Frequently asked questions
Urinary health problems, symptom relief and Ural
Learn how to manage Gout, Kidney Stones and UTI, and discover more about Ural®. Browse the categories below or type your question in the search bar.
- What does Gout feel like?
- How is Gout diagnosed?
- What are the foods to avoid when you have Gout?
- What are the foods that can trigger gout?
- What increases your risk of gout?
- How do you prevent gout?
- Can you be cured of gout?
- When should I see a doctor for gout?
- How is gout treated?
- Are gout and kidney stones related?
- Are gout and arthritis related?
- Are gout and fatty liver disease related?
- Are gout and diabetes related?
- How do kidney stones look like?
- What types of food can cause kidney stones?
- What are the symptoms of kidney stones?
- What causes kidney stones?
- How are kidney stones detected?
- Will my kidney stone pass on its own?
- What are the prevention methods for kidney stones?
- What does passing a kidney stone feel like?
- What are the treatment options for kidney stones?
- Can calcium cause stones?
- Can cranberries prevent stone formation?
- Can lemon and honey help to ‘flush out’ stones?
- Does alcohol promote stone formation?
- Do tea and carbonated drinks cause stone formation?
- Are stones a one-time event?
- Are there any long-term consequences of having a kidney stone?
- Are kidney stones life-threatening?
- I am currently trying to pass a stone. Why do I feel the urge to urinate more frequently?
- What are the causes of UTI?
- What are the symptoms of UTI?
- Can UTI cause fever?
- Can UTI cause blood in urine?
- Can UTI cause back pain?
- Can UTI cause diarrhoea?
- What is a silent UTI?
- Can UTI be cured?
- How long do UTIs last?
- How can I prevent UTI?
- When should I see a doctor for UTI?
- Can I get antibiotics for UTI without seeing a doctor?
What does Gout feel like?
- Sudden and severe attacks of pain
- Swelling
- Redness and tenderness in one or more joints, most often in the big toe
How is Gout diagnosed?
- Through physical examination, X-rays and lab tests. Gout can only be diagnosed during a flare when a joint is hot, swollen and painful, and/or when a lab test finds uric acid crystals in the affected joint.
What are the foods to avoid when you have Gout?
- Avoid foods and drinks that are high in purines to lower your chances of a gout attack.
What are the foods that can trigger gout?
- Food and drinks that are high in purines such as organ meats, shellfish, sugary drinks and alcohol.
What increases your chances for gout?
The following may increase your risk of developing hyperuricemia, which causes gout:
- Being male
- Being obese
- Those who suffer from hypertension, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, poor kidney functions, etc.
- Taking certain medications such as diuretics
- Alcohol consumption. The higher your alcohol intake, the higher your risk of gout.
- Purine-rich diets
What increases your chances for gout?
- A healthy diet. Avoid high-purine foods and limit your alcohol (particularly beer) and soft drinks intake.
- Drink 8 glasses of water daily.
- Keep active. Experts recommend adults to engage in moderate physical activity for 30 mins daily.
- Maintaining a healthy weight to reduce pressure on joints.
- Regular consumption of urinary alkalinizer. Consult your healthcare professional to find out how Ural reduces uric acid levels to prevent crystallisation.
Can you be cured of gout?
- There is no cure for gout, but you can effectively manage it with medication and self-management strategies.
When should I see a doctor for gout?
Consult your doctor if you are experiencing the following symptoms:
- Pain and swelling in one or more joints. Gout often begins in the big toe but can also occur in other joints.
- Redness, warmth, tenderness and lingering discomfort in your joints
- Limited range of motion
How is gout treated?
Your healthcare professional may recommend one of the following treatment plans.
- To manage the pain of a flare. Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, steroids, and the anti-inflammatory drug, colchicine.
- To prevent future flares. Make changes to your diet and lifestyle such as losing weight, limiting alcohol and eating less purine-rich food.
