Kidney stones which are also called nephrolithiasis, renal calculi, or urolithiasis are solid and hard deposits of minerals and salts that can form inside kidneys. Some common causes of kidney stones are diet, excess body weight, some medical conditions, and certain supplements and medications. Kidney stones can occur in any part of your urinary tract, from the kidneys to the bladder. These stones often form when the concentration of urine gets high, allowing these minerals to stick together and crystallize. Passing kidney stones through urine can be quite painful, but usually,  if these stones are diagnosed and treated in a timely fashion, they cause no permanent damage. In some cases, you may get well with nothing more than taking pain medication and drinking plenty of water to pass a kidney stone, whereas In other instances surgery may be needed depending on your situation, for example, if the stones occur in the urinary tract and cause a urinary infection or other complications. A kidney stone doctor will recommend some kind of preventive treatment to save you from the risk of recurrent kidney stones if you’re susceptible to developing them again.

What are the common Symptoms?

Until a kidney stone moves around within the kidney or passes into the ureters (the tubes connecting the kidneys and the bladder), it usually will not cause symptoms. If it moves into the ureters, the flow of urine may get blocked, causing the kidney to swell, which can be very painful. In that case, these signs and symptoms can be noticed:

• Burning or pain sensation while urinating
• Sharp and severe, pain in the side and back, below the ribs
• Pain that fluctuates in intensity and comes in waves

Other symptoms and signs may include:

• Pink, red, or brown urine
• Foul-smelling or cloudy urine
• Urinating more often than usual or urinating in small amounts
• Vomiting and Nausea

Pain caused by a kidney stone may shift to a different location or increase in intensity as the stone moves through the urinary tract.

Causes

There is often no single or definite cause for kidney stones, however, numerous factors may increase the risk. Basically, kidney stones occur when the urine gets concentrated with crystal-forming substances such as oxalate, calcium, and uric acid while the fluid in your urine is deficient to dilute it. Also, the urine may lack substances that prevent crystals from sticking together at the same time, supporting the formation of kidney stones.

Risk factors

There are several factors that can increase your risk of developing kidney stones. They include:

• Dehydration:

Not drinking sufficient fluids each day can increase your risk of kidney stones for the reasons mentioned above. People living in dry and warm climates and those who sweat more may be more susceptible than others.

• Personal or family history:

You’re more likely to develop stones too, if someone in your family has had kidney stones in the past. Similarly, if you’ve had one or more kidney stones already, your risk of developing another is higher.

• Certain diets:

Eating a high protein diet with high amounts of protein, sugar, and sodium (salt), may increase your risk of some types of kidney stones. Especially with a high-sodium diet. Too much salt in your diet increases the amount of calcium your kidneys must filter, increasing your risk of having kidney stones significantly.

• Obesity:

Weight gain, high body mass index (BMI), and large waist size have been proved to be associated with an increased risk of kidney stones.

To wrap up:

Keeping all this in mind, you should look out for the symptoms mentioned above and ensure that you drink lots of fluids. Also, if you’re looking for the best doctor for kidney stones, Dr. Fowad can help you with your kidney-related issues.