|
| |
|
| |
|
• |
You normally have two kidneys which clean your blood, and filter out water and waste products to make urine. |
| |
|
| |
|
• |
Small, solid masses called kidney stones may form when salts or minerals, normally found in urine, become solid crystals inside the kidney. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
• |
Normally, these crystals are too small to be noticed, and pass harmlessly out of your body. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
• |
However, they can build up inside your kidney and form much larger stones. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
| Top | |
| |
Causes of kidney stones |
| |
|
|
| |
|
• |
Men are four times more likely to get kidney stones than women, and if you have previously had a kidney stone then you will have a 50 percent chance of developing another one within five years. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
• |
Most people have no predisposing factors to explain why they develop kidney stones. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
You may have an increased risk of developing kidney stones if you |
| |
|
|
| |
|
• |
have a family history of kidney stones |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
• |
are aged between 20 and 50 |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
• |
are taking certain medicines - for example indinavir (in the treatment of HIV infection) and taking too many laxatives or taking them too often |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
• |
have only one kidney, or an abnormally shaped kidney |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
• |
eat a diet high in protein |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
• |
don't drink enough fluids |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Top | |
| |
Symptoms of kidney stones |
| |
|
| |
|
• |
Pain in the lower back part or in the lower abdomen, which might move to the groin. Pain may last from hours to minutes. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
• |
Nausea, vomiting |
| |
|
|
| |
|
• |
Blood in urine |
| |
|
|
| |
|
• |
Burning during urination, foul smell in urine, chills, weakness and fevers for urinary tract infection. |
| |
|
|