- To prevent tophi and kidney stones. Tophi are hard, uric acid deposits under the skin. For people with frequent acute flares or chronic gout, doctors may recommend preventive therapy to lower uric acid levels in the blood, using drugs like allopurinol, febuxostat and urinary alkalinizer
Are gout and kidney stones related?
- If you have recurrent or chronic gout, there’s a good chance you will develop kidney stones. Both are caused when excess uric acid accumulates in the body.
Are gout and arthritis related?
- Gout is a type of arthritis that causes pain in your joints, often in the big toe.
Are gout and fatty liver disease related?
- Recent studies associate gout with an increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Are gout and diabetes related?
- Researchers found that those with higher uric acid levels were more likely to get Type 2 diabetes.
How do kidney stones look like?
- Kidney stones come in many different types and colours. There are calcium stones, uric acid stones, cystine stone, and struvite stones.
What types of food can cause kidney stones?
- Salty foods can increase the risk of calcium stones. Animal protein can raise the uric acid levels in the body and in the urine.
What are the symptoms of kidney stones?
- A sharp, cramping pain in the back and side, often moving to the lower abdomen or groin
- Painful urination
- Intense urge to urinate
- Urinating more often or burning sensation during urination
- Urine that is dark or red due to blood
- Nausea and vomiting
What causes kidney stones?
- Low urine volume
- Diet. A high-salt diet increases the risk of calcium stones. A diet high in animal protein such as beef and pork can also raise the uric acid level in the body and in the urine.
- Obesity may change the acid levels in the urine, leading to stone formation.
- Abnormal growth of one or more of the parathyroid glands, which control calcium metabolism, can cause high calcium levels in the blood and urine, which can lead to kidney stones.
- Family history. If your family has a history of stones, you have a higher chance of having them.
How are kidney stones detected?
- If your doctor suspects that you have a kidney stone, you will undergo diagnostic tests and procedures such as blood testing, urine testing, imaging (e.g: CT scan, X-ray, ultrasound)
Will my kidney stone pass on its own?
- Whether a stone will pass on its own depends on its size. The larger the stone, the less likely it will pass on its own and the longer it will take.
| Stone Size | How many pass on their own? | How long does it typically take? |
|---|---|---|
| Smaller than 4 mm | About 80% | 31 days (average) |
| 4 to 6 mm | About 60% | 45 days (average) |
| Larger than 6 mm | About 20% | 12 months (average) |
What are the prevention methods for kidney stones?
- Drink enough fluid every day
- Maintain a healthy diet. Take plenty of fruits and vegetables, reduce salt in your diet, consume food with low oxalate content.
- Achieve a healthy body weight
- Regular consumption of urinary alkalinizer
What does passing a kidney stone feel like?
- For men, they may feel pain in their abdomen, lower back or groin as the stone passes through the narrow ureter and beyond. That can also cause some gastric discomfort, which is centred in the upper abdomen and can be a dull, achy or throbbing pain. Women, on the other hand, may compare kidney stones to menstrual cramps that can escalate from dull aches to wincing pains.
What are the treatment options for kidney stones?
Kidney stones can be removed using one or more strategies below:
- Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), sometimes called “shocking”, is the procedure of breaking up the stone so smaller pieces can pass.
- Ureteroscopy, sometimes called “basketing”, is the process of removing the stone through the ureter.
- Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the procedure of removing the stone from the kidney
- A stent, which is a temporary tube, can be used to hold the ureter open so stone fragments pass more easily.
Can calcium cause stones?
- A calcium-rich diet does not increase the likelihood of getting kidney stones. It is more advisable to cut back on sodium and animal-based protein content.
Can cranberries prevent stone formation?
- Cranberries may help in preventing urinary tract infections. However, cranberries may also promote calcium oxalate stone formation due to their high oxalate content.
Can lemon and honey help to ‘flush out’ stones?
- There are no studies to show that this homemade remedy helps to discard stones.
Does alcohol promote stone formation?
- The diuretic effects of alcohol can cause dehydration and subsequently promote urinary stone formation. Beer is also high in purine, which will increase the risk of uric acid stone formation.
