Last Updated on October 31, 2025 by Bilal Hasdemir
Many people with kidney stone pain think they might be having a heart attack. The pain can spread to the chest. It can also make you feel short of breath and raise your blood pressure.
Do kidney stones cause chest pain? Understand the phenomenon of referred pain and when chest pain might be linked to a kidney stone.
Kidney stones usually cause pain in the flank and lower back. But, pain can also go to the chest area. This can make you worry about your heart, even if it’s not the problem.
At Liv Hospital, we take a detailed approach to figure out what’s wrong. We make sure you get the care you need.
It’s important to know about kidney stones to spot their symptoms early. Kidney stones are hard deposits that form in the kidneys. They come from minerals and salts in the urine.
Kidney stones, also known as renal calculi, are solid masses of crystals. They form in the urinary tract. Some stones are small and pass unnoticed, while others are large and painful.
The most common types of kidney stones include:
The symptoms of kidney stones vary based on the stone’s size and location. Common symptoms include:
These symptoms happen because the stone irritates the urinary tract. This causes inflammation and pain.
Kidney stones are a big health issue in the United States. About 1 in 11 people will get kidney stones in their lifetime. This shows how common they are.
Prevalence | Percentage | Ratio |
Lifetime Risk | 9% | 1 in 11 |
Men | 11% | 1 in 9 |
Women | 6% | 1 in 16 |
The number of people getting kidney stones has gone up over the years. Some groups are more affected than others. Knowing this helps patients and doctors prevent and manage kidney stones better.
Kidney stone pain is sharp and severe, often felt in the flank area. It can spread to other parts of the body. This happens when the stone moves through the urinary tract and blocks or irritates it.
Flank pain is a common symptom of kidney stones. It usually happens on one side, near the affected kidney. The pain feels sharp and stabbing, getting worse over time.
The pain’s characteristics depend on the stone’s size and location. As the stone moves, the pain’s intensity and location can change. For example, if the stone is stuck in the ureter, the pain may move to the lower abdomen or groin.
Kidney stone pain can spread to different areas as the stone moves. Common places include the lower back, abdomen, and groin. These patterns can help doctors figure out where the stone is and how it’s moving.
Knowing these patterns is key to treating kidney stone pain well.
The pain from kidney stones can vary a lot. Some people feel mild discomfort, while others have severe pain. The pain often comes in waves, with intense pain followed by relief.
How long the pain lasts depends on how fast the stone is passed. Sometimes, the pain goes away once the stone is out. Other times, it keeps going until medical help is sought.
Pain Characteristic | Description |
Location | Typically starts in the flank area, can radiate to lower back, abdomen, and groin |
Intensity | Can range from mild to severe, often comes in waves |
Duration | Varies depending on the stone’s movement and whether it is passed |
Understanding the link between kidney stones and chest pain is important. Kidney stones usually cause severe pain in the flank. But, some people also feel chest discomfort.
Kidney stones don’t usually cause chest pain directly. But, they can indirectly cause chest discomfort. For example, pain from a kidney stone might be felt in the chest.
Key factors to consider:
Referred pain happens when pain is felt in a different place than where it started. For kidney stones, pain can go to the chest or rib area. This is because of shared nerve pathways.
The complexity of referred pain makes it hard to figure out the cause of chest pain. It’s important to know that referred pain isn’t caused by the stone itself. It’s how our nervous system interprets the pain signals.
While chest pain from kidney stones is usually not serious, there are times when it is. If you have:
you should get medical help right away. Our healthcare team can check you out and decide what to do next.
In summary, kidney stones don’t usually cause chest pain directly. But, they can lead to chest discomfort through referred pain. Knowing the possible causes and when to get medical help is key for managing symptoms effectively.
Kidney stones can cause pain that feels like it’s coming from the chest. This happens because the kidneys are close to the diaphragm and share nerve pathways. This connection can make the chest feel painful even if the problem is in the kidneys.
