🪨 Kidney Stones
PH
PureHealthness Editorial Team · Health writers & reviewers
📝 Last reviewed: August 2026
✔ Transparent sourcing · Some articles are AI-drafted, then reviewed & fact-checked by our team
📝 Last reviewed: August 2026
| In brief | Sharp, severe pain in the back and side, radiating to the lower abdomen or groin, plus painful urination. |
|---|---|
| Category | Kidney |
🔍 What causes it
Crystals form in concentrated urine — calcium oxalate is most common. Low fluid intake, high salt, obesity, family history and some diets raise the risk.
⚠️ Key symptoms
- Severe, colicky pain in the back/side radiating to groin
- Painful or frequent urination
- Blood in urine (pink/red)
- Nausea and vomiting
💊 Treatment
Small stones: fluids + pain relief, usually pass in days. Larger stones: shockwave lithotripsy, or ureteroscopy. Drink 2-3L water daily; reduce salt; see a doctor for fever with pain (infection risk) or inability to pass urine.
🛡️ Prevention
Water, water, water — plus less salt, normal calcium intake (not less), limit oxalate-heavy foods if prone.
🚨 See a doctor / red flags: See a doctor promptly if symptoms are severe, do not improve, or get worse — especially for children, older adults, pregnant women, or anyone with a chronic condition.
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