Kidney stones (renal lithiasis, nephrolithiasis) are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. Kidney stones have many causes and can affect any part of your urinary tract — from your kidneys to your bladder. Often, stones form when the urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallize and stick together. Passing… Read More »
Types of kidney stones include: Calcium stones. Most kidney stones are calcium stones, usually in the form of calcium oxalate. … Struvite stones. Struvite stones form in response to an infection, such as a urinary tract infection. … Uric acid stones. … Cystine stones. Explanation to the types of kidney Stones Knowing the type of kidney… Read More »
A kidney stone is exactly that — a hard mass of minerals and salts that forms in the kidneys. Certain foods and drinks contain chemicals that can lead to these sometimes painful crystals. The stones come in several different types, and foods that are not so good for one kind may be OK to eat if you have another type.… Read More »
To remove a smaller stone in your ureter or kidney, your doctor may pass a thin lighted tube (ureteroscope) equipped with a camera through your urethra and bladder to your ureter. Once the stone is located, special tools can snare the stone or break it into pieces that will pass in your urine. Symptoms: Pain When Do I Need Surgery for a Kidney Stone? Kidney… Read More »
Kidney stone prevention Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits that form inside your kidneys. They cause excruciating pain when they pass through your urinary tract. Up to 12 percent of Americans are affected by kidney stones. And once you’ve had one kidney stone, you’re 50 percent more likely to get another within the next 10 years. There’s no one… Read More »
You may be able to pass a small stone by: Drinking water. Drinking as much as 2 to 3 quarts (1.9 to 2.8 liters) a day may help flush out your urinary system. … Pain relievers. Passing a small stone can cause some discomfort. … Medical therapy. Your doctor may give you a medication to help pass your kidney stone. Treatment Treatment for kidney stones varies,… Read More »
What are kidney stones? Kidney stones are hard collections of salt and minerals often made up of calcium or uric acid. They form inside the kidney and can travel to other parts of the urinary tract. Stones vary in size. Some are as small as the period at the end of this sentence — a fraction of… Read More »
What causes kidney stones? Kidney stones form when there is a decrease in urine volume and/or an excess of stone-forming substances in the urine. The most common type of kidney stone contains calcium in combination with either oxalate or phosphate. A majority of kidney stones are calcium stones. Other chemical compounds that can form stones… Read More »
A kidney stone may not cause symptoms until it moves around within your kidney or passes into your ureter — the tube connecting the kidney and bladder. At that point, you may experience these signs and symptoms: Severe pain in the side and back, below the ribs. Pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin. Kidney stone facts A kidney stone is a hard, crystalline mineral… Read More »
Diagnosis If your doctor suspects you have a kidney stone, you may have diagnostic tests and procedures, such as: Blood testing. Blood tests may reveal too much calcium or uric acid in your blood. Blood test results help monitor the health of your kidneys and may lead your doctor to check for other medical conditions. Urine… Read More »