The kidneys are near the ribs and diaphragm. When a kidney stone irritates these areas, it can cause pain in the flank and chest. This pain is due to how the body is structured and the nerves that connect the area.
The nerves that carry pain from the kidneys to the brain also connect to the chest. This overlap can make it seem like the pain is coming from the chest, even if it’s from the kidneys.
Inflammation from a kidney stone can spread to nearby tissues, causing chest pain. The inflammation can irritate the diaphragm and other nearby structures, leading to chest discomfort. Knowing how this works helps doctors diagnose and treat patients with kidney stones who have chest pain.
Understanding how kidney stones can indirectly cause chest pain helps doctors provide better care. They can treat the stone and the symptoms that affect a patient’s life.
Respiratory symptoms can sometimes come with kidney stones, making the condition more complex. While the main worry with kidney stones is the pain, some people may also have breathing issues.
Yes, kidney stones can sometimes lead to shortness of breath. This happens if the stone is big enough to irritate a lot or if there’s an infection. This infection can affect the tissues and organs around it, impacting breathing.
Shortness of breath from kidney stones is not as common as other symptoms like flank pain. But, it’s something patients should know about. If you suddenly or severely feel short of breath, you need to get medical help right away.
Kidney stones can cause pain that gets worse with deep breathing. The pain is usually in the flank or lower back and can spread. Deep breathing can make this pain worse, mainly if the stone irritates the tissues or if there’s inflammation.
It’s important to remember that breathing deeply might make the pain worse. But, the pain itself isn’t caused by breathing. It’s because of the stone.
If you’re having trouble breathing during a kidney stone episode, there are steps you can take. First, try to stay calm and relax as much as you can. Deep breathing exercises might help, but they can be hard if they make the pain worse.
By understanding the respiratory symptoms of kidney stones and how to manage them, patients can handle these tough episodes better.
Telling kidney stone pain from a heart attack is key for quick medical help. Both can cause intense pain, but they have different causes and effects.
Kidney stone pain is sharp and in the flank, moving to the lower abdomen or groin. It often comes with nausea, vomiting, and hematuria (blood in the urine). Heart attack symptoms, though, are chest pain or discomfort that spreads to the arm, neck, or jaw. They also include shortness of breath, lightheadedness, or cold sweats.
Kidney stone pain usually stays in the flank and abdomen. But heart attack pain is mostly in the chest. Yet, sometimes the pain can look the same, making it hard to tell them apart.
Kidney stone pain can be so bad it feels like a heart attack. It might feel like it’s in the chest or upper abdomen. But, kidney stone pain often comes with dysuria (painful urination) or urgency, which heart attacks don’t.
“The pain from kidney stones can be excruciating and may radiate to various areas, but the presence of urinary symptoms can help differentiate it from cardiac causes.”
If you have these symptoms, get emergency medical care right away:
Knowing the differences and when to get help can save lives. If unsure, always choose caution and get medical evaluation.
Recent studies have found a strong link between kidney stones and heart disease. People who have had kidney stones might face a higher risk of heart disease. This shows how important it is to understand the link between these two conditions for better patient care.
Research shows a link between kidney stones and a higher risk of heart disease. A meta-analysis found that those with a history of kidney stones are at a higher risk of heart disease and heart attacks. This suggests that kidney stones might be a sign of factors that lead to heart disease.
The exact reasons for this link are being studied. But, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity are thought to play a big role. These conditions are risk factors for both kidney stones and heart disease, making a holistic approach to care essential.
Several risk factors are common to both kidney stones and heart disease. These include:
Knowing these shared risk factors is key to preventing both kidney stones and heart disease.
The link between kidney stones and heart health has big implications for patient care. Healthcare providers should look at a patient’s history of kidney stones when checking their heart disease risk. This might involve:
By managing patients with kidney stones in a proactive and integrated way, we can lower their risk of heart disease. This can improve their overall health outcomes.
