Nowadays, millions of individuals are suffering from kidney stones. It is the most painful condition an individual can experience. What causes kidney stones is primarily a result of an imbalance in the components that comprise urine. These stones can develop for a variety of reasons. It happens when you don’t drink a sufficient amount of water. Because it concentrates your urine and enables stones to form more easily.
Development of kidney stones can also result from eating too much sugar, salt, or foods like chocolate and spinach. And if your family has a history of kidney stones or certain medical issues. These preconditions are high blood pressure, gout, or obesity, you may be more likely to get them. Some medications can also increase the risk by making the urine more likely to form stones. Here in this blog, we will know what causes kidney stones. And how to identify them, risk factors, symptoms, and treatments.
What are Kidney Stones?
Before discovering the answer to what causes kidney stones, you have to know what kidney stones are. Small kidney stones are made of salts and minerals. They happen when the chemicals that make urine are out of equilibrium. And leads to the formation of stones from specific minerals. Let’s understand the formation of kidney stones:
Crystallization and Mineral Buildup
The main job of the kidneys is to remove waste from the blood and turn it into urine. The urination is usually thin and does not form any solid. If the excretion becomes too dense due to less water intake, then certain minerals may form solid. These crystals slowly grow, and over time, they turn into a stone.
Urine Composition and Lack of Its Balance
The properties of pee play an important role in stone formation. Due to imbalance in substances that allow formation of stone, kidney stones are more likely to develop.
What Causes Kidney Stones?
Several factors might be the first signs of kidney stones. They are as follows:
Medical Conditions
Some illnesses can cause kidney stones to form. The presence of calcium concentration in the blood, urine with the high ratio of amino acids in the body cause a condition called distal renal tubular acidosis. It can make it more likely for calcium phosphate to form in the body. Other health problems can cause kidney stones to develop.
Cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that causes cystine and cystinuria, can cause an accumulation of acid in the urine. Another genetic disorder causes an accumulation of acid in the urine. Certain medications, like diuretics, can raise calcium levels in urine. And doctors using medicine like indinavir to treat HIV can increase the risk of kidney stones.
Collateral History
Kidney stones can be caused by this; certain genetic disorders can create problems in urine elements, which promote stone formation. Families may also share dietary habits or metabolic disorders that contribute to raised calcium levels in urine. Lack of drinking fluid and weakness, common signs in some family patterns. Concentrated urine increases the risk of stones.
Genetic predisposition plays an important role, making individuals with a family history more likely to experience recurring this condition. If you want to avoid its occurrence then you should get regular checkups. Avoid eating foods that have lots of sugar and salt.
Dehydration
Urine thickens when the body lacks enough fluids, which means the body needs less water to break down waste products. As a result, these chemicals cause crystallization and solidification, eventually forming stones. If it continues for a long period of time, larger kidney stones can form as these crystals consolidate.
Dehydration can decrease how often patients urinate and raises the concentration of certain chemicals in the urine. And promote the formation of kidney stones. This especially risks those who already have a higher risk of kidney stones because of congenital or other health problems. Proper hydration helps lower the risk of stone formation. It promotes general organ health by diluting urine and eliminating waste.
Obesity
Kidney stones can form because of obesity. Excess body weight can give rise to various metabolic changes. An increase in urine calcium and oxalate levels contributes to development of stone. Excess weight can lead to insulin resistance and hyperuricemia, which can increase the risk of stone formation in the body. Strain on the renal from processing excess waste and maintaining fluid balance can also exacerbate the risk.
Therefore, you should maintain a healthy weight through proper diet and regular exercise can help reduce the chances of developing kidney stones.
Exercise
It is also possible that intense physical activity contributes to the formation of renal stones. When you workout a lot, you sweat more, which can lead to desiccation if you don’t drink enough water. This health condition occurs due to lack of water in the body. Because when your body doesn’t have enough fluid, your urine becomes more intense. This means there is less water to dissolve substances like calcium, oxalate, and uric acid, which can form crystals and eventually develop into kidney stones.
Intense exercise can cause your muscles to break down, releasing higher amounts of certain chemicals into your bloodstream, like calcium. This extra calcium can then be filtered by your kidneys and potentially form stones. People who already have a history of kidney stones or other conditions may be at a higher risk. However, moderate exercise is generally safe and beneficial for most people, as it helps to maintain a healthy weight, improve overall kidney function, and reduce the risk of other health problems.
Types of Kidney Stones
Here are four types of renal calculus:
- Calcium Stones: In this condition, your bones do not use all of the calcium in your body. After that, your renal expel all the extra calcium. There are two types of calcium stones. They are calcium oxalate and phosphate.
- Struvite Stones: You can form these when you have a urinary tract infection. Some bacteria can cause the infection with the buildup of ammonia in your pee. It is a main cause that develops kidney stones. And these stones can quickly increase in size.
- Uric Acid Stones: You lose too much fluid because your body experiences digestive malabsorption or diarrhea. These calculi can also affect individuals suffering from diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Your genes can increase the risk of these stones.
- Cystine Stones: When a patient’s renal leaks a type of amino acid into the pee, which is called cysteine, kidney stone is formed. It is mostly found in people who are suffering from genetic disorders.
Symptoms of Kidney Stones
Below are the symptoms patients may experience:
- Lumbago
- Urinary Symptoms
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Blood in Urine
- Fever
- Chills
Treatment Options For Kidney Stones
Treatments depend on the stone’s size, location, and type. Considering these factors, here are some treatment options for kidney stones.
Increased Fluid Intake
For smaller stones, especially those smaller than 5 mm, increased water consumption may aid in flushing the stone out naturally. Physicians usually advise the ingestion of 2.5 to 3 liters of water daily to enhance urine flow and help in stone passage.
Pain Management
Passing a kidney stone is painful. The pain medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol), are commonly utilized to treat mild to moderate pain. Stronger pain medications are prescribed by doctors for more extensive cases.
Alpha-Blockers
These prescription drugs, like tamsulosin, relax the urinary tract muscles. This facilitates the passage of stones, particularly if the stone is in the ureter. Alpha-blockers are typically prescribed for stones measuring 5–10 mm.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)
ESWL is a painless treatment that breaks kidney stones into small pieces using sound waves, making them easier to pass through the urine. It’s usually advised for 5–20 mm stones in the kidney or the upper ureter.
Ureteroscopy
This method requires inserting a small tube (ureteroscope) via the urethra and bladder to access the stone in the ureter or kidney. The stone is usually broken up by a laser, and the pieces are taken out or passed spontaneously. It is best for stones of medium size or obstructed ureteric stones.
What Foods Cause Kidney Stones?
Here is the list of foods that can be the causes of kidney stones.
- Spinach
- Beets
- Nuts (especially almonds & peanuts
- Red Meat
- Salt (sodium)
- Chocolate
- Soda (especially cola)
Conclusion
Kidney stones can be intolerable health conditions. However, with optimal healthcare, it is possible to prevent and manage this severe health issue. Understanding what causes kidney stones, factors that may cause risks, and finding out earlier symptoms will assist you take the necessary precautions. If you are suffering from kidney stones, you should seek medical attention for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
