Kidney stones usually form when your urine becomes too concentrated-and the stones can be made up of salts, minerals and calcium. Carlos Soto says pain was his first symptom that he had stones. "I remember it real distinctly because it hurt like the dickens. It was probably one of the worst pains I've ever had."

Physician Michael Strickland explains, "Obviously pain is usually acute, suddenly, sharp stabbing pain on one side or another, in the back. They have associated symptoms, usually it's nausea."

Dr. Strickland says that smaller stones can be passed naturally, but the formation of larger stone may require surgery. "Where we actually go in with a telescope through the kidney, through a puncture wound in the side and grind up the stone and take it out."

Dr. Strickland also says that there are some risk factors for kidney stones that we can control - like our activity level and our diet, but some factors we cannot control, like having a family history of the condition. There is also an important relationship between the amount and type of fluid that we drink and kidney stones. "There are a laundry list of dietary and fluid things that cause stones, some of the most common are iced tea for instance."

Simply drinking more water is an easy step to help prevent kidney stones.

Men between ages 30 and 50 years of age and postmenopausal women are most likely to suffer from kidney stones.