What are Kidney Stones?

We all have two bean shaped kidneys on the back side on either side of the spine.Their function is to clean blood, filter out water and waste products to make urine.

Salts and minerals that are usually found in the urine some time crystallize to make tiny stones. usually these stones are so tiny that they are invisible and they pass out of the body through urine. But some times these tiny crystals can build up and form larger stones. These stones can grow in to a variety of sizes, shapes and colors.

So what are kidney stones exactly and how big they can grow?

In the most simple terms, Kidney stones are lumps of salts and minerals formed in the kidneys.These salts and mineral found in the urine begin to crystallize mainly due to dehydration and lack of fluid. Under normal circumstances and proper hydration these tiny crystals may just pass with the urine without any problems. In some cases these tiny crystals begin to stick together and start forming bigger lumps. The size of the stone can vary from as small as a sand particle to as big as a golf ball.

These stones can remain in the kidney for many years without giving any trouble. However these stones can move down due to its self weight or any other reason and can cause pain and infection. The symptoms of kidney stones begins to appear only when the stones move.

Some of these stones can dissolve on its own and pass out through the urine without any notice or symptom.

The stone or stones can form in one or both kidneys. It is more common for a stone to form in one kidney. Usually a doctor suspects kidney stones when a pain on one side of the lower back is reported by the patient. An X-ray or ultrasound scan can detect it to confirm.

Learn more about causes, symptoms, types and home remedies for kidney stones in the other related articles:

What are Kidney Stones?

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