Kidney stones are deposits made of mineral and acid salts. When your urine becomes concentrated, minerals crystallize and stick together forming kidney stones. When kidney stones develop, they can affect any part of your urinary tract. They can also be very painful to pass.
The main cause for kidney stones is a lack of sufficient amount of water. When you don’t drink enough fluids there isn’t enough water to dilute the uric acid. This causes the pH level in your kidneys to drop and become more acidic.
However, the exact cause can depend greatly on the type of kidney stone you have.
Calcium Stone Causes
The majority of kidney stones are calcium stones. These are made of calcium oxalate, but can also develop in the form of calcium phosphate. Oxalate is produced by your liver and is a natural substance in food. The concentration of calcium or oxalate in your urine can be increased by several metabolic disorders, intestinal bypass surgery, high doses of vitamin D, and dietary factors.
Cystine Stone Causes
Cystine stone are caused by a hereditary disorder that makes the kidneys excrete too much of a certain amino acid, known as cystinuria.
Struvite Stone Causes
When you have a urinary tract infection, struvite stones can develop as a response to the infection. These stones are known for growing quickly and being larger in size than other types. They can form with little warning and few symptoms.
Uric Acid Stone Causes
Uric acid stones can be caused by certain genetic factors—they can also form if you don’t drink enough or lose a lot of fluid. Additionally, these stones are more likely to form if you eat a high-protein diet or have gout.
Kidney Stone Risk Factors
There are several factors that can increase your risk for developing kidney stones. These factors include:
- Dehydration: Not drinking enough fluid, namely water, can increase your risk of kidney stones. Other factors that can place you at a greater risk are living in warmer climates and sweating a lot.
- Nutrition: A diet high in sodium, sugar, and protein can increase your chances for kidney stones—especially a high-sodium diet. A diet that’s high in sodium increases the calcium your kidneys have to filter and puts you at high risk for kidney stones.
- Family/personal history: Kidney stones are very common, affecting about 1 in 10 people in the US. They are also common among families. If someone in your family currently has or had kidney stones, you’re more likely to also have them. If you’ve already experienced kidney stones, you have an increased risk of developing more.
- Weight: Kidney stones have been linked to obesity. So, if you’re overweight you have an increased risk of kidney stones.
- Digestive disease and surgery: Surgery or diseases such as gastric bypass surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, or chronic diarrhea changes the digestive processes that affect your ability to absorb calcium and water. This causes the levels of stone-forming substances found in your urine to increase.
- Other factors: Renal tubular acidosis, cystinuria, hyperparathyroidism, some medications, and urinary tract infections can also cause kidney stones.