Pesky kidney stones form when urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallize and stick together.
An unhealthy diet, increased body weight, and taking some medications and nutritional supplements lead to the formation of kidney stones, which the body tries to get rid of through urine.
But they may become very painful as they increase in size, and surgery is usually needed to remove them.
The following are the most important signs of kidney stones:
Pain in the back or side of the abdomen
The British National Kidney Foundation revealed that, as a general rule, the larger the stone, the more noticeable the symptoms. Severe pain on either side of the lower back is a common complaint.
Periods of severe pain in the back or side of the abdomen, or sometimes in the thigh, may last for minutes or hours.
Blood in urine
People with kidney stones may experience blood in their urine, which is medically known as hematuria.
Larger stones may damage the tissues of the urinary tract, allowing blood to leak into the urine.
However, there are many possible causes of blood in the urine, including a urinary tract infection, a bladder or kidney tumor, or polycystic kidney disease.
Urine infection
If kidney stones block the urinary tract, they can stop the flow of urine from the kidney, which can lead to infection or even kidney damage.
Symptoms of this condition include: high temperature, vomiting and diarrhea. Those affected may also witness pink urine, and may feel the need to urinate more than usual, because the stone irritates the base of the bladder, causing a feeling that it is always full.
Feeling nauseous or wanting to vomit
Kidney stones can cause flu-like symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting. According to the British Association of Urological Surgeons, this symptom may occur when the stone moves from the kidney to the ureter, where urine passes from the kidney to the bladder.
Sweating
Kidney stones can trigger other symptoms, such as chills and sweating, as a result of a urinary tract infection, according to health officials in the state of Victoria, Australia.
But similar symptoms can be caused by back or spine problems, and other urinary or non-urinary conditions.
It is recommended to consult a specialist doctor directly if you feel these symptoms.