Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are salt and mineral deposits that build up and stick together forming what is referred to as "stones" in the kidneys. Known in formal medical terminology as "nephrolithiasis", or "renal stone disease", kidney stones can vary in size from as small as a grain of sand, to the size of a golf ball in rare cases. The act of passing them through the urinary tract is a notoriously painful process that often requires professional medical attention, though in some cases people may pass smaller stones without ever realizing they have done so. When there is pain, it often manifests itself in the abdomen, including the back, side, and belly. A doctor can diagnose kidney stones by performing urinalysis tests and taking x-rays.http://www.webmd.com/kidney-stones/kidney-stones-topic-overview

Kidney stones are a common affliction, and cause over 3 million people per year to seek medical attention due to pain from this disorder.http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/stonesadults/ Men tend to have stones more commonly than women, though the rates for women have been increasing in recent years. And people who have problems passing a kidney stone once are highly likely to experience them again.http://www.uwhealth.org/urology/how-common-are-kidney-stones/11208

Causes are varied, and can include inadequate fluid consumption, urinary tract infections, side effects from certain prescription medications, cancers, thyroid disorders, genetic abnormalities, inflammatory bowel disease, or chemical imbalances in the urinary system.http://www.hmc.psu.edu/healthinfo/jkl/kidneystones.htm If there is too much uric acid, oxalate, or calcium, then stones may form. Conversely, a lack of magnesium can also cause stones.http://www.urologychannel.com/kidneystones/causes.shtml Because there are so many different causes of kidney stones, there are also several types: Calcium stones, struvite stones, uric acid stones, cystine stones, and more.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/kidney-stones/DS00282/DSECTION=causes

You will more than likely not even know you have a kidney stone until it moves into the ureter, which is the tube that connects the kidney and the bladder. Once the stone has moved into the ureter it can cause pain in the side or back, bloody or cloudy urine, pain when urinating, nausea or vomiting. It can also cause a frequent urge to urinate. If an infection is present with a kidney stone it can cause fever and chills.http://www.hmc.psu.edu/healthinfo/jkl/kidneystones.htm

On the other hand, many people will be able to pass small stones without pain or incident, never realizing that the stones existed.

If a stone stays inside the kidney it usually causes no problems unless it becomes big enough to block the flow of urine. This can cause pressure and pain along with the danger of kidney damage, bleeding or infection. Smaller stones may cause constant urinary tract infections and possible kidney damage if left untreated.http://www.healthcentral.com/ency/408/guides/000081_2.html

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact a doctor before using the information presented here.