Is that a kidney stone?

Author: Dr. John Maggioncalda

Uh-oh, that feeling of pressure giving way to pain, that wave of nausea — yep, it’s a stone. To many, these very unwelcome sensations herald the passing of a kidney stone. The pain may be short-lived or long, the passing brief or not.

Kidney stones affect millions of Americans every year. About one in 10 people will form kidney stones at some point in their lives. The majority of people who get stones are between the ages of 20-50. Men are afflicted more than women (three to one). The most common risk factor for forming stones is a history of stone formation. Those who form more than one stone are at risk of multiple episodes throughout their lives.

Kidney stones can be made up of different compounds. The most common type of stone is a calcium stone. Over 80% of kidney stones are calcium mixed with other agents such as oxalate or phosphate. Uric acid makes up about 15% of stones while cysteine accounts for about 1-2%.

The cause of kidney stones is multifactorial. Dehydration from poor fluid intake is a prominent cause. As urine becomes concentrated, calcium salts can precipitate out, clump together, and form stone material. Residents of hot, dry regions are particularly prone to stones. Other factors include chronic urinary tract infections, metabolic diseases (gout, excessive calcium absorption), inflammatory bowel disease and gastric bypass, hormone imbalances (hyperparathyroidism), renal disease and poor dietary choices. 

If you have a kidney or ureteral stone, it is important to seek therapy right away. Contact a urologist to make a treatment plan that is customized to you and your stone. It is also important to follow up on a regular basis to monitor the success of the treatment and to form a plan to help prevent more stones from forming.