Characteristics of urolithiasis and what to look for I. What is urolithiasis? Urolithiasis, also called urinary stones, refers to stones that form in the kidneys, ureters and bladder. They are caused by the crystallization of substances in the urine from various causes. Most of them form in the bladder and kidneys and can get stuck in the ureter and urethra during elimination, forming ureteral stones and urethral stones. II. Symptoms of urolithiasis may vary depending on the size, location, blockage of the urinary tract, and the presence of comorbidities of the stones. 1. Small stones in the kidneys are usually asymptomatic, while individuals may present with hematuria in the naked eye after activity. 2. Ureteral stones can cause severe pain in the lower back and abdomen, also known as renal colic. It may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting and hematuria. Characteristically, the above symptoms may occur suddenly or may be relieved quickly, and may be completely normal during asymptomatic periods. 3. Bladder stone: Bladder stone is stuck in the urethra during the process of discharge, which may cause urinary pain and blood in urine, in addition to the characteristic symptoms of sudden interruption of urine flow. III. Problems to be noted about urolithiasis 1. Pain caused by stones is not related to the size of stones Small stones can cause severe pain and nausea and vomiting, while large stones can be asymptomatic 2. The disappearance of pain after medication does not necessarily mean that the stones have been completely expelled Generally, pain caused by stones can be completely relieved after 3-5 days of medication. Some people may think that the stone has been discharged without any symptoms, so they neither review nor treat the stone, which may cause heavy hydronephrosis on the side of the stone and lead to the loss of kidney function. 3. It is important to keep the stones after they are discharged and not to throw them away. Keep the stones for analysis of stone composition in order to guide future diet and prevent recurrence of stones. 4. For patients with frequent stone recurrence or short intervals between recurrences, it is usually due to some disease and should be further investigated and treated for the primary disease such as gout, hyperparathyroidism, etc. 5. Drink more water to increase urine output. Note: The amount of water to drink is based on the volume of urine as a reference, to ensure that the 24-hour urine volume is maintained above 2000ml. Do not concentrate on drinking water, but drink evenly and drink another glass of water before bedtime to ensure that you urinate once at night. 6. Although there is no symptom after stone discharge, ultrasound examination should be reviewed every 3-6 months to detect the formed small stones and treat them in time to avoid the difficulty of treatment and complications caused by the growth of stones.