By Adela Ramirez

Kidney stones are small, hard deposits that form inside your kidney. They are made of minerals and acid salts. Kidney stones form when the urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallize and stick together. Passing kidney stones can be painful. The pain starts from your back side (below your ribs), and moves to your lower abdomen.

The existence of kidney stones was first recorded thousands of years ago. In 1901, a stone was discovered in the pelvis of an ancient Egyptian mummy, and was dated to be 4800 B.C.

Intense pain in your lower back. Painful urination Intense vomiting Blood in the urine If the kidney stone is small enough, you may not have any symptoms.

There are tests to identify if you may have kidney stones: Urine test, see if you might have an infection before developing kidney stones. Blood tests Testing the acidity of the urine, you may have high or low levels of chemicals that inhabit or promote stone formation.

Drink plenty of water Eat less salty foods Follow your diet