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What is a kidney stone?
- Kidney stones are solid masses or crystals that form from substances, such as minerals, acids, and salt, in your kidneys.
© Shutterstock
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Sizes
- They can be as small as a grain of sand or, in rare cases, larger than a golf ball. The bigger they are, the more difficult they are to pass.
© Shutterstock
2 / 28 Fotos
Symptoms
- The most common symptom of kidney stones is a dull or sharp pain in your lower back, belly, or side. It might feel like it extends from your groin to your side. Other kidney stone symptoms include nausea, vomiting, pain when urinating, blood in the urine, and fever.
© Shutterstock
3 / 28 Fotos
Causes
- Common causes include drinking too little water, too much or too little exercise, obesity, weight loss surgery, or eating food with too much salt or sugar. Infections and family history can also be a cause.
© Shutterstock
4 / 28 Fotos
Fructose
- Found in sugar and in high fructose corn syrup, eating too much fructose correlates with an increased risk of developing a kidney stone.
© Shutterstock
5 / 28 Fotos
Types of kidney stones
- There are four main types of kidney stones; calcium oxalate, uric acid, struvite, and cystine. Knowing the type of kidney stone you have may provide clues about how to reduce your risk of getting more in the future.
© Shutterstock
6 / 28 Fotos
Calcium oxalate
- This is the most common type of kidney stone. It's created when calcium combines with oxalate in the urine. They can form when you eat high-oxalate or low-calcium foods and aren't drinking enough fluids.
© Shutterstock
7 / 28 Fotos
Uric acid
- Another common type of kidney stone, it's often caused by eating animal proteins like beef, poultry, pork, eggs, and fish.
© Shutterstock
8 / 28 Fotos
Struvite
- Struvite stones are less common and are caused by infections in the upper urinary tract.
© Shutterstock
9 / 28 Fotos
Cystine
- A condition called cystinuria causes cystine stones. These are rare and usually run in families.
© Shutterstock
10 / 28 Fotos
Diagnosis
- Diagnosis of kidney stones requires a complete health history assessment and a physical exam. Healthcare providers use imaging, blood, and urine tests to diagnose kidney stones.
© Shutterstock
11 / 28 Fotos
Consequences
- Kidney stones increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
© Shutterstock
12 / 28 Fotos
If you have it once, you might have it again
- Those who have developed one stone are at an approximately 50% higher risk of developing another one within five to seven years.
© Shutterstock
13 / 28 Fotos
How kidney stones are treated
- Treatment is tailored according to the type of stone. Urine can be strained and stones collected for evaluation.
© Shutterstock
14 / 28 Fotos
Medication
- If you have a kidney stone that can pass on its own and isn't causing infection, a provider may prescribe you medication to help manage the unpleasant symptoms, and to help relax your ureter so the stone can pass.
© Shutterstock
15 / 28 Fotos
Lithotripsy
- Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a therapy that uses sound waves to break up large stones so they can more easily pass down the ureters into your bladder.
© Shutterstock
16 / 28 Fotos
Tunel surgery (percutaneous nephrolithotomy)
- A surgeon removes the stones through a small incision in your back. This procedure is necessary when the stone is too big to pass and the pain can't be managed.
© Shutterstock
17 / 28 Fotos
Ureteroscopy
- When a stone is stuck in the ureter or bladder, your doctor may use a ureteroscope to remove it. A small wire with a camera attached is inserted into the urethra and passed into the bladder. The doctor then uses a small cage to remove the stone.
© Shutterstock
18 / 28 Fotos
Can kidney stones go away on their own?
- Around 80% of kidney stones pass on their own. The amount of time it takes for you to pass a kidney stone depends on its size and location.
© Shutterstock
19 / 28 Fotos
Kidney stone prevention
- Making small adjustments to your current diet may go a long way toward preventing kidney stones.
