Every year, around half a million patients worldwide seek emergency care due to kidney stones, a condition that affects around 15% of the population, notes Dr. Carlos Manuel V\u00e1squez Lastra, urology specialist at ABC Medical Center.<\/p>\n

Kidney stones, also known as nephrolithiasis, form when salts or minerals present in urine build up and stick together, initially forming crystals that eventually develop into stones.<\/p>\n

There are three common factors that contribute to the development of kidney stones:<\/p>\n

\n
• Heredity: having a family member who’s had kidney stones increases the risk of developing them.<\/li>\n
• Metabolic factors: certain substances found in urine or blood can promote stone formation.<\/li>\n
• Diet: drinking little to no water has a significant impact on this.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  It’s common for someone with kidney stones to have no symptoms at all, especially when the stones remain inside the kidney. However, the most intense pain occurs when a stone leaves the kidney and becomes lodged in the ureter, the small tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder.<\/p>\n

  Once this happens, the kidney is no longer able to drain urine properly due to the blockage caused by the stone, leading to increased pressure and severe pain in the back of the abdomen, often accompanied by nausea or vomiting. This pain can also radiate to the front of the abdomen, Dr. V\u00e1squez notes.<\/p>\n

  Depending on the stone’s size and location, other symptoms can include blood in the urine or recurring urinary tract infections.<\/p>\n

  If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to see a urologist for a proper evaluation to rule out other possible conditions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Every year, around half a million patients worldwide seek emergency care due to kidney stones, a condition that affects around 15% of the population, notes Dr. Carlos Manuel V\u00e1squez Lastra, urology specialist at ABC Medical Center. Kidney stones, also known as nephrolithiasis, form when salts or minerals present in urine build up and stick together, […]<\/p>\n

  Read More… from Causes of Kidney Stones<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":265671,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[947,2999],"tags":[3232,3100,3534,3199],"class_list":["post-619280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-digital-magazine","category-internal-medicine","tag-internal-medicine","tag-renal-health","tag-cirugia","tag-urology"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n