Kidney Stones: Treatment and Prevention

Kidney stones are deposits composed of acid salts and mineral that can form inside your kidneys.

What causes kidney stones? There are many different causes, but many times stones can form when the minerals crystallize and stick together due to urine becoming concentrated.

While kidney stones don't cause permanent damage, it can be very painful to pass them.  If you experience pain starting in your back or side that moves to your lower abdomen, you may be passing a stone. Often, the pain may change as the stone makes its way through your urinary tract.

Other symptoms may include:

* Persistent need to urinate
* Urination pain
* Chills and fever (if infection present)
* Brown or red urine
* Vomiting and nausea

There are also different kinds of kidney stones such as uric acid, calcium, struvite and cystine--with calcium stones being the most common. There are several risk factors for developing kidney stones and these include dehydration, digestive diseases, being obese, male or an adult, or family or personal history.

If you end up seeing a doctor for possible kidney stones, they may perform tests such as blood, urine and/or imaging.  If you are diagnosed with minor stones, you will most likely be told to treat them with pain relievers and large quantities of drinking water. Larger stones may be treated with sound waves, surgery or by removing them with a scope.

In order to prevent kidney stones from occurring, it's a good idea to drink plenty of water every day and eat a diet low in salt and animal protein.  Increasing the amount of fiber in your diet and avoiding foods high in oxalate (such as nuts, chocolate and dark green vegetables) can also be helpful.

Photo credit: urologyhealth.org