© Shutterstock
20 / 28 Fotos
Drink water - This is the best way to prevent kidney stones. If you don't drink enough, your urine output will be low, which means your urine is more concentrated and less likely to dissolve urine salts that cause stones.
© Shutterstock
21 / 28 Fotos
Eat more calcium-rich foods
- The most common type of kidney stone is the calcium oxalate stone, leading many people to believe they should avoid eating calcium. In fact, the opposite is true. Low-fat milk, low-fat cheese, and low-fat yogurt are all good calcium-rich food options.
© Shutterstock
22 / 28 Fotos
Eat less sodium
- A high-salt diet increases your risk of calcium kidney stones. To reduce your sodium intake, read food labels carefully and cut down on processed foods.
© Shutterstock
23 / 28 Fotos
Eat fewer oxalate-rich foods
- Limiting oxalate-rich foods may help prevent the stones from forming. Some oxalate-rich foods include spinach, chocolate, coffee, sweet potatoes, and soy products.
© Shutterstock
24 / 28 Fotos
Eat less animal protein
- Foods high in animal protein are acidic and may increase urine acid, which can cause kidney stones. Try to limit or avoid poultry, beef, fish, and pork.
© Shutterstock
25 / 28 Fotos
Eat your fruits and veggies
- A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables has a number of health benefits, and it can help prevent the formation of kidney stones.
© Shutterstock
26 / 28 Fotos
Vitamin C
- Vitamin C supplements may cause kidney stones, especially in men. Researchers don't believe vitamin C from food carries the same risk. Sources: (Healthline) (National Kidney Foundation) (The Cleveland Clinic) See also: What happens to your body when you stop eating sugar?
© Shutterstock
27 / 28 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 28 Fotos
What is a kidney stone?
- Kidney stones are solid masses or crystals that form from substances, such as minerals, acids, and salt, in your kidneys.
© Shutterstock
1 / 28 Fotos
Sizes
- They can be as small as a grain of sand or, in rare cases, larger than a golf ball. The bigger they are, the more difficult they are to pass.
© Shutterstock
2 / 28 Fotos
Symptoms
- The most common symptom of kidney stones is a dull or sharp pain in your lower back, belly, or side. It might feel like it extends from your groin to your side. Other kidney stone symptoms include nausea, vomiting, pain when urinating, blood in the urine, and fever.
© Shutterstock
3 / 28 Fotos
Causes
- Common causes include drinking too little water, too much or too little exercise, obesity, weight loss surgery, or eating food with too much salt or sugar. Infections and family history can also be a cause.
© Shutterstock
4 / 28 Fotos
Fructose
- Found in sugar and in high fructose corn syrup, eating too much fructose correlates with an increased risk of developing a kidney stone.
© Shutterstock
5 / 28 Fotos
Types of kidney stones
- There are four main types of kidney stones; calcium oxalate, uric acid, struvite, and cystine. Knowing the type of kidney stone you have may provide clues about how to reduce your risk of getting more in the future.
© Shutterstock
6 / 28 Fotos
Calcium oxalate
- This is the most common type of kidney stone. It's created when calcium combines with oxalate in the urine. They can form when you eat high-oxalate or low-calcium foods and aren't drinking enough fluids.
© Shutterstock
7 / 28 Fotos
Uric acid
- Another common type of kidney stone, it's often caused by eating animal proteins like beef, poultry, pork, eggs, and fish.
© Shutterstock
8 / 28 Fotos
Struvite
- Struvite stones are less common and are caused by infections in the upper urinary tract.
© Shutterstock
9 / 28 Fotos
Cystine
- A condition called cystinuria causes cystine stones. These are rare and usually run in families.
© Shutterstock
10 / 28 Fotos
Diagnosis
- Diagnosis of kidney stones requires a complete health history assessment and a physical exam. Healthcare providers use imaging, blood, and urine tests to diagnose kidney stones.
