Kidney stones form when minerals crystallize and separate from urine inside the kidney. They are typically small in size but can cause pain by blocking the flow of urine. Common symptoms include pain during urination, back pain, and blood in the urine. While diet and dehydration are key risk factors, kidney stones sometimes form without a clear cause. Diagnosis involves x-rays or ultrasounds to detect stones in the kidneys or ureters. Shock wave lithotripsy is a common treatment that uses sonic waves to break up stones so they can pass naturally in urine.

1. On Kidney Stones
By Michael & Bryan

2. What is a kidney stone?
• A tiny crystalline mineral structure that has escaped
the urine and entered the kidney
• Over time, other small impurities attached
themselves to the mineral
• If not expelled from the body, the kidney stone can
block the flow of urine and cause the kidney to swell

3. What is a kidney stone?
•
Common minerals that cause
kidney stones are as follows
1. Calcium oxalate (70% of stones)
2. Calcium phosphate (10%)
3. Uric acid (~10%)
4. Struvite (~10%)
5. Crystine (>1%)
6. Medically-induced stone (>1%)

4. Common Symptoms
• Symptoms vary from severity and nature of kidney
stone
• Most commonly reported symptoms are oderous
urine, pain while urinating, blood mixed with urine,
and a sharp pain in the lower back
• Less common symptoms include chills, nausea,
excessive urination
and

5. Common many reasons, the
Causes
• Kidney stones can form for
foremost being:
A. An imbalanced diet
B. Lack of proper hydration
C. Improper metabolism
D. An infection in the urinary tract
E. An over-active parathyroid gland (hyperparathyroidism)
It is also common for a kidney stone to form without any direct
cause, although diet & hydration always factor into their

6. Diagnosing a Kidney Stone
•
Intravenous Pyelogram
A. A series of x-rays of the kidneys
& surrounding area used to
detect imperfections
•
Renal ultrasound
A. Use of sound waves to project
an image of the kidneys
B. Can detect and give accurate
measurements of kidney
swelling, and kidney stone

7. Shock Wave Lithotripsy
• Litho= stone
• tripsy=crushed
• Projection of precise sonic
waves from outside the body to
shatter a kidney stone
• Most common & efficient means
of treating a kidney stone in
North America
• Cannot be used on stones that
exceed 2cm in size

8. Facts & Statistics
• Roughly 10% of all Canadians will have a kidney
stone at some point in their life
• Typical age demographic ranges from 20-50 years old
• Men are three times more susceptible to forming a
kidney stone than women
• Form at a faster rate in dry climates

9. Facts & Statistics
• Women are becoming more likely to develop kidney
stones
• Once an individual has a kidney stone, they are more
likely to have another
• Drinks like coffee,tea, & cola help contribute to the
formation of kidney stones
• One can pass a kidney stone without knowledge of
one even forming

10. Bibliography
"Featured Story." The National Kidney Foundation: A to Z Health Guide. N.p., n.d.
Web.
29
Nov.
2013.
<http://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/kidneystones_ShockWave.cfm>
.
"Kidney Stones." Kidney Stones. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2013.
<http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patientcare/healthcare_services/urinary_bladder_
kidney/urogenital_disorders/overview_urogenital_disorders/kidney_stones/Pages
/index.aspx>.
"Kidney Stones." - The Kidney Foundation of Canada. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.kidney.ca/page.aspx?pid=328>.
"Urology."
UW
Health.
29
Nov.
N.p.,
n.d.
Web.
<http://www.uwhealth.org/urology/types-of-kidney-stones/11206>.
2013.
Kidney Stones." - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Diagnosis. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov.
2013.
<http://chealth.canoe.ca/channel_condition_info_details.asp?
disease_id=173&channel_id=2035&relation_id=20729>.