Introduction

Kidney stones are hardened crystal clumps that can develop in the urinary system. They usually form because there is a breakdown in the balance of liquids and dissolved solids in the urine.

The body typically contains two kidneys. The kidney is bean-shaped organ about the size of a small apple and are located below the ribs and toward the back. The role of the kidney is to filter and clean the blood, and they produce urine from excess. They contain nearly 40 miles of tubes, most of them tiny, that process some 100 gallons of blood each day.

The kidneys must keep the right amount of water in the body while they remove materials that the body cannot use and sometimes an unbalance of liquids and dissolved solids in the urine. If this balance is disturbed, the urine can become overloaded with substances (usually small crystals) that won’t dissolve in water. Crystals begin to stick together and slowly add layer upon layer to form a stone. A kidney stone may grow for months or even years before it causes a problem.

Often the first signs of a kidney stone appear as pain on the right or left or both sides of the back. The pain often begins as slow and then becomes constant and severe. Other possible signs of a stone include burning during urination, blood in the urine, or a frequent urge to urinate. Nausea and vomiting may also occur, and the lower abdomen or bank may be painful if touched. The shape and appearance of kidney stones depends on what chemicals have created the stones. Most kidney stones are yellow or brown, but they can be tan, gold, or black in color. They can be round, jagged, or even have branches in shape. Kidney stones vary is size with most as specks to pebbles, however some stones can be as big as golf balls.

Problems and damage resulting from kidney stones may be minimal to severe. Whether there is damage and, if so, how much there is depends on the location of the stone in the urinary system. To avoid or minimize damage, it is important to eliminate stones that form and to prevent new ones from developing.

Risk indications of kidney stones include being a male (4 out of 5 kidney stone suffers are male), family history, chronic dehydration, or little fluid intake. A number of other conditions can contribute to the production of kidney stones. These include urinary tract blockage, urinary infections that recur, bowel disease, and certain inherited disorders. People who are paralyzed or who have to rest in bed for long periods of time are also at increased risk for kidney stones, as are men and women who fly long space missions.