Kidney stones appear in the form of calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, uric acid, or other combinations of minerals, and can be extraordinarily painful. They may be as small as a grain of sand or quite large. They may pass on their own, or they may require certain medical interventions to pass.
Symptoms of Kidney Stones
Depending on the size of the kidney stones, you may not have any symptoms at all. For larger kidney stones, according to the Mayo Clinic, you may experience the following symptoms:- 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
- 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
Risk Factors of Kidney Stones
According to The American Kidney Fund, there are a number of risk factors for kidney stones, including:- Having had kidney stones before
- Having a family history of kidney stones
- Being constantly dehydrated
- Having a diet high in protein, sodium, and/or sugar
- Being overweight or obese
- Having gastric bypass surgery or another intestinal surgery
- Having polycystic kidney disease or another cystic kidney disease
- Having certain conditions that cause your urine to contain high levels of cystine, oxalate, uric acid, or calcium
- Having swelling or irritation in your bowel or your joints
- Taking certain medicines, such as diuretics (water pills) or calcium-based antacids