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Many people have small kidney stones that they don’t even know about. Sometimes these are found during a medical scan for something else, or they may be so small that they are passed in the urine without the person noticing.
Most people don’t live with kidney stones that cause problems because they are usually treated. However, some kidney stones that started out small can get bigger and move, which may cause symptoms like side or back pain, discomfort, bleeding, and urinary infections. If you have any symptoms of a kidney stone, it’s important to see your doctor right away.
If left untreated, kidney stones can block the tubes between the kidneys to the bladder or make them narrower. This raises your risk of a kidney infection and there is also a risk that urine may build up and put a strain on your kidneys.
These problems are rare because most kidney stones are treated before they lead to these problems.
How can you prevent kidney stones from coming back?
If you have kidney stones and your doctor thinks you're at high risk of developing more, they will likely recommend a metabolic evaluation. A metabolic evaluation is a series of blood and urine tests that help doctors figure out why the stones are forming. With this information, they can recommend the best ways to prevent future stones, such as medication or changes to your diet.
Even if the tests show that your risk of forming another kidney stone is low, you will be advised to make some lifestyle changes like:
- Drinking 2.5-3.0 litres of fluid each day, mostly water, spread throughout the day.
- Eating a balanced diet with less salt, meat, and alcohol, and more vegetables and fibre to keep calcium levels healthy and lower the intake of animal protein.
- Trying not to take too many vitamin supplements.
- Keeping a healthy weight and getting enough exercise, like 2-3 times a week, to stay active.
These changes can help lower your risk of kidney stones later on.
This chapter contains general information about kidney and ureteral stones. If you have any specific questions about your own medical situation you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. No website or leaflet can replace a personal conversation with your doctor.
Last updated: January 2025.