What is a Kidney Stone?

Your kidneys remove waste and fluid from your blood to make urine (pee). Sometimes, when you have too much waste and not enough fluid in your blood, these wastes can build up and stick together in your kidneys. These clumps of waste are called kidney stones.

Kidney stones can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball.

What are its symptoms?

It has been observed that the more the size of the stone, the more noticeable are its symptoms. Usually, a kidney stone doesn’t cause any symptoms until it moves around in the kidneys or passes into the ureters. If it gets stuck into the ureters, it may block the flow of urine and brings swelling to the kidneys, and make the ureter spasm, which can be very painful. Following are the symptoms you may experience if you have kidney stone-

• Severe, sharp pain in the side and back, below the ribs
• Pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin
• Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity
• Pain or burning sensation while urinating

Other signs and symptoms may include:

• Pink, red, or brown urine
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• A persistent need to urinate, urinating more often than usual or urinating in small amounts
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever and chills if an infection is present

When to see a doctor?

You should definitely visit a doctor if you have these signs or symptoms.

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

• Pain so severe that you can’t sit still or find a comfortable position
• Pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting
• Pain accompanied by fever and chills
• Blood in your urine
• Difficulty passing urine

Risk Factors that lead to Kidney Stones

Now, a fact about kidney stone is that it is linked to certain diseases, conditions, and habits that can lead to kidney stones. Also, knowing the type of stone always helps you in determining its cause.

It has also been seen that if one attains and pass a kidney stone, he or she can also get another one within a few months, therefore, one must follow their doctor’s recommendations and be aware of the risk factors so that they can prevent the formation of any stones again.

Before getting into the risk factors, let us know about what type of stones form in kidneys

There are FOUR TYPES of kidney stones: Calcium oxalate, Uric acid, Struvite, and Cystine.

1. Calcium oxalate: It forms when calcium combines with oxalate in the urine. Inadequate calcium and fluid intake, as well other conditions, may contribute to their formation. Also, this is the most common type of stone found in kidneys.
2. Uric acid: Having foods with a high concentration of purines like organ meats and shellfish leads to higher production of monosodium urate, which, under the right conditions, leads to the formation of another common type of stones. This type of stone tends to run in families.
3. Struvite: These stones are less common and are formed in response to urinary tract infections. These stones can grow quickly and become quite large, sometimes with a few symptoms or little warning.
4. Cystine: These stones are rare and form in people with a hereditary disorder called cystinuria that causes the kidneys to excrete too much specific amino acid.

Factors that increase your risk of developing kidney stones include:

• Family or personal history- Developing kidney stones can be genetic. If any of your family members have or have had a kidney stone, you are more likely to develop it. Also, as we mentioned earlier, if you have already had one or more kidney stones, you are at increased risk of developing another
• Dehydration- Water plays a key role. Not drinking enough water can increase the risk of developing kidney stones. Moreover, it is said that the summer season is the “season of kidney stones”, simply because warmer climates lead to dehydration, and hence, the risk of developing kidney stones increases. This is why people who live in warmer locations can develop kidney stones more often.
• Certain diets- Food that is high in protein, salt, and sugar increases the risk of developing certain types of stones. Especially the high-sodium diet, too much salt in your diet increases the amount of calcium and can lead to calcium stones.
• Obesity- High body mass index (BMI), large waist size, and weight gain have been linked to an increased risk of kidney stones.
• Digestive diseases and surgery- Diseases like Gastric bypass surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, or chronic diarrhoea can cause changes in the digestive process and can affect the absorption of calcium and water in the body. Hence, increases the amounts of stone- formation in your urine.
• Other medical conditions– Certain conditions like renal tubular acidosis, cystinuria, hyperparathyroidism, and recurrent urinary tract infections also can increase your risk of kidney stones.
• Certain supplements and medications- such as vitamin C, dietary supplements, laxatives (when used excessively), calcium-based antacids, and certain medications used to treat migraines or depression, can increase your risk of kidney stones.