Kidney Stones Types and Causes

To understand kidney stones well, you must know how they are formed and the types and causes of them.

How do kidney stones form?

Naturally, the urine contains dissolved salts and minerals. When the levels of these minerals and salts rise in the urine, it becomes prone to the formation of kidney stones. Kidney stones start small in size, but they may grow over time with the continual deposition of salts and minerals on them.

Kidney stones are small, rigid masses consisting of crystals resulting from the concentration of minerals and salts in the urine at higher-than-normal rates. Kidney stones form mainly in the kidney, but they can form in any other organ of the urinary system. such as the ureters, bladder, and urethra.

What are the types of kidney stones?

Kidney stones are made of different crystals, so there are different types.

1- Calcium stones

Calcium stones are the most common and are often made up of calcium oxalate, a chemical found in many types of food. Such as potato chips, nuts, chocolate, and some types of vegetables and fruits. Calcium stones can sometimes form from calcium phosphate.

2- Uric acid stones

This type of stone, more common in men, occurs when the urine is highly acidic. Uric acid stones can occur in patients with gout or patients undergoing chemotherapy.

3- Struvite stones

This type of stone is often found in women who have urinary tract infections. These stones can be large and lead to blockages in the urinary system. Because these stones result from infections, treating them will reduce their occurrence.

4- Cystine stones

Cystine stones are rare and occur in patients with the hereditary disease cystinuria.

What are the causes of kidney stones?

There is no single, clear cause for the formation of kidney stones, but a combination of factors may increase the risk of developing them. Men are at a higher risk of developing kidney stones than women. Mainly, the incidence of kidney stones is related to one or more of these causes:

1- decreased urine volume

Dehydration, which decreases the volume of urine excreted from your body, is one of the main factors that increases your risk of developing kidney stones. 

This condition happens if you don't drink enough water and fluids daily or live in a relatively hot climate, which causes you to lose more fluids through sweating without making up for it by drinking more water. It can also happen due to intense exercise.

When the volume of urine decreases, this makes it more concentrated and dark in color, which means that the urine is less able to dissolve salts. 

Drinking more water helps reduce the concentration of salts in your urine, which reduces the possibility of developing kidney stones.

2- Diet

The diet you follow can affect your likelihood of developing kidney stones. If your diet is rich in animal protein or sodium, this will increase your risk of developing kidney stones.

3- Obesity

If you are obese, whether you have a high BMI, a significant weight gain, or a high waist circumference, your condition increases the likelihood of kidney stones.

4- Intestinal diseases and surgeries

If you have inflammatory bowel disease or chronic diarrhea, the condition may cause changes in the digestive process, affecting the absorption of calcium and water, which will increase your risk of developing kidney stones. If you have previously had gastric bypass surgery or other intestinal surgery, the procedure will also affect the formation of stones.

5- Taking certain medications

If you have been taking the following medications for a long time, their use will increase your risk of developing kidney stones:

• Diuretics.
• Laxatives
• Calcium.
• Vitamin D.
• Indinavir.
• Sulfamethoxazole.
• Antacid containing calcium.

6- Certain medical conditions

If you have the following conditions, this will increase your risk of developing kidney stones:

Polycystic kidney disease or any other form of polycystic kidney disease. Renal tubular acidosis, cystinuria, or hyperparathyroidism. A health problem that causes elevated levels of cysteine, oxalate, uric acid, or calcium in the urine.

A health problem that causes swelling or irritation of your intestines or joints. Family history: If someone in your family has had kidney stones before, such a history increases your body's predisposition to kidney stones.