How to Tell If You Have a Kidney Stone

Kidney stones are no laughing matter. A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms in the kidney out of substances in the urine, usually a build up of calcium. Depending on the size of the stone usually depends on the area it will get lodged in. Smaller stones can be passed but larger might need to be removed.

Some signs of a kidney stone is :

Extreme pain in the back or side that is persistent

Blood in the urine

Urine that smelles bad or cloudy

A burning feeling while urinating

Although these signs can mean a kidney stone it can also mean some other problem your best choice is to seek a physician

A number of different conditions can lead to kidney stones:

Other conditions associated with an increased risk of kidney stones include

People with

Some medications also raise the risk of kidney stones. These medications include some diuretics, calcium-containing antacids, and the

Try to avoid kidneys stones by drinking a healthy amount of water the recommended 8-12 glasses a day. Also avoiding foods rich in calcium if you are susceptible to getting kidney stones. Gout results in an increased amount of uric acid in the urine and can lead to the formation of uric acid stones. Hypercalciuria (high calcium in the urine), another inherited condition, causes stones in more than half of cases. In this condition, too much calcium is absorbed from food and excreted into the urine, where it may form calcium phosphate or calcium oxalate stones. hyperparathyroidism, kidney diseases such as renal tubular acidosis, and some inherited metabolic conditions including cystinuria and hyperoxaluria. inflammatory bowel disease or who have had an intestinal bypass or ostomy surgery are also more likely to develop kidney stones. protease inhibitor Crixivan (indinavir), a drug used to treat HIV infection. (http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=46662)