Kidney Stones Symptoms

Kidney stone symptoms are said to be as painful as labour pains. A strong intermittent pain that can be felt on the sides, radiating into the groin or lower back.

 All though the symptoms of kidney disease don’t usually include such intense pain, it should not be ruled out simply because it is being experienced. Pain caused by kidney stones, referred to as renal colic, is often described as one of the strongest pain sensations, and the knife like pain can, and has brought tears to the eyes of even the most pain tolerant. It typically comes in waves lasting 20 to 60 minutes caused by peristaltic contractions of the ureter as it attempts to expel the stone. Even though the pain is the most noticeable of all the symptoms of kidney stones, there are other symptoms that are worth mentioning.

	Blood in the Urine that can result in a pinkish color.
	A Fever, or Chills.

If the later is experienced then a infection has probably taken hold and a doctor should be contacted immediately.

What Causes Kidney Stones

 A kidney stone is formed when minerals settle out of the urine into the kidney or the ureter, a tube that connects the kidney to the bladder. Additional minerals will settle on to the small speck, which develops into stones over time.

There are four types of kidney stones, that are classified depending on the chemicals that make up the stones.

	Calcium Oxalate
	Calcium Phosphate
	Mixed Calcium Oxalate/Phosphate
	Magnesium Ammonium Phosphate

On rare occasions, certain medications can sometimes form stones after crystallization in the urine. The most common however are composed of calcium ox ate, which is present naturally in the urine.   A kidney stone is more likely to appear in the summer months or hot climates.  This is do to the body being more dehydrated during this time, resulting in a greater concentration of minerals in the urine.

Kidney Stone Prevention

The best way to prevent kidney stones is threw a proper kidney diet.  However if you already have kidney stones a fantastic home remedy that is guaranteed to work in less than 48 hours can be found here.  

The most important thing is to keep your self-hydrated. When the body is dehydrated there is a higher concentration of minerals in the urine, and thus the risk of these minerals settling and forming kidney stones is greater. Drink water throughout the day. For people with a history of kidney stones, doctors usually recommend passing about 2.6 quarts (2.5 liters) of urine a day. Your doctor may ask that you measure your urine output to ensure that you're drinking enough water. People who live in hot, dry climates and those who exercise frequently may need to drink even more water to produce enough urine. 

Eat fewer oxalate-rich foods.  If you tend to form calcium oxalate stones, restrict foods rich in oxalate's. These include rhubarb, beets, okra, spinach, Swiss chard, sweet potatoes, tea, chocolate and soy products. 

Choose diets low in salt and animal proteins. Reduce the amount of salt you eat and choose a different source of protein, such as nuts and legumes. This may help reduce your chance of developing kidney stones.