What Causes Kidney Stones?

Jan 12th, 2010

At some point, you may have heard someone discuss the pain associated with passing a kidney stone. If you are between thirty and sixty, as well as male, you are, unfortunately, probably going to develop and have to pass at least one of them at some point. There are, however, different risk factors that can increase your chances of developing them. If you have a history of high blood pressure, have a family history of kidney stones, live in a very warm climate, or are Caucasian, you are at an even higher risk of developing them. So, now that we know whether we are likely to develop them, what exactly causes kidney stones? Read on to find out.

Calcium - Calcium is the primary component of almost all kidney stones. When the body works and metabolizes and generally functions, various byproducts are created. One such byproduct is calcium oxalate, which builds up and forms the bulk of the stone. A second compound, known as calcium phosphate, also forms as the result of various medical conditions.

Uric Acid - Nearly ten percent of kidney stones are composed of something called uric acid. Uric acid is one of the acidic compounds in the urine that builds up when the urine pH balance is disturbed and becomes more and more acidic. This is usually caused by metabolic disorders.

Struvite - Struvite is somewhat rare in kidney stone formation, but it is common enough to necessitate mentioning. Phosphate, ammonium, and magnesium are its primary components. During a urinary tract infection, the bacteria break down urea into ammonia, which, when combined with the other two components, forms struvite.

You can prevent their development to some degree by changing your lifestyle and eating habits, but there is unfortunately no way of preventing 100% of them. If you think you may be developing a kidney stone, you should visit your doctor to make sure that you do not develop any complications and that no further problems develop.

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