A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms in the kidney from substances in the urine. It may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pearl.
Most kidney stones pass out of the body on their own, but sometimes a stone will not go away. A kidney stone may get stuck in the urinary tract, block the flow of urine and cause great pain. Stones that cause lasting symptoms or other complications may be treated by various techniques, most of which do not involve major surgery.
Gallstones and kidney stones are not related. They form in different areas of the body. Someone with a gallstone is not necessarily more likely to develop kidney stones.
Men are twice as likely to suffer from kidney stones as women. Foods that are high in oxalates can trigger kidney stones and should be avoided if you are prone.
Some High-oxalate Foods That Can Cause Kidney Stones:
- Black tea
- Beets
- Spinach
- Potato chips
- Rhubarb
- Spinach
- Swiss chard
- Wheat germ
- Soybean crackers
- Peanuts
- Okra
- Chocolate
- Sweet potatoes
Some Medium-oxalate Foods That Can Cause Kidney Stones:
- Grits
- Grapes
- Celery
- Green pepper
- Red raspberries
- Fruit cake
- Strawberries
- Marmalade
- Liver
Foods That Can Prevent Kidney Stones:
- Bottled water
- Oranges
- Yogurt
- Lentils
The following may be signs of kidney stones that need a doctor's help:
- Extreme pain in your back or side that will not go away
- Blood in your urine
- Fever and chills
- Vomiting
- Urine that smells bad or looks cloudy
- A burning feeling when you urinate
Have any of you ever had kidney stones? I haven't, as far as I know.
Source:
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse