Kidney stones are hard, solid masses or crystals that form in your kidneys from dissolved minerals and salts in your urine. They can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball, though larger stones are uncommon.
Causes of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones form when your urine has high levels of waste products and low levels of fluid. This allows the waste products to crystallize and clump together. There are several factors that can increase your risk of developing kidney stones, including:
- Diet: A diet high in animal protein, sodium, oxalate, and sugar can increase your risk of kidney stones. Oxalate is found in many fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
- Dehydration: Not drinking enough fluids can concentrate your urine and make it more likely that stones will form.
- Family history: If you have a family member with kidney stones, you are more likely to develop them yourself.
- Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), can increase your risk of kidney stones.
- Medications: Certain medications, such as diuretics and some weight-loss medications, can increase your risk of kidney stones.
Symptoms of Kidney Stones
The most common symptom of a kidney stone is severe pain in the lower back or abdomen. The pain may come and go in waves and can be excruciating. Other symptoms of kidney stones can include:
- Painful urination
- Blood in the urine
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever and chills
- Frequent urination
- Difficulty urinating
- Urine that smells bad or looks cloudy
Diagnosis of Kidney Stones
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of kidney stones, it is important to see a doctor right away. Your doctor will ask you about your medical history and symptoms and may perform a physical exam. They may also order one or more of the following tests to diagnose kidney stones:
- Urinalysis: This test checks for blood, infection, and other abnormalities in your urine.
- Blood tests: These tests can check for substances in your blood that may be contributing to kidney stones.
- Imaging tests: X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasounds can be used to create images of your urinary tract to locate and diagnose kidney stones.
Treatment of Kidney Stones
The treatment for kidney stones will depend on the size and location of the stone, as well as your symptoms.
- Small stones: Small stones may pass on their own with pain medication and increased fluid intake.
- Large stones: Larger stones may need to be treated with shock wave lithotripsy, a procedure that uses sound waves to break the stone into smaller pieces that can then be passed in your urine.
- Ureteroscopy: This procedure uses a thin, lighted tube inserted through your urethra and bladder to reach the ureter and kidney stone. Lasers or other instruments can be used to break up the stone or remove it.
- Percutaneous nephrolithomy (PNL): This procedure is used for large or complex stones in the kidney. A small incision is made in your back, and a thin tube is inserted into your kidney to reach the stone. The stone is then broken up with lasers or ultrasound and removed.
- Open surgery: In rare cases, open surgery may be needed to remove a very large kidney stone.
Preventing Kidney Stones
There are a number of things you can do to help prevent kidney stones, including:
- Drink plenty of fluids: Aim to drink eight glasses of water or other fluids per day.
- Eat a healthy diet: Eat a diet that is low in animal protein, sodium, oxalate, and sugar.
- Limit certain foods: If you are prone to calcium oxalate stones, you may want to limit foods that are high in oxalate, such as spinach, rhubarb, and beets.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese can increase your risk of kidney stones.
- Reduce salt intake: A high-salt diet can increase your risk of kidney stones.
- Ask about medications: If you are taking medications that increase your risk of kidney stones, talk to your doctor about alternative medications.
- Treat medical conditions: If you have a medical condition that increases your risk of kidney stones, such as recurrent UTIs, be sure to treat it promptly.
If you have any questions or concerns about kidney stones, please talk to your doctor.
