让我们首先来了解肾结石的基础知识。肾结石,在医学上被称为 renal calculi (肾结石),是形成于肾脏内部、由矿物质和盐类组成的坚硬沉积物。当尿液中的某些物质(例如 calcium [钙]、oxalate [草酸盐] 或 uric acid [尿酸])浓度过高时,就会导致晶体形成,进而发展成结石。随着时间的推移,这些晶体可以逐渐长大。
肾结石的大小差异巨大。有些小如沙粒,而另一些则大如鹅卵石甚至更大。较小的结石通常会自行随 urinary tract (尿路/泌尿道) 排出体外,但较大的结石可能会被卡住并阻塞尿流,从而引发剧烈疼痛。
常见的症状包括腰部或侧腹部突发的阵发性剧痛、blood in the urine (血尿)、nausea (恶心)、vomiting (呕吐) 以及 an urgent need to urinate (尿急)。
肾结石的风险因素包括 dehydration (脱水)、高盐或高蛋白饮食、obesity (肥胖) 以及结石家族史。治疗方案取决于结石的大小和类型。选择范围很广,从多喝水以帮助结石自然排出,到医疗干预手段,例如 shockwave therapy (冲击波疗法) 或手术。预防措施则涉及保持充足的水分、均衡饮食以及管理潜在的医疗状况。
既然我们对肾结石有了扎实的了解,接下来让我们复习一些核心词汇,以帮助您能够用医学英语熟练讨论该疾病:
Renal (肾的 / 肾脏的): Pertaining to the kidneys, such as renal function or renal calculi. (与肾脏相关的,例如肾功能或肾结石。)
Calculi (结石): A medical term for stones or solid deposits that form in the body, like kidney stones. (在体内形成的结石或固体沉积物的医学术语,如肾结石;单数形式为 calculus。)
Ureter (输尿管): The tube that connects the kidneys to the bladder. Stones often get lodged here, causing pain. (连接肾脏和膀胱的管道。结石经常卡在这里并引发疼痛。)
Hydronephrosis (肾盂积水 / 肾积水): Swelling of the kidney caused by a blockage, such as a stone, that prevents urine from draining. (由于阻塞(如结石)导致尿液无法排出,进而引起肾脏肿大。)
Lithotripsy (体外冲击波碎石术 / 碎石术): A non-invasive procedure that uses shock waves to break kidney stones into smaller pieces. (一种利用冲击波将肾结石击碎成更小碎片的非侵入性治疗手段。)
Colic (绞痛 / 肾绞痛): Intense, cramping pain, often associated with kidney stones moving through the urinary tract. (剧烈的、阵发性抽搐样疼痛,通常与结石在尿路中的移动相关。)
Hematuria (血尿): Blood in the urine, which can result from irritation caused by a kidney stone. (尿中带血,通常由于结石对尿路黏膜的刺激和摩擦引起。)
Metabolic disorder (代谢紊乱 / 代谢性疾病): A condition that affects the body's chemical processes, increasing the risk of stones. (影响身体化学过程的基础疾病,会增加结石形成的风险。)
Urologist (泌尿外科医生): A medical specialist who treats conditions of the urinary tract, including kidney stones. (专门治疗泌尿系统疾病(包括肾结石)的专科医生。)
Struvite stones (鸟粪石 / 感染性结石): A type of kidney stone that forms due to infections in the urinary tract. (一种由于泌尿道感染而形成的肾结石类型。)