Kidney stones are made of hardened mineral and salt deposits that form in the kidneys and pass out of the body through urine. The cause of kidney stones, also called renal calculi, nephrolithiasis, or urolithiasis, depends on various factors. Passing them can be very painful. Prompt treatment, however, may prevent any lasting damage.
But what causes kidney stones, how to prevent them, and how do you manage them if they occur?
We will look at these and other issues regarding these small, calcified deposits that can cause pain and, in some instances, even kidney damage.
What Are Kidney Stones and How Do They Form?
Your kidneys form part of your body’s Detoxification circuit. Their main task is to clean your blood of toxins and waste,[1] such as extra water, potassium, acid, nitrogen, and salt, which are passed through your urine.
When your blood contains an excess of these substances, your kidneys cannot filter them all out. In these circumstances, the substances may form crystals in the kidneys. As time passes, these crystals become attached to one another and get bigger, ultimately becoming a kidney stone.
Normally, your body is perfectly capable of ridding itself of smaller kidney stones. In some instances, though, they become too big and cannot pass through the urethra – the tube connected to the bladder through which urine passes out of the body.
When this happens, you may need medical assistance to allow it to pass.
Kidney stones stuck in the urethra can cause urine to back up into the kidneys. Kidney damage may result in such instances.
Fortunately, most kidney stones can pass through the urethra. Although it is sometimes painful, taking pain medications may also help.
Also, there are things you can do to lower your risk of having a kidney stone in the future, which we’ll discuss later in the article.
5 Types of Kidney Stones
There are five different types of kidney stones based on their makeup. The two most common, which make up approximately 80% of kidney stones, are calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate. The other types are uric, struvite, and cystine.[2]
Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stones
The most common type of kidney stones, calcium oxalate kidney stones, form due to a variety of dietary, medical, and genetic factors. They develop because of high calcium levels in your body.
The dietary factors include a diet high in sodium, sugar, and protein. Medical factors may include health issues such as a condition like tubular acidosis or irritable bowel disease (IBD), while a family history of kidney stones may also play a role.
Not drinking enough water may also play a role, because dehydration may encourage kidney stone formation. This is because water dilutes your urine and helps prevent the clumping of crystals into stones.
Paradoxically, however, a diet low in calcium may also facilitate the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones.
In a healthy diet, calcium combines with oxalate in the intestines and is eliminated in the stool. However, in a diet low in calcium, oxalate is absorbed into the blood, where it moves into the kidneys to be excreted via urine. There, it can combine with the calcium present and form these stones.
Calcium Phosphate Kidney Stones
Less common than calcium oxalate kidney stones, these form when calcium and phosphate accumulate in the kidneys. They flourish in an alkaline urine environment, which is usually caused by certain health issues.
These health issues include:
- Urinary tract infections, where certain types of bacteria may help form an alkaline environment
- Renal tubular acidosis, where the kidneys cannot properly excrete acid and thus moderate your urine pH levels
Certain medications and your diet may also influence the production of calcium phosphate kidney stones.
Uric Acid Kidney Stones
These stones form when you have high uric acid levels in your body. When your body metabolizes protein, uric acid is the waste product. People who develop these stones tend to follow a high-protein diet. These stones also tend to form in an acidic environment.
People with Type 2 diabetes are also more prone to this type of kidney stone formation.[3] This is because insulin resistance lowers the pH levels in the urinary tract, thus making it more acidic. Higher insulin levels or insulin resistance also promote higher uric acid production.
Struvite Kidney Stones
These stones, made from magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate, form due to bad urinary tract infections caused by urease-releasing bacteria. Urease is an enzyme that helps change urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. This reaction increases the urine’s pH balance and elevates ammonia levels. These conditions promote the formation of struvite kidney stones.
Staghorn Kidney Stones
Staghorn kidney stones usually fall under this category, although they can also be made of calcium uric acid or cystine. They get their name because of their size and shape.
Staghorn kidney stones can grow quite large and spread into different areas of the kidney. They can cause major kidney damage and should be removed as soon as possible.
Cystine Kidney Stones
These rare kidney stones are caused by a condition called cystinuria. This is a rare genetic condition that is associated with high levels of cystine, an amino acid.[4]
Cystine kidney stones may form in the kidney, bladder, or ureter.
Kidney Stone Formation: Risks and Causes
Although anyone can develop kidney stones, some people are more susceptible. Men, for example, have a higher risk. People with certain genetic conditions may also have a higher risk.
The causes or risk factors include:
- A diet high in sodium and protein, and which does not include a large variety of fruits and vegetables.
- A low urine volume due to not drinking enough water.
- Health issues concerning the digestive system.
- Kidney conditions like polycystic kidney disease.
