Symptoms of kidney stones

National Institute of Health reports that 10% of Americans are at risk to experience kidney stones in their lifetime. Kidney stones (crystals or renal calculi) are solid mineral deposits – these can accumulate in your urinary tract.

When you do not have kidney stone symptoms, the renal calculi will pass through your urinary tract without a problem. However, when the stones obstruct the passageway, it will cause spasm in the urinary tract and put the body in a great deal of pain. If large stones obstruct this path, it can cause renal failure and even organ damage.

To prevent the formation of kidney stones, you have to drink plenty of fluids – eight glasses of water is best. Take note that the highest incidence of kidney stones occur during the dry, hot months of summer because at that time urine is a little bit concentrated.

Major kidney stone symptoms include the following:

• Renal Colic – the urinary tract will go into spasm and severe cramping pain will be felt on your side and at the back (sometimes in your lower abdomen). Eventually, this pain may spread to your groin.
• Frequent urination although it may be difficult to do so due to the blockages.
• Hernaturia – blood in your urine. This indicates that there is a stone trying to pass through the narrow uterer, thus causing the bleeding to occur.

Other kidney stone symptoms include:

• Chills
• Fever
• Burning sensation while urinating
• Vomiting
• Nausea

If you have renal colic associated with hernaturia, the doctor would most likely diagnose your illness as kidney stones. However, your healthcare provider or doctor needs to run some tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Blood tests or urinalysis might be performed to evaluate hydration levels or kidney function. Urinalysis detects microscopic hematuria or bacteria while blood tests measure the calcium levels in your body – this will determine whether this mineral is accumulating in your kidneys.