Kidney stones

Kidney stones

• About kidney stones
• Symptoms of kidney stones
• Causes of kidney stones
• Diagnosing kidney stones
• Treating kidney stones
• Preventing kidney stones

About kidney stones

Kidney stones can develop in one or both kidneys and most often affect people aged 30 to 60.

They’re quite common, with around 3 in 20 men and up to 2 in 20 women developing them at some stage of their lives.

The medical term for kidney stones is nephrolithiasis, and if they cause severe pain it’s known as renal colic.

Symptoms of kidney stones

Small kidney stones may go undetected and be passed out painlessly in the urine. But it’s fairly common for a stone to block part of the urinary system, such as the:

• ureter – the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder
• urethra – the tube urine passes through on its way out of the body

A blockage can cause severe pain in the abdomen or groin and sometimes causes a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Read more about the symptoms of kidney stones.

What causes kidney stones?

The waste products in the blood can occasionally form crystals that collect inside the kidneys. Over time, the crystals may build up to form a hard stone-like lump.

This is more likely to happen if you don’t drink enough fluids, if you’re taking some types of medication, or if you have a medical condition that raises the levels of certain substances in your urine.

Read more about the causes of kidney stones.

After a kidney stone has formed, your body will try to pass it out when you go to the toilet (in the urine). This means it will often travel through the urinary system (the kidneys, kidney tubes and bladder).

Treating and preventing kidney stones

Most kidney stones are small enough to be passed in your urine, and it may be possible to treat the symptoms at home with medication.

Larger stones may need to be broken up using ultrasound or laser energy. Occasionally, keyhole surgery may be needed to remove very large kidney stones directly.

Read more about treating kidney stones.

It’s estimated that up to half of all people who have had kidney stones will experience them again within the following 5 years.

To avoid getting kidney stones, make sure you drink plenty of water every day so you don’t become dehydrated. It’s very important to keep your urine diluted (clear) to prevent waste products forming into kidney stones.