You have probably heard about kidney stones and how painful they can be. But what exactly are they? Abbey Gaske, MD, a urologist with Avera Medical Group in Aberdeen, has the answer to that question and how you can try to prevent them.
What is a kidney stone?
A kidney stone is when a hard deposit or rock forms from minerals and salts that normally circulate in your urinary tract. Most kidney stones are made of calcium, with calcium oxalates stones being the most common, but there are a variety of different kidney stones. Stones can be made from uric acid and we can also have stones that develop primarily in relation to infections.
When should you go to the doctor?
If you have a kidney stone, you’re going to develop a sudden onset of pain. It’s usually in your flank, your back, your lower most ribs and that pain can be as severe as labor pain, and this sudden, severe pain can even radiate or travel to the front of your abdomen. Often times it’s associated with vomiting and nausea or even fever, so if you have pain that is sudden and severe and it’s not relieved with a pain reliever or rest, especially if you have a history of kidney stones, then you would need to come to the emergency room, especially if it’s coupled with nausea and vomiting or fever and chills to suggest that you have a blockage or obstruction that might require intervention.
How can you prevent kidney stones?
The best way to prevent kidney stones is to drink lots of fluids and maintain good hydration. For some people certain dietary indiscretions such as excessive amounts of oxalates, which you find in leafy, green vegetables and teas and certain beans and beets, can be problematic, but for most people it’s increasing the amount of fluids and decreasing the amount salt in their diet, and that salt is often hidden in foods that we eat, especially when we eat outside of the home. Lastly, diets that are very high in animal protein can also give a predisposition to form stones.
