Kidney stones can be a scary and painful health complication. The surgery to have them removed is as equally uncomfortable in recovery as it is with the symptoms. Kidney stones occur in nearly 10% of adults, making it a very common condition that no one wants to talk about. That’s why knowing the causes and symptoms can help you defend your own and your family’s kidney health.
What are Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones are hard, compounded collections of salt and other minerals, usually calcium or uric acid that accumulate in your in your urine, especially if you become dehydrated. When these mineral levels are high, a kidney stone can easily form. The stones form inside the kidney but they can travel to other parts of the urinary tract. They vary in size, with some being less than an inch to others being almost the size of your kidney. No matter the size, they are nearly always painful and debilitating.
Types of Kidney Stones
Knowing the type of kidney stone could assist in determining the cause and preventing more from producing. If you pass a kidney stone, capture as much as you can and ask your doctor for an analysis.
· Calcium stones. The most common kidney stones are calcium stones, in the form of calcium oxalate. Oxalate is produced by your liver, as well as can be ingested from fruits, vegetables, nuts and chocolates.
· Struvite stones form in response to an infection, such as a urinary tract infection.
· Uric acid stones. People who don’t drink enough or who lose too much fluid, have a high-protein diet, or have gout often deal with uric acid stones.
· Cystine stones form in people with a hereditary disorder. This is due to the kidneys expelling certain amino acids in excess.
Symptoms of Kidney Stones
You may not realize you have kidney stones because symptoms typically don’t show until it moves around within your kidney or passes into your ureter, the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder. Some of the signs and symptoms you may experience are:
· Severe pain in your sides, back, or below the ribs.
· Pain through the lower abdomen and groin.
· Painful urination.
· Urine that is brown, pink, or red in color.
· Urine that is cloudy, fishy or foul-smelling.
· Nausea and vomiting.
· Continuous sensation to urinate.
· Frequent urination in small amounts.
· Fever and chills (signs an infection is present).
When kidney stones are painful, Patient Care Now Urgent Care in Fairless Hills is there to help. We are open from 8 am – 8 pm, seven days a week. Owned and operated by board-certified emergency medicine providers, we pride ourselves in providing a seamless medical experience to our patients. Call us at (267) 202-6433 for all your urgent care needs
