A kidney stone is formed when the levels of dissolved minerals and salts increases in one’s body and as per reports, kidney stones are a very common health problem with 11% incidence in men and 9% in women. Kidney stones can start small but can grow larger in size, even filling the inner hollow structures of the kidney.

Some kidney stones easily can be passed out of the body through urine but if the stone becomes lodged in the ureter, it blocks the urine flow from that kidney and causes discomfort and pain. Majority of times it is neglected and patients can present with various complications.

In an interview with HT lifestyle, Dr Manjunath S, Consultant Nephrologist and Renal Transplant Physician at SPARSH Hospital, explained, “Kidney stones means Crystallopathy. Urine is like a solution containing water as a solvent and solute (minerals, ions and nitrogenous waste products). When the content of minerals and ions are more, it automatically starts precipitating which leads to the crystal formation. When the crystals increase and the solvent is less, the urine becomes supersaturated leading to crystallization and stones in the urinary tract.”

According to him, kidney stones can be classified in terms of the location -

He said, “Depending on the chemical composition: most common is the calcium oxalate stones, 80-90% of the kidney stones. 10 to 20% are Calcium phosphate, Struvite Stones ,Uric acid and Cystine stones. There are a combination of environmental factors as well as genetic factors for stones.”

He highlighted some causes as -

He listed the genetic causes as -

Signs to watch out for:

Dr Moin Mohammed Bhavikatti, Senior Consultant, Department of Urology and Transplant at Belenus Champion Hospital, said that the following symptoms and signs should be observed by individuals that will signify presence of kidney stones -

1.Pain in right or left abdomen (loin) radiating downward

2.Difficulty in passing urine/poor stream

3.Fever and chills

4.Blood in Urine

5.Burning while passing urine/ bad odor of urine

He insisted that if an individual is feeling the following symptoms, they should seek an immediate appointment with a urologist. Bringing his expertise to the same, Dr Manjunath S elaborated -

Usually, when the stones are in the kidney, it will be a vague pain in the back. When it migrates through the ureter (the urinary tube connecting the kidney and the ureter), it will have a excruciating spasmodic pain which is called the acute Ureteric colic or renal colic, typically described as the loin to groin pain i.e. pain starts in the back and radiate to inner part of the thigh. The pain is intermittent and contracting pain.

2. Hematuria:

In urine analysis red blood cells can be detected. Also leucocytes, bacteria, urinary cysts, and crystals like calcium oxalate, struvite, cystine and uric acid crystals can be detected in the urine microscopic examination.

As per the health expert, the patient will have other symptoms like -

Prevention and treatment

Dr Manjunath S recommended -

Dr Manjunath S concluded, “Of late, the stones we are seeing are with more vitamin D and calcium supplementation. A lot of patients come with vitamin D deficiency which is very common in the urban population since they do not get adequately exposed to sun light. At the same time, overzealously taking the vitamin D as well as calcium will lead to hypercalciuria and calcium stones. In diabetic and geriatric population recurrent stones and obstruction with infections are common. Earlier, kidney stones were taken as an isolated condition and unrelated to the other issues. Now, researchers have found the relation between stones, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and even cardiovascular risk factors. Cardiovascular diseases are more common in stone formers. So, in any stone formation, we have to broaden our thinking and keep an eye and take preventive measures so that they don’t develop other diseases.”