You have probably either had a kidney stone or know someone who has had one. About 1 in 10 people will get a kidney stone during their lifetime. They can be very painful. Although most kidney stones pass out of the body on their own in the urine, sometimes they require a medical procedure for treatment. Today we’ll talk more about what you should know about kidney stones.
What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones are hard deposits made up of minerals, acids, and/or salts that form inside your kidneys. They can range in size from as small as a grain of sand to larger than a golf ball, although most are on the smaller size, around the size of a small pea. Smaller stones, like those grain of sand size, can pass through your urinary tract and out in your urine without causing any symptoms at all. You may have no idea you even passed it. But when they get a little larger, they can cause severe pain and other symptoms as they move through your urinary tract. This is especially true if they are large enough to get stuck in the ureter, which is the small tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. If they block the flow of urine, the kidney and upper ureter become overstretched with urine, which is very painful.What are the symptoms of kidney stones?
Symptoms can vary a bit depending on where the kidney stone is located, whether it is slowly moving through or stuck, and how badly it is blocking the flow of urine. Here are some of the common symptoms:
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Severe, sharp pain in the side, belly, or back, below the ribs
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Pain may radiate to the lower abdomen and groin
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Pain may come in waves and fluctuate in intensity
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Pain may also change locations as the stone moves through the urinary tract.
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Inability to urinate or urinating in small amounts.
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Urinary frequency
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Pain or burning sensation while urinating
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Pink, red, or brown urine – indicating blood in the urine
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Cloudy or foul-smelling urine – usually indicating infection
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Nausea and vomiting
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Fever and chills if an infection is present
What causes kidney stones?
Your urine contains minerals, acids, and salts, which your kidney has filtered to be released in the urine. Kidney stones can form when your urine contains more of these crystal-forming substances than the fluid in your urine can dilute. Kidney stones are commonly made up of calcium, oxalate, or uric acid. They can slowly form in the kidney over months or even years.
What are the risk factors for developing kidney stones?
Kidney stones are most common in men in their 30s and 40s, but they can occur in anyone.
Factors that increase your risk include:
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Not drinking enough fluids on a regular basis
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A diet high in meat and other high protein foods
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A diet high in sodium or sugars (particularly sucrose and fructose)
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Obesity
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Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, gout, cystic fibrosis, parathyroid disease, and others
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Taking certain medications or supplements, such as vitamin C, diuretics, calcium-based antacids, some antiseizure medications, and others
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Family history of kidney stones
Next week, we will talk more about kidney stones, including diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
If you have any questions about kidney stones, please log into your account and send us your question. We are here to help.
Dr. Anita Bennett MD – Health Tip Content Editor