Anyone who has ever had kidney stones never forgets the experience. Kidney stones are hard, solid masses that usually originate in the kidneys, although they can be found anywhere along the urinary tract (via Healthline). The most common type of kidney stone is a calcium stone, which is created when there is too much calcium oxalate in the body. Other types of kidney stones include uric acid stones, struvite stones, and cystine stones.

任何曾经患过肾结石的人都不会忘记这一经历。肾结石通常起源于肾脏的坚硬、坚实的肿块，尽管它们可以在泌尿道的任何地方发现。最常见的肾结石类型是钙结石，这是由于体内草酸钙过多造成的。其他类型的肾结石包括尿酸结石、鸟粪石结石和胱氨酸结石。

Kidney stones are more common in men than women. The exact cause of this is unknown, although experts have some theories about why 11% of men will experience this condition at least once in their life while only 6% of women will be afflicted (via Orlando Health). Diet can play a role in someone's risk of developing a stone and men are more likely to have a lot of protein and salt in their diets. Both of these are risk factors for kidney stones. Dehydration can also put someone at risk of getting kidney stones and men are more likely to not get enough water during the day than women.

肾结石在男性中比女性更常见。尽管专家们有一些理论解释为什么11%的男性一生中至少会有一次这种情况，而只有6%的女性会有这种情况，但确切的原因尚不清楚。饮食可能会增加患结石的风险，而男性的饮食中更有可能含有大量的蛋白质和盐。这些都是肾结石的危险因素。脱水也会使人有患肾结石的风险，而男性比女性更有可能在一天中疏于饮水。

Symptoms of kidney stones include severe pain in the lower abdomen, a burning sensation while urinating, discolored urine, a constant need to urinate, nausea, and vomiting (via Mayo Clinic). If you suspect you have a kidney stone, your doctor can run tests to create a diagnosis. This may include blood testing, urine testing, or imaging. Your treatment will vary depending on the size of the kidney stone and which type of stone it is. Small kidney stones can often be passed naturally. Your doctor may prescribe pain relievers to ease some of your discomfort as you wait for the stone to pass. They may also prescribe a medication that relaxes the ureter, which can make passing more comfortable.

肾结石的症状包括下腹剧烈疼痛、排尿时有烧灼感、尿液变色、经常需要排尿、恶心和呕吐。如果你怀疑自己患有肾结石，你的医生可以通过检测做出诊断。诊断过程可能包括血液测试、尿液测试或成像。根据肾结石的大小和类型，治疗方法会有所不同。小肾结石通常可以自然排出。在等待结石排出时，医生可能会给你开一些止痛药来缓解你的不适。他们也可能会开一种放松输尿管的药物，可以让结石排出时更舒服。

Some kidney stones are too large to pass and need to be treated another way. Some stones can be broken up using extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), which is a procedure that uses sound waves to create vibrations that break up large stones. If this procedure doesn't work, surgery may be required. Once your kidney stone is no longer in your body, your doctor can help you find ways to reduce your risk of developing another one. This may include lifestyle changes or medication.

有些肾结石太大而无法排出，就需要用另一种方法治疗。大块结石可以通过体外冲击波碎石(ESWL)来破碎，这是一种利用声波产生振动来粉碎大块结石的方法。如果这个过程还是不起作用，就需要手术。一旦肾结石从体内取出，医生就可以帮助你找到方法来降低患肾结石的风险。通常包括生活方式的改变或药物治疗。