Mega Doctor News
They may be microscopic, sometimes just the size of a grain of sand, but kidney stones can trigger some of the most excruciating pain a person can experience.
“Your kidneys serve as the body’s natural filtration system, removing excess waste, including salt, water, potassium, acid and nitrogen, from your blood and converting it into urine,” says Eduardo Candanosa, MD, a family and emergency medicine physician affiliated with South Texas Health System (STHS). “When too much of these substances build up in the bloodstream, the kidneys may not be able to filter them all out. As this buildup occurs, tiny crystals can form inside the kidneys. Over time, they may bind together and grow into a solid mass known as a kidney stone.”
While most kidney stones pass naturally through the urine, they can still cause significant pain as they travel through the urinary tract.
“Often described as one of the worst sensations a person can experience, the pain caused by a kidney stone can be extraordinarily intense,” says Dr. Candanosa. “It typically begins suddenly in the back or side, just below the ribs,and can radiate into the lower abdomen and groin as the stone moves through the urinary tract. Because the stone scrapes against the delicate lining of the urinary system as it travels, even small stones can trigger severe discomfort.”
In the United States, roughly one in 10 Americans will develop a kidney stone at some point in their lives, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with men experiencing a higher risk than women. However, the prevalence of kidney stones continues to rise nationwide, particularly among women, children and adolescents.
“Kidney stone rates are rising due to obesity, metabolic syndrome and diets high in salt, sugar and animal protein, which increase stoneforming minerals in the urine,” says Dr. Candanosa. “Obesity also causes insulin resistance, making urine more acidic and boosting uric acid and calcium excretion.”
Untreated kidney stones can cause severe pain, chronic urinary tract infections and, in severe cases, permanent kidney damage, chronic kidney disease or sepsis.
“When a stone blocks the flow of urine, it causes urine to back up, which can make the kidney swell,” says Dr. Candanosa. “That buildup can reduce kidney function and, in rare situations, lead to lifethreatening complications.”
Understanding kidney stones is important because they have a high recurrence rate, with up to 50% of patients experiencing another stone within 5–10 years, according to the NIH, making proactive prevention critical for longterm health.
To help Rio Grande Valley residents better understand the notoriously painful condition, STHS will dedicate the latest episode of its monthly “South Texas Healthy Living” television program to kidney stones.
Broadcast live on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. on KVEO NBC 23, the episode will feature an indepth interview with Dr. Candanosa, who will discuss the causes, risk factors and symptoms of kidney stones, along with current treatment options.
Additionally, STHS System Director of Marketing & Public Relations and “South Texas Healthy Living” host Tom Castañeda speaks with a Hidalgo woman who endured an excruciating kidney stone episode less than three years ago to learn about the proactive steps she’s now taking to prevent another occurrence and get her advice for others looking to protect their kidney health.
The program will also feature a special healthy cooking segment led by Patrick Woodin, STHS McAllen’s director of dietary & nutrition services, an exercise demonstration with a member of the STHS Edinburg OutpatientRehabilitation Center team and important strategies for preventing kidney stones.
“Leading a healthy lifestyle, including drinking plenty of water, cutting back on sodium and animal protein and maintaining a healthy weight, plays a big role in preventing kidney stones and reducing the risk of recurrence,” says Castañeda. “In this new episode of ‘South Texas Healthy Living,’ we’ll share easy, practical tips, from simple exercises to everyday nutrition ideas, to help you take better care of your kidneys. Our goal is to help our community feel confident and empowered to take charge of their health as they work to get healthy and stay healthy.”
To learn more about kidney stones, be sure to tune in to the latest episode of South Texas Healthy Living on Sunday, March 29, at 9:00 a.m. on KVEO NBC 23, with an encore airing on Sunday, April 5, at 9:00 a.m. on KVEO-TV NBC 23.
To watch previous episodes of “South Texas Healthy Living” and the system’s South Texas Health Updates, one-minute videos offering education on a variety of health topics, visit South Texas Health System’s Medical Minute page on ValleyCentral.com.
