Understanding Kidney Stones: Causes, symptoms, and treatment options

Any portion of your urinary tract, including your kidneys and bladder, might be impacted by kidney stones. The urine usually contains low levels of three minerals; calcium, oxalate and Phosphorus, and kidney stones may develop if levels of these minerals become too high. 

There are four types of kidney stones with the most common being Calcium Oxalate which is caused by low levels of calcium and fluid in the diet. 

The second is Uric acid. This is also common and might develop in response to a high intake of compounds called purines. Organ meats and shellfish provide a high volume of purines. Although rare, one can get Struvite which occurs due to urinary tract infection and lastly Cystine also rare and often have genetic causes. 

Passing kidney stones can be painful but if they are detected early enough, they usually don't cause any long-term harm. Depending on your circumstances, passing a kidney stone could only require you to take painkillers and drink a lot of water. In some cases, surgery might be required, such as when stones become trapped in the urinary tract and are linked to an infection.  

Some kidney stones are as small as a grain of sand. Others are as large as a pebble. A few are as large as a golf ball!

As a general rule, the larger the stone, the more noticeable the symptoms. A kidney stone usually will not cause symptoms until it moves around within the kidney or passes into one of the ureters. The ureters are the tubes that connect the kidneys and bladder.

The pain caused by Kidney stones may vary in intensity as the stone moves through the urinary tract. The symptoms include severe pain on either side of your lower back, pain that spreads to the lower abdomen and groin, and pain or burning sensation while urinating. 

Other signs and symptoms may include, pink, red or brown urine, cloudy or foul-smelling urine and a persistent need to urinate more often than usual. 

Experts note that drinking enough fluid will help keep your urine less concentrated with waste products. Eating more fruits and vegetables makes the urine less acidic and reduces excess salt in the diet.

One should see a doctor if you experience severe pain that you can't sit still or find a comfortable position, pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting, fever and chills. Blood in the urine and difficulty in passing urine should be an indication that you need to see a doctor.