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Types And Causes Of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are basically hard deposits of salts and minerals in our kidneys. Common causes for kidney stones are poor diet, medical conditions, and certain supplements. Kidney stones can affect the urinary tract and cause various other painful problems.

I remember when my brother was diagnosed with kidney stones and his doctor who was the best Nephrologist in Karachi by the way, taught all of us about the type of kidney stones and their causes since knowing the type of condition and its root cause can help tremendously in prevention and treatment. This is what I learned:

Types Of Kidney Stones

If you have passed the kidney stone by any chance try to save it so the doctor can analyze it afterwards. The treatment of kidney stones heavily depends on the type of stones found in the patient’s kidneys. 

Calcium Stones

The most common form of kidney stones are calcium stones. They are mostly made of calcium oxalate and sometimes calcium phosphate. Either our liver daily produces oxalate or it is absorbed into our body through diet. Calcium phosphate stones on the other hand are more likely to form either due to some metabolic conditions, such as renal tubular acidosis or as a side-effect to some medication. 

Struvite Stones

These types of stones usually form due to UTI (urinary tract infection). They can grow and become large really rapidly. It can be caused due to the ammonia build-up in a patient’s urine. 

Uric Acid Stones

Uric acid stones are usually formed when either you consume too little fluid or you lose your body fluid due to diarrhea or malabsorption. Other causes might be high protein diet, diabetes, or other genetic medical conditions. 

Cystine Stones

These types of kidney stones are found in people with a rare genetic condition called cystinuria where the patient’s kidney secretes too many amino acids of a specific kind. 

Common Causes Of Kidney Stones

The main cause of the condition varies from person to person however there are certain factors that contribute in increasing the risk of getting kidney stones. Some of them are”

Lack of Fluid Intake

You need to discharge enough urine to dilute the stones and for that you need to consume fluids. Fluid consumption plays an important role in keeping your urinary tract healthy. 

Poor Diet

Having an unbalanced diet which is rich in proteins, high sodium salt, and sugars can help kidney stones. Also if you are prone to kidney stones ask your doctor to prescribe you diet accordingly. 

Your and Your Family’s Medical History

Believe it or not, if your family has a history of having kidney stones, you are prone to develop them too. Also, if you have had kidney stones in one kidney it can develop in the other kidney too. 

Gut Disorders

Patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease or chronic diarrhea are at high risk of developing kidney stones due to oxalate accumulation in their kidneys. 

Other Medical Conditions

Medical conditions other than gut disorders like type 2 diabetes, gout, hyperthyroidism, and renal tubular acidosis can cause kidney stones as a side-effect. 

Conclusion

Kidney Stones can differ in types according to the factors that cause this condition. Understanding the type of kidney stones is really important to know the root cause of them and planning the method of treatment.