What is a kidney stone?
A kidney stone is a hard, crystalline mineral
material formed within the kidney or urinary tract. Kidney stones are a common
cause of blood in the urine and often-severe pain in the abdomen, flank, or
groin.
What causes kidney stones?
Kidney stones form
when there is a decrease in urine volume and/or an excess of stone-forming
substances in the urine.
The most common type
of kidney stone contains calcium in combination with either oxalate or
phosphate. About 75% of kidney stones are calcium...