About five percent of people in Germany suffer from kidney stones at least once in their lives. These occur when crystallized components of the urine settle in the ducts of the kidneys or the renal pelvis. The deposits can be caused by various factors, including taking certain medications, poor diet or lack of exercise. Kidney stones can be of different sizes – smaller stones usually do not cause any symptoms and the body can usually excrete them with the urine on its own. However, if the kidney stones get into the ureter via the urine, it can cause problems, especially if the kidney stones are larger. But how does the disease manifest itself?
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Kidney stones: 3 signs
1. Cramping pains
A typical sign of larger kidney stones is the sudden, colicky pain that, depending on the location of the kidney stone, can radiate to the back, lateral lower abdomen or abdomen. The severe pain occurs when the ureter is overstretched by the kidney stone during removal. In this case one also speaks of renal colic or ureteral colic. While smaller stones only cause slight pain when passed through the urine, those affected find the cramps of renal colic almost unbearable.
2. Nausea
Other symptoms associated with kidney stones are nausea, nausea and vomiting. Of course, there are many other factors that can cause nausea, including food poisoning, a stomach flu , and taking certain medications. However, if severe, colicky pain occurs, accompanied by nausea or vomiting, then this can be an indication of kidney stones.
3. Frequent urination
There is no precise recommendation as to how often someone should urinate per day, since this depends, among other things, on the amount that is drunk. A healthy person goes to the toilet about six to eight times a day. If you have to go to the toilet unusually often or have a constant urge to urinate, an illness could be the cause. For example, a urinary tract infection manifests itself through symptoms such as pain when urinating or a frequent urge to urinate. If small amounts of urine are passed frequently, this can also indicate kidney stones. The loose stones can even lead to blood admixtures. If in doubt, always consult a doctor!
