Kidney stones are caused by too much salt in the urine, which causes it to form a crystal solid in the kidneys. They are made up of calcium, struvite, uric acid, and cystine.
Signs and Symptoms
- location and quality of pain are related to the location of the stones: ranging from acute, excruciating pain to a more chronic, dull pain
- inability to lie still
- nausea/vomiting
- during passage, some burning or blood in the urine may be present
Management
- consult a medical professional
- most of the time the stones will pass spontaneously on their own, but sometimes further medical attention is needed due to dehydration, urinary tract infections associated with kidney stones, or inability to pass the stones
Prevention
- avoid dehydration
- lower consumption of salt
- prevention may vary based on the make-up of recurrent stones - your doctor will advise you of other preventative measures
