Kidney stones and gallstones can both cause sudden, intense pain along with nausea and vomiting — symptoms that often send people to the emergency room.
Despite these similarities, the two conditions develop in different parts of the body and have different causes. Understanding what sets kidney stones and gallstones apart can help you recognize symptoms sooner and get the treatment you need.
What are gallstones?
Gallstones form in the gallbladder from digestive fluid as a result of liver function and digestion. They can form because of an excessive amount of cholesterol or bilirubin, or because the gallbladder doesn’t completely empty or doesn’t empty often enough.
“A high-fat, high-sugar diet, obesity or a sedentary lifestyle can lead to gallstones, but so can rapid weight loss,” said Bilal Khan, MD, an emergency medicine physician with Endeavor Health. “There are some factors we can’t control that increase risk as well, including age, being female or having a family history of gallstones.”
They cause pain when they get stuck in a duct, which can result in symptoms including:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sudden pain in the center or upper right part of the stomach that gets worse
- Pain between the shoulder blades
- Pain in the right shoulder
If gallstones are causing frequent pain, the gallbladder can be surgically removed. The body can function normally without a gallbladder. Since it stores bile instead of making it, bile flows directly from the liver into the small intestine after surgery.
The best way to reduce the risk of gallstones is by eating enough fiber and maintaining a healthy weight.
What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones form from chemicals in urine and are mainly caused by dehydration and diet.
There are four types of kidney stones: Calcium stones, the most common; struvite stones, which are formed during urinary tract infections; uric acid stones, which are caused by dehydration, a high-protein diet or diabetes; and cystine stones, which form in people with the genetic condition cystinuria.
“For kidney stones, a diet high in protein or sodium along with dehydration can increase the risk,” Dr. Khan said. “Obesity as well as gastric bypass surgery are risk factors, as well as a family history or personal history of kidney stones.”
All types of kidney stones cause the same symptoms, including:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Chills
- Fever
- Severe lower back pain
- Blood in urine
- Abdominal or side pain
Kidney stones can be treated in several ways. Sometimes patients are advised to drink a large amount of water to pass the stone, a process that is sometimes aided by medication. This process can take between one and three weeks.
Other options include using sound waves to break apart the stones so they can be passed with urine, removing them with a tool inserted in the urethra, or surgically removing them (also known as nephrolithotomy).
The best way to reduce the risk of kidney stones is by staying hydrated. Drink water throughout the day and reduce the amount of sodium you eat.
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