Kidney stones are becoming more common in recent decades. Today, one in 10 Americans will suffer from one at some point in their lives. Kidney stones are hard masses that form in the urinary tract and may cause pain, bleeding, infection, or block of the flow of urine. Given the extreme pain that often accompanies kidney stones, many people are worried about getting them. That’s led to a lot of myths and misconceptions around kidney stones, what causes them, and how best to prevent them.

In a new editorial on MerckManuals.com, Glenn M. Preminger, MD, Duke University Medical Center, identifies some of the most common myths surrounding kidney stones. He sets the record straight on what patients need to know and how to talk to their doctors about this often-painful medical condition.