How do you get kidney stones?

Answer 1

There are many reasons some people develop kidney stones. Medications can cause the development of some types of stones, as can some illnesses. The congenital condition medullary sponge kidney disease often results in stones formed so frequently that passing them is almost a daily occurrence. Most stones are the result of a metabolic imbalance. Sometimes the metabolic imbalance can be treated, sometimes it can't. A common way to treat patients for recurrent kidney stones is potassium citrate, which makes it less likely for certain stones to form inside the kidney. Some stones are the result of an imbalanced diet which may be easily altered without medication to help.

Men are four times more likely to get kidney stones than women, and if you have previously had a kidney stone then you will have a 50 percent chance of developing another one within five years. Most people have no predisposing factors to explain why they develop kidney stones. You may have an increased risk of developing kidney stones if you:

• have a family history of kidney stones
• are aged between 20 and 50
• are taking certain medicines or vitamins
• have only one kidney, or an abnormally shaped kidney
• eat a diet high in protein
• don't drink enough fluids

Kidney stones are caused by metabolic disorders giving rise to high levels of Calcium, oxalate and uric acid in the blood which forms the stones.

Rarely it can be hereditary causing cysteine stones. It is very common in hot climates due to excessive sweating leading to dehydration and precipitation of the salts in the urine.

Excessive intake of milk and calcium supplements can also be a cause.

Answer 2

Depending on the type of stone, dietary changes may be helpful. This is true especially with stones containing oxalates.

Yes I know someone who had forty kidney stones in their life and they recently started a vegan life-style (no animal products at all, no milk, eggs, meat, etc.) Since then he has not gotten another. If you have kidney stones, ask your doctor if eating no animal problems can prevent kidney stones from forming.

Answer 3

Kidney stones can be due to underlying metabolic conditions, such as renal tubular acidosis, Dent's disease and medullary sponge kidney. Many health facilities will screen for such disorders in patients with recurrent kidney stones. Kidney stones are also more common in patients with Crohn's disease.

There has been some evidence that water fluoridation may increase the risk of kidney stone formation.

There is a longstanding belief among the mainstream medical community that vitamin C causes kidney stones, which may be based on little science. Although some individual recent studies have found a relationship there is no clear relationship between excess ascorbic acid intake and kidney stone formation.

my father-in-law was a southerner who ate red meats, fried foods constantly, it was his major diet, so i heard from his doctor he had to cut fried and greasy foods. not sure if this helps or not but he did eventually have his kidney stones removed.

Answer 4

High levels of sodium create kidney stones