Kidney stones, or nephrolithiasis, are an uncommon illness during pregnancy. The majority of stones consist of calcium-containing crystals. As one of the most common causes of abdominal pain in pregnant patients in the second and third trimesters, kidney stones usually pass without the need for treatment.

The kidneys play an important role in keeping the body healthy by filtering out wastes and reabsorbing essential substances, such as sugar. When the kidneys develop stones large enough to block the passageways in the renal pelvis and ureter, urine gets trapped and wastes start to accumulate.

Creatinine is included in most routine lab work because it is the most reliable indicator of kidney health. Kidney patients should know what creatinine is, how it is measured and what their creatinine values mean. Many patients find it helpful to maintain a spreadsheet of their creatinine levels.

Kidney stones form due to a crystallization of substances in the urine. This common condition occurs more often in men than women, especially during the fourth decade of life. Additional risk factors for developing the masses include dehydration, obesity, high-protein diets and a family history of kidney stones.

A kidney tumor is a mass of abnormal cells that forms within the tissues of the kidney. Your kidneys are located on either side of your body. Kidney tumors can be cancerous or noncancerous. Small kidney tumors may not cause any symptoms initially.

Kidney stones are tiny crystals that form in the urinary tract from minerals in urine. Even through they are commonly called kidney stones, the crystals can form anywhere in the urinary tract, including the bladder or the ureters, the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.

You may love the bubbly, fizzy taste of a soda, but if you experience kidney stones, there are a few types you should avoid. While some people are genetically predisposed to experience kidney stones, the foods you eat and drinks you drink can make kidney stones more likely to form.

Although the kidneys occupy a protected area toward the back of the abdomen, these vital organs remain subject to traumatic injury. Motor vehicle accidents, falls, and other high-force trauma to the abdomen or back can cause kidney injury.

Passing a kidney stone can be incredibly painful. Kidney stones are hard, crystal-like masses that typically cause spasms of pain in the lower back, side and groin and blood in the urine. Some kidney stones will pass on their own and some require removal by a doctor.

When you have only one kidney -- which may be due to a birth defect, organ donation or surgical removal to treat injury or disease -- you will need to consume a healthy diet. This is a diet moderate in protein and low in sodium. It should include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, adequate fluid and low-fat foods.

Many people drink apple cider vinegar as a home remedy for numerous complaints like dandruff and heartburn. Some believe it can dissolve kidney stones, but this isn't true. However, apple cider vinegar may help to prevent the formation of kidney stones in the first place.

Protein does not typically appear in the urine in detectable quantities, according to the Edinburgh Renal Unit. Proteinuria, which is protein excretion of 150 milligrams or higher per day, may indicate kidney damage, but it can also be the result of more benign factors, including dehydration.