Did you know that if you don’t drink enough water and become dehydrated, you may develop kidney stones?

Kidney stones are formed when minerals and acidic salts in your urine crystallize.

How do you know if you have kidney stones?

Kidney stones can form anywhere along the urinary tract, such as the kidneys, ureters, or bladder.

• If there is a stone in the kidney, you may feel a persistent pain on one side of your lower back.
• If there is a stone in the ureter, you may experience severe pain that starts from one side of the lower back and radiates toward the lower abdomen. This pain comes in waves and can be very difficult to tolerate.
• In addition, you may experience vomiting, nausea, and excessive sweating.

People with kidney stones also have a higher risk of urinary tract infections. In such cases, symptoms such as fever and burning sensation during urination may occur along with the above symptoms.

When you visit a doctor with these symptoms, an X-ray may be done to confirm the presence of a kidney stone. In some cases, a CT scan may be required for confirmation.

If you experience any of these symptoms caused by kidney stones, it is very important to seek medical attention immediately. Otherwise, complications such as urinary tract infections may develop.