Kidney stones can be described as hard collections of salt and minerals which consists of calcium or uric acid. The formation of a kidney stone occurs when excess of certain minerals in your body accumulate in your urine. They form inside the kidney and travel to other parts of the urinary tract.

Kidney stones vary in size, some are as small and others can grow to a few inches. In some rare cases, some kidney stones can get so big that they occupy the entire kidney.

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When you aren’t well hydrated, your urine becomes more concentrated with higher levels of some minerals. A kidney stone will likely form when levels of minerals in your urine are high.

People with high risk of developing kidney stones are:

Men, though it can form in women too.
Obese people
Those with diabetes

Smaller kidney stones left in the kidney don’t cause any symptoms. You might not notice anything is wrong until the stone moves into the tube that urine travels through to get from your kidney to your bladder called ureter.

Kidney stones are very painful, but it is possible for some stones to pass out on their own during urination without any symptom. However, you may need a procedure to remove stones that don’t pass.

8 Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Stones

Here are eight signs and symptoms that you may have kidney stones.

1. Pain in the belly, back or side

Kidney stone pain is also called renal colic. It is probably one of the most severe types of pain. People who’ve one experienced kidney stones liken the pain to that experienced during childbirth or a knife stab pain. The pain is extremely severe enough to account for lots of yearly visits to emergency rooms.

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Kidney stone pains usually begins when a stone moves into the narrow ureter, causing a blockage, which leads to pressure build up in the kidney. The pressure triggers nerve fibers that transmit pain signals to the brain. Kidney stone pain often starts suddenly. The pain usually deepens and changes position as the stone moves.

The pain fluctuates in waves and deteriorates as the ureters contract when they try to push out the stone. Each wave may vanish for a few minutes before returning again.

You may feel the pain along your side, back, and below your ribs. The pains may also radiate to your belly and groin area as the stone moves through your urinary tract.

Note that the intensity of pain doesn’t necessarily relate to the size of the stone. A little stone can equally cause severe pain.

2. Pain during urination

You may begin to feel pains during urination once the stone reaches the junction between the ureter and bladder, a condition described as dysuria. The pain may be felt as a severe burning sensation. You might mistake the symptom for a urinary tract infection. Sometimes an infection comes along with the stone.

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3. Urgent need to go to the convenient regularly

Needing to go to the bathroom more frequently than usual is another sign that the stone has moved into the lower part of your urinary tract. You may experience frequent and urgent need to pass out urine throughout the day and night.

4. Blood in the urine

Kidney stones is also associated with blood in the urine, a condition called hematuria. The color of the blood may appear as red, pink, or brown. Sometimes the blood cells are too small to see without a microscope (called microscopic hematuria), but your doctor can test for this symptom.

5. Cloudy or smelly urine

Healthy urine is clear and doesn’t have a strong odor. However when your urine becomes cloudy or with a foul odour, that could be a sign of an infection in your kidneys or another part of your urinary tract. A condition called pyuria (pus in urine), can also make urine appear cloudy. The unpleasant odour may be caused by bacteria that cause urinary tract infections.

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6. Urinating small amount at a time

In some cases, large kidney stones get stuck in a ureter, blocking, slowing or completely stopping the urine flow. You may only urinate a little each time you go if you have a blockage. Urine flow that stops entirely needs urgent medical attention.

7. Nausea and vomiting

People with kidney stone can also have a wave of nausea and vomiting. These symptoms are caused by shared nerve connections between the kidneys and the gastro-intestinal tract. Kidney stones can trigger nerves in the gastro-intestinal tract, thereby leading to upset stomach.

READ ALSO: Kidney Infection: Symptoms, Causes, Prevention, and Treatment

8. Fever and chills

Fever and chills may mean you have an infection in your kidney or another part of your urinary tract. It can also be a complication to a kidney stone or other serious problems besides kidney stones. If your fever is accompanied with pain, see your doctor immediately.

READ ALSO: http://www.healthdiary365.com/2017/11/09/8-signs-and-symptoms-of-kidney-stones/