What Causes Kidney Stones

Our kidneys act as blood filters and help in removing waste products from the body. Along with that the organs also help control the electrolyte levels for effective functioning of the body. The waste matter in the form of urine drains from the kidney into the bladder through the ureter. However, in certain cases the chemicals present in the urine crystallize to form a kidney stone or renal calculli. These hard crystalline stones are formed in the kidney or the urinary tract and can range from being very tiny when they form and gradually growing over time. While urolithiasis is the condition where the kidney stones are present in the urinary tract, nephrolithiasis refers to stones in the kidney.

Whether the kidney stones are a present in the kidney or the urinary tract, it causes severe pain in the abdomen or groin. They are also the most common reason for the presence of blood in urine. It is believed that 1 in every 20 people develops a kidney stone at some point of time in their life. So what causes kidney stones? Well, there are many reasons for the appearance of kidney stones in men as well as in women.

Causes of Kidney Stone

Decrease in Volume of Urine: A decrease in the volume of urine along with the presence of an excess of stone-forming substances in the urine can lead to formation of kidney stones. The chemicals most commonly present in kidney stones include calcium with either oxalate or phosphate. chemical compounds such as uric acid and amino acid cystine can also aid in kidney stone formation.

Dehydration: Dehydration caused as a result of less fluid intake increases the risk of kidney stones. In addition to that, strenuous exercise with inadequate fluid replacement caused out of sweating can also cause kidney stones.

Certain Medical Conditions: A number of medical conditions can lead to an increased risk for developing kidney stones:

• Gout results in an increased amount of uric acid in the urine and can lead to the formation of uric acid stones
• Hypercalciuria or the high calcium in the urine is a hereditary disease that causes stones. When excess of calcium is absorbed from food and excreted into the urine, calcium phosphate or calcium oxalate stones are formed
• Kidney diseases such as renal tubular acidosis or inherited metabolic conditions like cystinuria can also result in kidney stones
• People suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension are increasingly at risk of developing this condition
• Inflammatory bowel disease or people who have had an intestinal bypass are also more likely to develop kidney stones

Medication: Certain medication like Opiramate, a drug commonly prescribed to treat migraine headaches and seizures can increase the risk of developing kidney stones. Medications such as diuretics, calcium-containing antacids or certain medication used to treat an HIV related infection, can also lead to the formation of kidney stones.

In addition to these a few other kidney stone causes include:

• Diets high in protein and sodium but low in calcium
• An inactive lifestyle
• Obesity and weight gain
• Kidney stones are more common among men as compared to women
• People between the age of 30 and 50 are more prone to getting it
• A family history of kidney stones or hereditary risk of kidney stones
• Previous occurrences of kidney stones in the past
• It is believed that caucasians are more often affected than any other race

Kidney Stones Symptoms

As these kidney stones travel from the kidneys to the bladder they can cause severe pain in the groin or result in vomiting and nausea. This is accompanied by the presence of blood or pus in the urine or a burning sensation while urinating. If the stones result in any form of urinary tract infection, a person could suffer from fever and chills. Read more on the various kidney stone symptoms.

Diagnosis and Treatment

For diagnosing the presence of kidney stones the doctor may examine you and may conduct imaging tests, such as X-rays to examine your kidneys and urinary tract. To find out the cause of your kidney stones, your doctor may ask you to collect your urine over a period of 24 hours or perform a blood test.

In order to treat kidney stones, the doctor will suggest certain pain medicines and recommend consumption of enough water and other fluids to prevent dehydration. However, in case the stone is too large to pass on its own, or if it gets stuck in the urinary tract, you may need a specific kidney stone treatment known as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). This method uses shock waves to break a kidney stone into small pieces so that they can pass out of your body through your urine. For more information, you can also refer to natural remedies for kidney stones.

To avoid kidney stones, read more on how to avoid kidney stones.

To help prevent this painful ordeal it is important that people prone to getting kidney stones drink enough water to keep your urine clear, about 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. Staying hydrated, consuming an appropriate and recommended kidney stones diet and above all understanding what causes kidney stones, keeps the minerals from concentrating and forming stones. In addition the doctor may prescribe medicines to prevent certain types of stones for individuals who are at a higher risk.