© Shutterstock
11 / 28 Fotos
Consequences
- Kidney stones increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
© Shutterstock
12 / 28 Fotos
If you have it once, you might have it again
- Those who have developed one stone are at an approximately 50% higher risk of developing another one within five to seven years.
© Shutterstock
13 / 28 Fotos
How kidney stones are treated
- Treatment is tailored according to the type of stone. Urine can be strained and stones collected for evaluation.
© Shutterstock
14 / 28 Fotos
Medication
- If you have a kidney stone that can pass on its own and isn't causing infection, a provider may prescribe you medication to help manage the unpleasant symptoms, and to help relax your ureter so the stone can pass.
© Shutterstock
15 / 28 Fotos
Lithotripsy
- Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a therapy that uses sound waves to break up large stones so they can more easily pass down the ureters into your bladder.
© Shutterstock
16 / 28 Fotos
Tunel surgery (percutaneous nephrolithotomy)
- A surgeon removes the stones through a small incision in your back. This procedure is necessary when the stone is too big to pass and the pain can't be managed.
© Shutterstock
17 / 28 Fotos
Ureteroscopy
- When a stone is stuck in the ureter or bladder, your doctor may use a ureteroscope to remove it. A small wire with a camera attached is inserted into the urethra and passed into the bladder. The doctor then uses a small cage to remove the stone.
© Shutterstock
18 / 28 Fotos
Can kidney stones go away on their own?
- Around 80% of kidney stones pass on their own. The amount of time it takes for you to pass a kidney stone depends on its size and location.
© Shutterstock
19 / 28 Fotos
Kidney stone prevention
- Making small adjustments to your current diet may go a long way toward preventing kidney stones.
© Shutterstock
20 / 28 Fotos
Drink water - This is the best way to prevent kidney stones. If you don't drink enough, your urine output will be low, which means your urine is more concentrated and less likely to dissolve urine salts that cause stones.
© Shutterstock
21 / 28 Fotos
Eat more calcium-rich foods
- The most common type of kidney stone is the calcium oxalate stone, leading many people to believe they should avoid eating calcium. In fact, the opposite is true. Low-fat milk, low-fat cheese, and low-fat yogurt are all good calcium-rich food options.
© Shutterstock
22 / 28 Fotos
Eat less sodium
- A high-salt diet increases your risk of calcium kidney stones. To reduce your sodium intake, read food labels carefully and cut down on processed foods.
© Shutterstock
23 / 28 Fotos
Eat fewer oxalate-rich foods
- Limiting oxalate-rich foods may help prevent the stones from forming. Some oxalate-rich foods include spinach, chocolate, coffee, sweet potatoes, and soy products.
© Shutterstock
24 / 28 Fotos
Eat less animal protein
- Foods high in animal protein are acidic and may increase urine acid, which can cause kidney stones. Try to limit or avoid poultry, beef, fish, and pork.
© Shutterstock
25 / 28 Fotos
Eat your fruits and veggies
- A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables has a number of health benefits, and it can help prevent the formation of kidney stones.
© Shutterstock
26 / 28 Fotos
Vitamin C
- Vitamin C supplements may cause kidney stones, especially in men. Researchers don't believe vitamin C from food carries the same risk. Sources: (Healthline) (National Kidney Foundation) (The Cleveland Clinic) See also: What happens to your body when you stop eating sugar?
© Shutterstock
27 / 28 Fotos
Everything you need to know about kidney stones
The signs, the symptoms, and some tips for prevention
© Getty Images
Kidney stones, or renal calculi, are clusters of crystals that form from minerals and other substances in your urinary tract, which consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. It's estimated that one in 10 people will have a kidney stone at some time in their lives, and it's most common in males in their 30s and 40s. Stones usually pass through the body on their own when you urinate, but they can be very painful as they move through. In some cases, kidney stones become an extremely painful medical issue, the causes of which vary depending on the type of stone.
To learn more about kidney stones—and more importantly, how to prevent them—check out the following slides.
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