Read on to find out the most common signs of having kidney stones.
Having kidney stones is a very common and extremely painful health disease that can happen to anybody. These stones are nothing but hard collection of salt, crystals and minerals that form inside your kidneys. While it can be genetic, several other factors such as not drinking enough water, obesity, improper diet, having high levels of cystine, uric acid, oxalate or calcium in urine, having polycystic kidney disease or taking certain medications can cause kidney stones in your body. They vary in size and can affect any part of your urinary tract. Here, let's take a look at some of the most common signs of kidney stones.
Back, belly or side pain: When a stone gets stuck inside the ureter and then starts moving, it causes a blockage and results in intense pain and pressure in the lower back, belly or side. This is one of the earliest signs of kidney stones and the pain can be extremely severe to some people.
Frequent urination: If the stone is located near your bladder, then the bladder walls get irritated and finally causes bladder contraction. This condition makes you feel an urge to urinate frequently. So, if you need to go to the washroom more than usual, then it's high time you should consult with a doctor.
Gastrointestinal issues: People with kidney stones often suffer from several gastrointestinal issues. The stones in the kidneys make the stomach upset and result in severe stomach pain, nausea and vomiting.
Pain or burning with urination: If you experience pain or burn feeling during urination, then you might have kidney stones. This happens as while urination, the stones travel through the ureter. Also, the stones sometimes cause urinary tract infection which is another reason behind this condition.
Fever and chills: Although uncommon, but kidney stones also cause fever and chills to certain people. This happens because the flow of urine gets blocked by the stones and results in kidney or urinary tract infection.
Blood in the urine: This is a very common sign of kidney stones. The urinary tract tissues or the ureter gets irritated by the stones and as a result, you notice blood in your urine. The condition is known as hematuria and it makes the urine red, brown or pink.
Cloudy or smelly urine: This happens due to the infection inside your kidneys or the urinary tract. As the kidney stones are made up of concentrated minerals, it makes the urine cloudy. And the smell comes from the bacteria in the urinary tract.
So, if you're noticing any of these signs, then immediately consult with a doctor.
