What Is a Kidney Stone?

 

A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms from crystallization of excreted substances in the urine. The stone may remain in the kidney or break loose and travel down the urinary tract. A small stone may pass all of the way out of the body, but a larger stone can get stuck in a ureter, the bladder, or the urethra. This may block the flow of urine and cause great pain.

A kidney stone may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pearl, and some are as big as golf balls. Approximately 80 percent of kidney stones are less than 2 centimeters in width. They may be smooth or jagged, and are usually yellow or brown in color.

 

 

Latest Kidney Stones News
Kidney stones tied to higher diabetes risk

October 27, 2011 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who've suffered bouts of kidney stones may have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later on, new research suggests.

Report links kidney stones and gallstones

October 14, 2011 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who have had a kidney stone seem to have a heightened risk of gallstones -- and vice versa, according to a new study.

Supplement users often get ample minerals in diet

October 6, 2011 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who take dietary supplements to boost their intake of minerals tend also to get more nutrients from their food than those who don't take supplements, according to a new study that suggests vitamins are often taken by the people who need them least.

Select news items provided by Reuters Health