2 / 8
2
q
&
HEALTH
The number of
Americans who
have hearing loss
serious enough to
affect their ability
to understand
normal speech.
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
1
in
10
OUT OF
2
3
The approximate
ratio of people with
Alzheimer’s disease
who are women.
Alzheimer’s Association
The percentage of cardiac arrests that
occur in the home. Learning CPR may
help save a loved one.
American Heart Association
Seventy
Sources: American Urological
Association; National Institutes
of Health
Kidney stones
vary in size,
shape and color.
Smooth
Jagged
Staghorn
Y O U R K I D N E Y S
The trouble
with stones
Kidney stones are lots of
things at once: preva-
lent, painful and prone
to recur. But they’re also
treatable.
Kidney stones form
when substances in the
urinary tract combine
into solid particles. Some
stones, which can be as
small as a grain of sand,
are flushed from the
body unnoticed during
urination.
Larger stones, how-
ever, can cause signifi-
cant pain. Even so, most
of those pass on their
own too.
But sometimes, stones
get stuck. Symptoms include pain while
urinating; bloody urine; and a sharp,
persistent pain in your back or side. You
may also vomit.
If your doctor determines your kidney
stones are unlikely to pass on their own,
he or she may recommend:
w w
Using a special machine to crush the
stones with shock waves, allowing the
smaller fragments to pass.
w w
Removing stones with a thin instru-
ment inserted through the urethra.
w w
Surgery.
Sources: National Institutes of Health; Urology Care Foundation
To learn more about kidney stones, visit
morehealth.org/kidneystones .Even though aspirin can help some people
avoid a heart attack or stroke, it’s not for
everyone.
Taking aspirin on a regular basis has been
linked to a number of serious side effects, such
as bleeding in the stomach and brain, reports
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Also, several prescription medicines have
blood-thinning properties just like aspirin.
Taking these drugs along with aspirin can
be risky. Caution is also needed when mix-
ing aspirin with certain over-the-counter
medicines, vitamins, herbal remedies and
supplements.
According to FDA, regular aspirin use may
not be a good idea for some people, including
those who have:
w w
A bleeding disorder.
w w
Uncontrolled high blood pressure.
w w
Severe liver or kidney disease.
w w
An allergy to aspirin.
Before you begin routine aspirin use, tell
your doctor about all the medicines and
supplements you take. Also, if side effects oc-
cur once you start taking aspirin, be sure to let
your doctor know.
The story on aspirin
Understand its benefits and risks