Kidney Stones Treatment and Causes

Kidney stones causes are sometimes hard to determine. There is not one single factor that attributes to the development of a renal stone, also known as a renal calculus. Kidney stones can form when a person’s urine contains abnormal levels of certain substances. These substances can turn into small crystals that create stones.

Kidney stones causes vary depending on the type of stone. Dehydration is one of the causes of renal calculi. People who don’t drink a lot of water or fluids are not helping rid the body of waste or toxins that get released through urine. As a result, the waste inside the urine can build up and join together to form different kinds of stones. A lack of vitamins and obesity are other possible kidney stone causes.

Calcium is one of the causes of renal stones. It is the most common substance found in kidney stones and usually combines with other substances, such as oxalate, carbonate, or phosphate. High amounts of vitamin D and certain foods in your diet can cause too much calcium to form. Calcium oxalate stones are one of the more common types. They occur in men more often then women. People that suffer from a bowel disease that causes recurrent inflammation of the bowel, or who have gone through intestinal bypass surgery, may be more susceptible to developing calcium oxalate stones as well.

People who form cystine stones have a family history of cystinuria. This has to do with certain genetic factors that cause stones to form in the kidney, bladder, or ureter. Cystine is a type of amino acid in the urine that is supposed to enter the kidney, dissolves, and returns to the bloodstream. When too much enters the urine it can form crystals. Struvite stones develop as a result of an infection, such as recurring urinary tract infections. These stones can grow large very quickly. Uric acid is a waste product that leaves the body through urine and stool. Uric acid kidney stones can develop if too much uric acid remains in the urine or the body has low amounts of urine compared to the level of uric acid. This can be a result of dehydration, a high-protein diet, or gout, a condition in which too much uric acid is found in the joints.

Kidney stones causes are important to understand in order to prevent renal stones from developing in the first place. Recurring kidney stones can lead to chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure, and even kidney failure. Eating a well balanced diet and drinking plenty of water each day can help your chances of not developing kidney stones. If you have a family history of kidney stones, you should be evaluated by our urologic team to see if you are also susceptible to the condition along with ways to diminish the chances of stones crystalizing in your body.

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