Do tea and carbonated drinks cause stone formation?
- Oxalate in tea and phosphoric acid in carbonated drinks may increase the probability of kidney stones formation.
Are stones a one-time event?
- Stones always recur. However, depending on the nature of the stones, there are steps that you can take to reduce recurrences. Please consult your doctor to learn more.
Are there any long-term consequences of having a kidney stone?
- Kidney stones increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease. If you have had one stone, you have a higher risk of having another.
Are kidney stones life-threatening?
- Although often uncomfortable, kidney stones are rarely life-threatening and are only a cause for concern if a patient has only one functioning kidney.
I am currently trying to pass a stone. Why do I feel the urge to urinate more frequently?
- As a stone gets closer to the bladder, it will irritate the bladder muscle and trigger a spasm or bladder contraction. This results in the urge to urinate even though your bladder may not be full. Nonetheless, urinating more can help you to pass out the stone.
What are the causes of UTI?
- Urinary tract infection is the infection of any part of the urinary tract system, usually caused by bacteria entering the urethra and traveling upwards.
What are the symptoms of UTI?
- Frequent urination throughout the day and night
- Strong urge to urinate but only a few drops pass out
- Burning or painful sensation during urination
- Fever or chills
- Urine is cloudy, dark, or blood-tinged and smells strong or unpleasant
- Pain in the lower abdomen, back or flank
- Nausea or vomiting
Can UTI cause fever?
- Yes. UTI may cause fever or chills. It is important to consult your doctor and get treated right away.
Can UTI cause blood in urine?
- Yes. One of the symptoms of a UTI is blood in your urine. If you think you have UTI, especially if there is blood in your urine, it’s important to see a doctor and get treated right away.
Can UTI cause back pain?
- An upper UTI can cause intense back pain as the infection reaches the kidneys. Upper infections happen when a lower UTI goes unchecked or does not respond to antibiotics. These infections are serious and, in severe cases, require hospitalisation. If not managed well, the infection can spread to the renal artery and blood, which is life-threatening. Kindly consult your doctor to find out more on your symptoms.
Can UTI cause diarrhoea?
- Symptoms of an upper UTI can include diarrhoea. If you think you have UTI, it’s important to see a doctor and get treated right away.
What is a silent UTI?
- A silent UTI normally affects older people, especially women. These UTIs are “silent” because they do not show any symptoms of pain, burning sensation, odour, or frequent urination. However, they often lead to profound changes in behaviour, such as confusion, agitation, fatigue and loss of appetite.
Can UTI be cured?
- Antibiotics are usually the first-line treatment for urinary tract infections. Which drugs are prescribed and treatment duration will depend on your health condition and the type of bacteria found in your urine. Please consult your doctor to learn more about UTI treatment.
How long do UTIs last?
- Uncomplicated UTI symptoms often clear up within a few days of starting treatment. If you have a complicated UTI, it may take 1 week or longer for the symptoms to go away. Please consult your doctor to learn more about UTI treatment.
How can I prevent UTI?
- Drink plenty of water (at least 2-3 litres) daily as frequent urination will help to flush out the bacteria.
- Include fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamin C in your diet.
- Keep the genital and anal areas clean. When using the toilet, wipe from front to back as this helps to prevent spreading bacteria from the anal area to the vagina and urethra.
- Empty the bladder before and after exercise or sexual intercourse.
- Reduce your intake of alcohol, caffeine, carbonated drinks, chocolates, refined or processed foods and simple sugars.
- Avoid feminine products that cause irritation such as deodorant sprays, scented powder and products with fragrances or chemicals.
- Occasional consumption of urinary alkalinizer may help maintain a healthy urinary system.
When should I see a doctor for UTI?
- Consult your healthcare professional right away if you think you have UTI.
Can I get antibiotics for UTI without seeing a doctor?
- It is not recommended to do so. It is important to consult your healthcare professional right away if you think you have UTI.
