Every year, more than half a million men and women in the United States go to the hospital for kidney stones. Although preventable, there are still a lot of people who get them. Here are the top signs and symptoms of kidney stones that you need to know.
What Are Kidney Stones?
Research shows that men have an increased risk of developing kidney stones. However, women have been more affected by the severe symptoms of kidney stones.
A kidney stone is a crystal that forms within the kidney or urinary tract, according to Medicine.net.
Kidney stones form when urine contains has high levels of substances, such as calcium, oxalate, citrate, or uric acid, according to kidshealth.org.
It can also take anywhere from a few weeks to months for the crystals to build and become kidney stones.
Four different types of kidney stones can occur, such as calcium stones, cystine stones, uric acid stones, and struvite stones.
Risk factors that can increase the chance of developing kidney stones include dehydration, diets high in protein or sodium, weight gain, and if someone in the family has a history of kidney stones.
Signs And Symptoms Of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can cause excruciating pain in the abdomen, groin or genitals, and back. Some people may also experience blood in their urine, fever and chills, and severe nausea and vomiting.
Diagnosing Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can be severe enough to send patients to the emergency room, where doctors can schedule multiple tests to discover the stones.
Patients may be asked to do a CT scan, ultrasound, or X-rays, according to WebMD. Urine tests can also measure calcium or uric acid that may have caused kidney stones.
In order to treat kidney stones, some people need to drink plenty of water to pass a kidney stone. Others with larger kidney stones may be required to have surgery or go through other types of treatments to get rid of the stones.
