Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are an all-too-common affliction in modern society. The prevalence (cases per population) in this country is as high as 10% in many studies. With the Westernization of the global diet, along with advancements in bariatric surgery, the number of stone cases is unfortunately on the rise. Over the past couple decades, the increase in prevalence of kidney stone disease in the United States is on the order of 40%. Stones can often present with pain on the side where the stone is harbored. At times, however, they can also present with non-specific symptoms such as nausea, fever, or irritative urinary symptoms. While no gene focus has been located to be a cause for stone formation, we do know the problem commonly runs in families. Other associations include high-salt diet, dehydration, and prior history of stone disease.