Men are at higher risk for developing kidney stones than women; however, recent data suggests that rates among women are rising.
More than half a million people go to emergency rooms for kidney stone problems each year, with an estimated 1 in 10 people developing a kidney stone at some point in their lives.
Learn more about kidney stones, their causes and symptoms, and what steps you can take to prevent them.
What Is a Kidney Stone?
Kidney stones are hard, pebble-like objects made from high levels of certain chemicals in your urine. Some kidney stones are as small as a grain of sand, but others are as large as a pebble, or even a golf ball. A small kidney stone may pass through your urinary tract with little or no pain, but larger stones can get stuck along the way and block the flow of urine, causing severe pain.
Why Do Kidney Stones Form?
Kidney stones can form for various reasons, including:
- Dehydration – If you don’t drink enough water, your urine can become too concentrated which may lead to stones.
- Certain foods – Some foods, such as those with a lot of salt or sugar, contain large amounts of chemicals that can crystallize into stones.
- Kidney infections – Infections can foster stones by slowing urine flow or changing the acid balance of your urine.
- Family history – If your family members have had kidney stones, you’re more likely to have them too. In addition, if you’ve had a kidney stone in the past, your risk for another one increases.
- A lack of certain substances in your urine – Some substances help protect you from forming stones, so if you don’t have enough of these in your urine, your risk of getting stones increases.
- Certain health conditions – Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity may increase the risk of kidney stones.
Men are at higher risk for developing kidney stones than women; however, recent data suggests that rates among women are rising. Several factors may explain why men are more likely to develop kidney stones, including differences in waist circumference, fluid intake and urine composition.
What Are the Symptoms of Kidney Stones?
Symptoms often depend on a stone’s size and location, but common signs of a kidney stone include:
- Sudden severe pain in your lower back
- Bloody urine
- Upset stomach like nausea or vomiting
- Frequent need to pee or a burning feeling when you pee
- Fever and chills
- Urine that smells bad or looks cloudy
If you have any of these symptoms, call your health care provider right away. A fever, for example, can be a sign of a serious infection.
What Is the Treatment for Kidney Stones?
To diagnose a kidney stone, your health care provider will do a physical exam and go over your medical history. Your provider may also complete imaging tests like a CT scan or an X-ray to see the size and position of the kidney stone.
From this information, your health care provider can determine how to best treat your condition. Treatment may include:
- Drinking lots of water to see if the kidney stone will pass on its own
- Taking pain relievers (may be needed for small kidney stones) until it passes
- Getting shock wave lithotripsy, a noninvasive procedure that uses high-energy sound waves to blast kidney stones into fragments
- Getting a ureteroscopy, a procedure that puts a camera inside the body to remove the kidney stone
- Having surgery (may be required in severe cases)
Once the stone has passed through your body your health care provider will analyze it to determine its cause and help you figure out how to reduce your kidney stone risk.
What Steps Can I Take to Prevent Them?
There are lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk, including:
- Stay hydrated. You need to drink enough water daily to help keep your urine less concentrated with waste products. Urine should appear very light yellow or clear if you are well hydrated.
- Eat a healthy diet. Eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains and calcium-rich foods can make it harder for kidney stones to form. In addition, eating less fatty meats and animal proteins can help reduce your risk. The National Institutes of Health has a lot of nutritional tips related to preventing kidney stones.
- Reduce your sodium intake. Salt, including high levels of sodium found in processed foods, prepared foods and fast foods, can increase your risk for kidney stones. Learn more about the health risks associated with consuming too much sodium.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Studies show that people who are overweight have an increased risk of developing kidney stones.
Resources
- Kidney Stones: Are You at Risk? The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a simple yes or no checklist to help you assess your risk for kidney stones. The more you answer yes, the greater your risk for forming them.
- The National Institutes of Health has helpful information on kidney stones, including diagrams and images.
- Chronic Kidney Disease: Are You at Risk? details the risk factors, including kidney stones, that are associated with chronic kidney disease.
Be sure to make healthy choices to help prevent kidney stones and let your health care provider know promptly if you have any symptoms you’re concerned about.