Types of Crystals Found In Human Urine and Their Clinical Significance

When there are too many minerals in the body chances are urine crystals will form and they are prominent in the kidneys. Crystals in urine can form into stone and they go unnoticed until such time they get large and began causing symptoms.

There are many measures to get rid of crystals in urine but the most effective ones are extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Urine has crystals if you notice the following symptoms:
1. Cloudy and foul-smelling urine
2. Presence of blood in the urine leading to changes in urine color – brownish, pinkish, to reddish
3. Nausea and vomiting
4. Urgency to urinate and painful urination
5. Flank pain

Debris in urine can be caused by many things and it is not normal to have such debris, especially if it includes cells, small stones, casts, crystals, and sloughing of tissues. Debris in urine is usually associated with urinary tract infection.

You can prevent the formation of crystals in urine by doing the following:
1. Drinking plenty of fluids approximately 2.5 liters of water/day.
2. Limit your intake of foods high in sodium (salt) as they can increase the amount of calcium in urine, which eventually leads to stone formation.
3. Be conscious of your protein intake as such can greatly increase the formation of the stone.
4. Make sure you take the right amount of calcium.
5. Limit your intake of high oxalate foods such as soy products, beets, bran, and nuts.

The presence of crystals in urine indicates kidney stones, but it does not always mean that you need medical treatments especially if they are just small in numbers. Usually, minute crystals can pass through the urine with little to no pain at all.

The amorphous crystals in the urine are caused by transient supersaturation of urine and other factors like foods, changes in the pH and temperature of urine, which normally happens after micturition.

You probably have heard of drinks to flush the kidneys. There are plenty to choose from but the most effective is cranberry juice and dandelion. The former supports the urinary tract and helps get rid of urinary tract infection and calcium oxalate deposits. The latter stimulates the production of bile and aids in digestion.

In the urine of a person with diabetes, you will find crystals like tyrosine crystals, uric acid, and calcium oxalate.

To significantly reduce amorphous urates in the urine, you have to alkalinize and dilute the urine. So, you have to increase your intake of water.

If your body is in a state of ketosis, it will attempt to reduce the number of ketones by means of excreting it through urination. An indicator that ketones are present in the urine if your urine becomes dark purple in color. This usually happens in people who follow a ketogenic diet.

In people with damaged kidneys, proteins can escape through the urine. Indicators of the presence of protein in the urine are bubbly, frothy, and foamy urine. There are also other noticeable symptoms such as swelling of the face, abdomen, and extremities.

If you have kidney stones, you need to be very careful with your diet. You should limit your intake of stone-forming foods such as spinach, tea, nuts, chocolate, and beets.

Urate crystals are a result of an abnormally high level of uric acid in the blood. It is formed when the high level of uric acid breaks down purine. It is a substance innate in the body, but purine can also be found in food sources such as steak, seafood, and organ meat.

The bold answer is yes! As a matter of fact, it can be found even in healthy people. It could be linked to an excess intake of vitamin C and protein-rich foods. However, you have to keep in mind that the presence of crystals in the urine could also suggest an underlying medical condition.

The color of urine is an indicator as to how well your kidneys function. if the urine becomes dark in color along with other noticeable changes like urinating less often and in small amounts, it means that there is something wrong with your kidneys.

The smell of urine is dependent on various factors such as the types of foods you eat, side effects of medications, and the presence of bacteria in the urine.

The urine of a person with diabetes smells fruity and sweet. It is the body’s way of getting rid of excess sugar in the blood. If you don’t know if you have diabetes but noticed that your urine smells sweet and fruity, you have to consult your doctor, especially if diabetes runs in the family.

You will know that there is something wrong with your kidneys if you notice the following:
– Painful urination
– Dramatic changes in urinating habits, especially in quantity and urgency.
– Foamy, discolored, and bloody urine
– A feeling of fatigue
– Swelling that is noticeable around the eyes, face, abdomen, arms, and legs.
– Flank pain
– Joint pain/bone pain

If you are in the initial state of ketosis, you will feel tired and weak. It is because the body switches from burning carbohydrates to burning fat. Other symptoms associated with ketosis are changes in the smell of breath (bad breath) and weight loss.

The duration of passing the kidney stone depends on the size of the stone and its location. If the stone is smaller than 4 millimeters, most of the time it could pass on its own within 31 days. If the stone is more than 4 mm but less than 6 mm, there is a 60% chance that you can pass it naturally within 45 days. Sometimes, it requires treatment to allow it to pass efficiently. However, if the stone is larger than 6 mm, passing it naturally seems impossible. The best way is to undergo medical intervention. The location of the stone is a huge factor too. Stones that are located at the end of the ureter are more likely to pass on their own than those attached to the kidney.

In patients with urinary tract infection, a triple phosphate crystal can be seen and it is associated with urea-splitting bacteria like P. mirabilis.