Urine contains many dissolved minerals and salts. When the content of these minerals and salts becomes high, they form stones in the kidneys. Some stones stay in the kidney and do not cause any symptoms, while others travel down the ureter (the tube between the kidney and the bladder), reach the bladder, and pass out of the body via urine.
If the stone gets stuck in the ureter, it can block the urine flow from that kidney and cause cramping pain in the lower back, groin, or abdomen. Other symptoms may include blood in the urine, nausea, vomiting, foul-smelling urine, and frequent need to urinate.
Factors including dehydration, family history of kidney stones, obesity, and diet with high levels of protein and salt predispose to the formation of kidney stones.
Adequate hydration is a key preventive measure for kidney stones, which ensures that most kidney stones pass out via urine on their own with time. Treatment includes pain control medications and, in some cases, medications to ease the passage of urine. Surgical procedures are advised in case of larger stones that do not pass out themselves.
