Which symptom is commonly associated with kidney stones?

Which symptom is commonly associated with kidney stones?

• A. Flank pain
• B. Frequent headaches
• C. Jaundice
• D. Bradycardia

Answer: (A)

Pain from a kidney stone comes from obstruction of urine flow, producing sudden, severe flank pain that is often intense and comes in waves as the stone moves. This pain may radiate toward the groin and is commonly accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sweating, and sometimes blood in the urine. Because this pattern of colicky, intense flank pain is so characteristic of kidney stones, flank pain is the symptom most commonly associated with them. Other choices don’t fit this picture—headaches have many causes, jaundice points to liver or biliary issues, and bradycardia is not a typical feature of stone-related pain (pain often increases heart rate, not lowers it).

Pain from a kidney stone comes from obstruction of urine flow, producing sudden, severe flank pain that is often intense and comes in waves as the stone moves. This pain may radiate toward the groin and is commonly accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sweating, and sometimes blood in the urine. Because this pattern of colicky, intense flank pain is so characteristic of kidney stones, flank pain is the symptom most commonly associated with them. Other choices don’t fit this picture—headaches have many causes, jaundice points to liver or biliary issues, and bradycardia is not a typical feature of stone-related pain (pain often increases heart rate, not lowers it).