Kidney stones affect about 2 of every 1000 Americans each year. About half of people who experience kidney stones will have repeat episodes unless they seek treatment. Your doctor can do a simple urine and blood test to help you make lifestyle changes to help prevent recurrences.
Kidney stones are crystal-like masses that form in the kidney. The formation of stones depends on chemicals present in your urine. If you do not drink enough water, your urine will have more concentrated levels of the chemicals that form stones. Drinking water is essential to preventing the chemicals from clumping together and forming a stone.
There are several types of stones each of which may have more than one cause. Diet, fluid intake, metabolic disorders and heredity can all influence stone formation. The main symptoms of stone presence are abdominal and/or back pain and blood in the urine.
The symptoms you might notice include:
- Severe pain in the back, side, abdomen, and groin (depending on the stones location)
- You may also experience nausea and vomiting
- Urinary frequency
- Burning sensation when urinating