- Kidney
- Ureters
- Urethras
- bladder
- Calcium stones are the most common type of kidney stones. These stones are generally made of calcium and oxicate or calcium and phosphate.
- Uric stones are more common in men. They develop when your urine is acidic.
- Struvite stones can be caused due to an infection causing ammonia levels to increase in your urine.
- Cystine stones are made of cystine a naturally occurring chemical occurring in our bodies. These stones occur very rarely and are caused due to a genetic disorder.
- Pain during urination
- Blood in your urine
- Acute pain in the lower back or stomach
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Low urine volume can be caused due to dehydration. Dehydration can be caused due to physical work, hot and humid weather conditions, and not drinking enough water. Concentrated urine prevents salts from dissolving in the fluid.
- Diet can increase the risk of kidney stones. Calcium stones are caused due to high calcium levels in the urine. Higher calcium levels in urine can be because of the way our bodies handle calcium. A high protein diet and too much salt increase the chances of kidney stones.
- Obesity increases the risk of kidney stones.
- Medical conditions such as abnormal growth in your thyroid gland, gout, and renal tubular acidosis can increase the chances of kidney stones.
- Bowel condition like diarrhea, Crohn’s disease, or gastric bypass surgeries increases the risk of kidney stones.
- Some medication and calcium and Vitamin C supplements increase the risk of kidney stones.
- Blood tests at home to check the level of uric acid and calcium in the blood.
- Urinalysis to examine the number of crystals, bacteria, blood, and white cells in your urine.
- Imaging tests such as X-rays, USG or CT scan.
- Analyzing the stone passed.
- Sound waves or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is used to break up the stone depending on its location and help it pass during urination.
- Ureteroscopy is used to remove stones from your kidney or urethrae. The instrument is a tube equipped with a camera, once the stone is located the stone is either grabbed or broken into smaller pieces with the help of special tools.
- A surgery called Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is used to remove a large stone from the kidney using a special instrument. It is used when the stone is too large to pass on its own.