- Suffering from gout, an arthritic condition associated with high uric levels.
- Have a genetic condition that promotes kidney stone formation.
- Using certain types of medication, e.g., calcium-based antacids.
- Being overweight, as this may affect your insulin levels.
- Suffering from IBS or IBD, which causes digestive problems.
- Having type 2 diabetes.
- A family history of kidney stones.
- Having had gastric bypass surgery.
- A history of repeated urinary tract infections.
- Suffering from an eating disorder.
- Hyperparathyroidism, a condition where the body creates elevated levels of hormones that promote high calcium levels.
Common Kidney Stone Symptoms
Kidney stones often have no symptoms. Your body can usually easily eliminate smaller stones through the ureters. However, passing larger stones may be a painful process. If large enough, they could even get stuck in a ureter. When this happens, they may block your flow of urine. Besides being painful, this situation could also cause the kidney to swell up and your ureter to spasm.
Common symptoms include:
- Pain when urinating
- A burning feeling when urinating
- Pain that comes in waves and varies in intensity
- Sharp pain in the side and back
- Pain that spreads downwards into the lower stomach and groin
- Smelly urine
- Cloudy urine or which is pink, brown, or red in color
- Fever or chills, which indicate an infection
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Constant or frequent need to go to the toilet
- Only urinating in small quantities
Please see your healthcare provider if your symptoms persist. Also, if the pain gets bad, seek medical attention as soon as possible. You may need immediate medical intervention.
Identifying Kidney Stones
Besides a physical exam, your healthcare provider may propose certain tests. These include:
Blood tests to detect the presence of an infection, calcium levels, and kidney function.- A urine test can evaluate whether you have an infection, crystals that could form stones, or blood in your urine.
- An ultrasound, X-rays, or computed tomography scans (CT scans) help to locate where the stones are, their number, and their size and shape.
Care Options for Kidney Stones
Most kidney stones pass on their own and at their own pace. The smaller the stone, the quicker it will pass. You may, however, experience some discomfort or pain depending on the size of the stone.
If you believe you have a kidney stone, please talk to your healthcare provider. They can evaluate the situation, determine the risk of complications, and suggest treatment options.
For smaller stones, your healthcare provider may recommend certain medications to help with pain or to help relax your ureter. The latter will help the stone pass more easily.
They may also suggest medications to help manage nausea or vomiting if you have these symptoms.
For larger stones that cause a blockage, they may suggest alternative forms of treatment. These include:
- Ureteroscopy, a procedure that involves the insertion of a scope into the ureter via the urethra and bladder. Certain instruments inserted through the scope can break up kidney stones into smaller fragments that can move through the urinary tract.
- Shockwave lithotripsy is a procedure that uses shockwaves to break kidney stones into smaller pieces. This is a non-invasive procedure and is done from the outside of the body.
- Laparoscopic surgery is a procedure that usually involves making a small incision to remove a kidney stone. Open surgery, involving a much larger incision, may be needed in rare cases.
- Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a procedure usually used as a last resort. It involves inserting a tube through a tiny incision in the back directly into the kidney. An ultrasound probe then breaks up kidney stones and removes the smaller pieces.
How to Prevent Kidney Stones from Forming
Up to 75% of people who develop a kidney stone stand a chance of the issue recurring. With the help of your healthcare provider, however, you can draw up a personalized plan to help you reduce your risk.
Prevention depends on the type of kidney stones you previously had. But certain prevention strategies may apply to all types. These include:
- The use of certain medications to reduce your risk of developing kidney stones, depending on the type of stone that previously developed.
- Drinking enough water to increase your urine volume.
- Reducing your sodium and sugar intake.
- Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables.
- Reducing your protein intake, as in foods like meat, pork, chicken, and seafood.
- Eating enough foods rich in calcium.
- Maintaining a healthy weight.
- Reducing your intake of oxalate-rich foods if you have had calcium oxalate stones. These include rhubarb, beets, sweet potatoes, chocolate, soy products, and nuts.
While hydration and dietary balance remain the foundation of kidney stone prevention, some traditional herbs have also been studied for their supportive role in kidney health. For instance, tulsi (holy basil) is known for its diuretic and detoxifying properties, which may help reduce uric acid levels and support the breakdown of certain types of stones.
You could also consider taking a supplement like Quantamax. This supplement contains a variety of beneficial herbs that help support kidney and urinary functions.
In Closing
Addressing kidney stones is different for different people and depends on the type of kidney stone you have. But by addressing your risk factors, you may help reduce your risk of them recurring.
At Lam Clinic, we believe in Rooted Care that transforms lives and empowers futures. If you are looking for a more whole-body approach to your health, contact Lam Clinic so we can help guide you on your road to recovery.
