Kidney Stones - Signs, Symptoms and Remedies

Kidney stones occur when mineral deposits form inside the kidneys. They can be almost unbearably painful or just cause a little pain here and there. Why and how do kidney stones occur and what are the treatment options?

The nephrons are small sacs in the kidneys that filter your blood, regulate electrolyte levels, and more but sometimes, they don't work correctly. That can cause tiny crystals to form from calcium, uric acid, and other materials in the kidneys. These crystals can grow to a size that causes them to stimulate nerves when they are passing through to the bladder. Even when they are as small as a millimeter, they can cause intense pain.

Kidney stones may be painful but they are not likely to damage your body in any way. You do not usually need to treat them as they will go away on their own in most cases. You can take some pain medication, though, to help with the pain as you pass the kidney stones. You may see cloudy urine or blood in the urine when you have kidney stones.

No one knows exactly what causes kidney stones. In some cases, genetics can be the cause of kidney stones by making people more likely to have excess cystinuria, an amino acid, in the body. Another cause of kidney stones is urinary tract infections that cause painful, jagged horn shaped struvite stones that are bigger than the average kidney stones.

Usually, kidney stones are created from calcium oxalate that forms in the bloodstream. Things like consuming too much Vitamin D and eating a lot of fresh produce can increase calcium levels in the body and make you more likely to develop kidney stones.

If you drink plenty of water, you can decrease your risk of developing kidney stones. Fluids help dissolve the salts that contribute to the formation of kidney stones. If you live somewhere hot year round, you especially need to be sure you drink plenty of water.

There is no way to decrease your risks if your genetics make you more likely to develop kidney stones but you can help lower the odds if you eat less protein and get all the nutrition you need. It is also a good idea to stay active as you get older because being sedentary makes you more likely to develop kidney stones. If you are not active, your bones release excess calcium. You should also watch your weight if you want to avoid kidney stones.