a blockage or narrowing of the urinary tract system.

Here are some essential facts you should know about hydronephrosis:
– It can affect all ages but mainly affects older individuals
– Both genders are at risk but males have more prevalence
– If left untreated, severe cases of hydronephrosis may lead to kidney damage or failure

Now let’s take a look at some common factors contributing to this medical condition:

Common Causes of Hydronephrosis

Urinary Tract Obstruction

This is often cited as one of the main reasons behind most cases of hydronephrosis (see what I did there?). Urinary tract obstructions come from many different sources such as strictures and tumors which result in issues moving waste fluid through our urinary tract systems. When these obstructions continue over time they narrow down further until reaching critical mass where they reduce output capacity – causing fullness-like sensations inside organs like kidneys.

Kidney Stones

Sure, they may be small in size but kidney stones pack a big punch when it comes to hydronephrosis. When these stones form in your urinary tract, they eventually block the path of urine flow towards the bladder. As a result, there is an accumulation of urine inside the kidney leading to swelling and inflammation – causing extreme pain for those that are affected.

Congenital defects

Do you ever wonder why anyone would let an infant run around with scissors? Well… nobody does- just like nobody plans for their babies to experience congenital disorders that affect one or both kidneys aka hydronephrosis. These abnormalities occur during fetal development and put severe strain on normal physiological processes by restricting urine drainage.

Pregnancy

Pregnant women have more reasons than ever before to want not only healthy children but also healthy body organs; those carrying fetuses can fall victim themselves due to compression from growing uterus onto urethra increasing hydro pressure over time hence creating complications till delivery date.

Cancerous tumors

Cancer patients often equate living with waterfalls made out of constant nausea dampening outlooks leaving them feeling empty drained (literally!) with Hydronephrosis among other consequences taking buy-in insurance policies much seriously which nevertheless leaves individual agony hanging over loosely like hair follicles ready at any moment’s notice…

Symptoms: When To Consider Medical Attention?

Hydronephrosis impacts each person differently and so symptoms vary according as well – because really what’s life without some unpredictability! Here are several key signs indicating you might suffer from this condition:

  • Painful urination
  • Nausea / Vomiting
  • Abdominal bloating
  • Fatigue / Lethargy
  • Increased pulse rate
  • Elevated blood pressure levels
    (So if summer bodies truly ARE built during winter then being beach-ready was never an option in the first place)

If you experience any of these symptoms for an extended period, it is time to consult a doctor. Delaying medical attention may lead to severe complications such as kidney failure which will make things much worse in the long run so don’t ignore them!

Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Diagnosis

“Big Brother’s” ever-enthusiastic catchphrase of “Expect the Unexpected!” comes true with how docs go about diagnosing hydronephrosis. They have multiple methods up their sleeves including:
– CT scans: fast & effective at detecting blockages
– MRI tests: detailed but lengthy process
– Ultrasound imaging – provides clearer image resolution than most other imaging techniques during examination performed by urologist specialist (not recommended for people with metal plates in their bodies)

A word of caution

Although no particular preparation is needed before getting any scan – your doctors might advise doing some exercises on certain days or not eating/drinking anything 6 hours pre-scan because, why not? However what HAS been overlooked way too often are those poor unassuming souls who forgot to check if they’re allergic against iodine dye prior CT/MRI scans causing sudden allergic reactions… Oops!

Treatment

Hydronephrosis treatment usually involves removing the underlying cause mentioned above alongwith providing relief from various symptoms like pain and inflammation which helps steer patients back towards regular routines having improved quality-of-life scores! Here are several ways healthcare providers recommend treating this condition:

1) Medications – Medicine only solves half the problem; Stronger antibiotic medication can help relieve UTIs while others reduce swelling within irrigation based scenarios but always let YOUR DOCTOR prescribe you something even after reading non-expert blogs.

2) Surgical options – If conservative approaches aren’t enough then surgery should definitely be considered especially when intense complicated cases surface that cannot be delayed further without serious consequences; Minimal surgeries via laparoscope ensure less visible scarring marks following post-op recovery period which can usually last up to a few days but it’s totally worth it.

3) Lifestyle changes – Altering daily habits and routines would also help manage symptoms. Doctors suggest drinking lots of water, avoiding anticholinergics which cause muscle contraction (a fancy way of saying avoid coffee or caffeine based drinks), & following a regular exercise regimen that is helpful with maintaining ‘waterworks’ at optimal levels

Conclusion

Hydronephrosis may not be the most-talked-about medical condition, but it affects thousands around the world. Understanding what causes hydronephrosis in adults – whether from urinary tract obstructions or pregnancies – could help you prevent this condition from happening again. And if you think something isn’t right within your body due to prolonged bouts of pain, fatigue or other symptoms listed above—always seek immediate medical attention by consulting with trained professionals like urologists.

P.S.: Did you know Kidneys are shaped like beans? Maybe their insistence upon “two cups of coffee every morning” explains why!

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