Kidney stones can cause a lot of pain, leading to anxiety and stress. People often feel overwhelmed by the pain’s intensity. This can be very debilitating.
Yes, kidney stones can cause a lot of anxiety. The pain can come on suddenly and be very severe. This can be as hard to deal with as the physical pain itself.
Studies show that people with kidney stones often feel more anxious and stressed. This anxiety is not just about the pain. It’s also about the fear of when it might happen again.
The stress and anxiety from kidney stones can also affect blood pressure. While the link between kidney stones and high blood pressure is complex, stress can raise blood pressure temporarily.
Research finds that people with kidney stones might be at higher risk for high blood pressure. It’s important to watch blood pressure during and after a stone episode.
It’s key to manage stress during a kidney stone episode. Techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and staying hydrated can help. They can reduce discomfort and anxiety.
Understanding the psychological effects of kidney stones and managing stress can help patients cope better. This way, they can face the challenges of kidney stones more effectively.
Chest pain with kidney stones needs quick and right diagnosis and treatment. When chest pain happens with kidney stone symptoms, doctors use many tests to find the cause. They then make a treatment plan to help.
Tests like non-contrast CT scans, ultrasounds, and X-rays are used to find kidney stones. These tests show the size, location, and number of stones. They help figure out if the chest pain is from the stones or something else.
Urine analysis is also key. It checks for infection or blood in the urine, signs of kidney stones. Blood tests may also be done to check kidney function and for infections or other problems.
Treatment for kidney stones depends on the stone’s size and location, and how bad the symptoms are. Small stones that don’t block or hurt much might just need pain meds and water to pass on their own.
Larger stones or those causing a lot of pain might need more help. This could be Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL). It’s a non-surgical way to break stones into smaller pieces that can pass more easily.
Managing pain is very important for kidney stone patients, even more so with chest pain. Pain relief medications like NSAIDs or opioids might be given, based on how bad the pain is.
Drinking lots of water is also key. It helps pass the stones and eases pain. Patients are usually told to drink a lot of water to help flush out the stones.
Quick treatment can stop lasting damage from kidney stones. Knowing about tests and treatments helps patients get the right care and manage their symptoms well.
Knowing when to see a doctor for kidney stones is key to managing them well. We’ve talked about the signs, like severe pain, and if kidney stones can cause chest pain. While they mainly cause pain in the flank, they can sometimes cause chest pain too.
To lower your chance of getting kidney stones, it’s important to prevent them. Drinking lots of water helps by making your urine less concentrated. Eating less sodium and more fruits and veggies is also good. Plus, managing health issues like high blood pressure and obesity is critical.
If you have symptoms like intense pain, nausea, vomiting, or fever, get medical help right away. Early treatment can make a big difference. By knowing the risks and taking steps to prevent them, you can avoid kidney stones and their complications.
Kidney stones usually cause pain in the flank or lower back. But, they can also cause chest discomfort. This is because they are close to the ribs and diaphragm. Or, it could be due to referred pain mechanisms.
Kidney stones don’t usually cause shortness of breath. But, a stone can irritate or cause an infection. This might lead to respiratory symptoms.
The pain from kidney stones can be very severe. It might feel like a heart attack. But, the pain and symptoms are usually different.
Yes, the pain from kidney stones can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. This stress can affect your blood pressure.
The stress and anxiety from kidney stones can temporarily raise blood pressure. But, kidney stones don’t directly cause long-term high blood pressure.
If a kidney stone irritates or is near the diaphragm, it can hurt more when you breathe or move.
Symptoms include severe flank or lower back pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever if there’s an infection.
Doctors use imaging tests like CT scans or ultrasounds to find the stone. They also check for other causes of chest pain.
Treatment aims to manage the stone, reduce pain, and address any other symptoms. This might include pain relief and, in some cases, surgery.
McCullough, A. R. (2005). Sexual dysfunction after radical prostatectomy. International Journal of Impotence Research, 17(S1), S39-S44.
