Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract and affect about 12 percent of men and five percent of women by the age of 70. The peak age for a kidney stone is between 20 and 40 years old. Kidney stone incidence rates are increased among Caucasians. Kidney stones are more common in hot climates, and the peak kidney stone incidence rates occur one to two months after the hottest months of the year.
Emory’s Urology Stone Center is dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of kidney stones. Our team combines experts in the field of stone disease with the latest kidney stone treatment technologies to provide optimal care to our patients.
Causes of Kidney Stones
There are multiple reasons kidney stones may form. Essentially, there is a delicate balance of electrolytes in urine. Kidney stone form when the balance of electrolytes is disrupted. The primary cause of kidney stone formation is dehydration, which causes the salts and electrolytesin the urine to form crystals, which eventually grow into kidney stones.
Stones form in the kidney and may travel to anywhere along the course of the urinary tract down to the urethra. When kidney stones get lodged in the ureter, they block the flow of urine from the kidney. This can produce severe flank pain. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, and blood in the urine. If left untreated, stones can cause damage to the kidneys, which, when combined with an infection, can be deadly.
Diagnosing Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are diagnosed through a history and physical exam by your doctor, blood tests to measure kidney function and look for infection, urine tests to help identify the type of stone, and imaging (x-ray, CT scan, or intravenous pyelography) to determine where the stone is in your urinary tract.
Learn more about kidney stone treatment options.
