Explanation of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones can be an excruciatingly painful condition. According to the Mayo Clinic website, kidney stones, renal lithiasis, are an affliction that goes back to the ancient times of the Egyptian pyramids. Kidney stones have afflicted people for thousands and years, and continue to do so in this day and age.

Kidney stones are a common disorder, that is becoming increasingly prevalent. The reasons for the increase in kidney stones are unclear, bu many experts believe that the increase in kidney stones is related to dietary choices and lack of fluids.

Kidney stones do not always have symptoms. The stones are often discovered when the patient is getting x-rays for an unrelated condition. The pain only become agonizing when a kidney stone breaks loose and begins to work its ways down fro the kidneys to the bladder through the ureter, which is the connecting tube.

Stones usually form when the urine becomes too concentrated. The concentrated urine causes minerals and other substances to form crystals on the inner surfaces of the kidneys. These crystals may combine over time to form a small hard stone.

The kidney stones can pass into the bladder without causing permanent damage. Even so, it is important to determine the cause to prevent future stone formation. In many cases, prevention is as simple as drinking more water and make some adjustments in the diet.

It's likely that kidney stones won't have any signs and symptoms unless a stone is lards, causes a blockages or is associated with an infection. The most common symptom is intense, colicky pain. The pain may fluctuate in intensity over a period of 5 to 15 minutes. The pain usually begins in the back or side just under the edge of the ribs. The pain may radiate as the pain moves down the ureter toward the bladder.

Pain may be felt in the lower abdomen, groin and genitals regions. The pain may stop if the stone stops moving. Other that pain other symptoms may include: bloody, cloudy or foul-smelling urine; nausea and vomiting; persistent urge to urinate; fever and chills related to infection.