Over half a million people go to emergency rooms for kidney stone problems every year.
Symptoms & signs
- severe pain on either side of your lower back
- more vague pain or stomach ache that doesn't go away
- blood in the urine
- nausea or vomiting
- fever and chills
- urine that smells bad or looks cloudy
Causes & stone types
- Calcium oxalate: Common, created when calcium combines with oxalate in the urine.
- Uric acid: Common, caused by high purine intake leading to monosodium urate production.
- Struvite: Less common, caused by infections in the upper urinary tract.
- Cystine: Rare and tend to run in families with a history of cystinuria.
Risk Factors
The lifetime risk of kidney stones is about 19% in men and 9% in women
Family or personal history of kidney stones: If you or a family member has had kidney stones, you are more likely to develop a stone.
Dehydration: Excessive sweating or not drinking enough water can increase your risk for kidney stones.
Diets high in protein, salt, or sugar:Diets high in one or more of these items increases your risk for certain types of stones.
Obesity: Obesity has been linked to an increased risk of kidney stones.
Digestive diseases or surgeries: Surgeries which change your digestive system can affect absorption of calcium and water, increasing the concentration of stone-forming substances in your urine.
Other medical conditions: Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and cystinuria may increase the risk for kidney stones.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of a kidney stone starts with a medical history, physical examination, and imaging tests.
- Imaging tests: Your doctors will want to know the exact shape and size of the stone. This can be done with a high resolution CT scan. Other imaging options may include a KUB x-ray, or an intravenous pyelogram
- Urine testing: The doctor may also ask that you collect your urine for 24 hours to test for levels of stone-forming minerals and stone-preventing substances.
- Blood testing: Your doctor will test your blood for calcium, phosphorus and uric acid.
- Stone analysis: The stone will be analyzed after it comes out of your body in order to determine cause and a plan for prevention.
Treatment
Medical procedures may be needed to break down larger stones.
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