Kidney stones are often caused by low urine volume, concentration, improper diet, obesity, the influence of certain diseases, a family history of kidney stones, and side effects of some medications. Understanding the underlying causes of kidney stones is essential for prevention and minimizing the risk, as detailed below.
1. Common Causes of Kidney Stones
Urine contains various minerals and dissolved salts. Elevated levels of these substances can crystallize and form stones. Initially, kidney stones may be very small, but they can grow larger over time, posing a serious threat to health.
1.1. Main Cause of Kidney Stones – Low Urine Volume
Low urine volume is primarily due to dehydration in individuals engaged in strenuous labor, living and working in hot areas, or simply not drinking enough water daily. When urine volume is low, it becomes concentrated and dark-colored. The body lacks enough water to dissolve minerals and salts in urine, leading to their precipitation and stone formation in the kidneys.
1.2. Dietary Factors as a Significant Cause of Kidney Stones
– One of the primary causes of calcium stones (the most common type of kidney stones) is excessively high levels of calcium in urine.
– High calcium levels can result from the body’s absorption and metabolism of calcium, not solely from dietary intake. Some studies suggest that reducing calcium in the diet may not be beneficial for bone health and may even increase the risk of kidney stones. Therefore, instead of reducing calcium intake, it is advisable to consume it in moderation. Rather than reducing calcium in the diet, it is advisable to consume it moderately. Excessive salt consumption can cause the kidneys to excrete more calcium in the urine, increasing the risk of stone formation.
– Oxalate combined with calcium in the gut is a component that forms calcium oxalate stones. Therefore, consuming oxalate-rich foods can also increase the risk of kidney stones.
– A diet high in animal protein, such as beef, chicken, and pork, can increase acidity levels in the body and urine. High acidity levels facilitate the formation of calcium oxalate and uric acid stones. The breakdown of meat into uric acid also increases the likelihood of both calcium oxalate and uric acid stones forming.
High salt intake is one of the risk factors for kidney stones.
1.3. Some Medical Conditions
– Some gastrointestinal diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis are also among the causes of kidney stones. Specifically, diarrhea causes water loss, reducing urine volume. Your body may also absorb too much oxalate, leading to a high concentration of this substance in urine. The combination of these two factors can result in calcium oxalate stones.
– Abnormal development of one or more parathyroid glands – responsible for controlling calcium metabolism – can cause high levels of calcium in the blood and urine, leading to kidney stone formation. This can lead to the formation of kidney stones.
– Tubular acidosis, which causes acid buildup in the body, can increase the risk of forming calcium phosphate stones.
– Some rare genetic disorders like cystinuria lead to excessive cysteine amino acid in urine, increasing the risk of cystine stones.
1.4. Obesity
Obesity is a risk factor for kidney stone formation. The reason is that obesity alters the acidity level in urine, leading to kidney stone formation.
1.5. Medications
Some medications and dietary supplements containing calcium or vitamin C can increase the risk of kidney stone formation. It is best to consult a doctor before use.
Long-term high-dose vitamin C usage may increase the risk of stone formation.
1.6. Family History
If someone in your family has had kidney stones, your risk of developing them is higher than average.
2. Prevention Methods for Kidney Stones
Based on the above information about the causes of kidney stones, doctors have suggested some measures to reduce the risk of developing the condition:
– Drink plenty of water: On average, 2-3 liters of water per day is recommended for adults to prevent kidney stones. Water should be purified, and consumption of sugary drinks, carbonated beverages, alcohol, coffee, concentrated tea, etc., should be limited. Those who engage in heavy physical labor or live in hot environments and sweat a lot need to drink more water to compensate.
Drinking plenty of water is the simplest way to prevent kidney stones.
– Eat a balanced diet: Reduce salt intake by choosing cooking methods such as boiling or steaming instead of frying, sautéing, or stewing. Avoid processed foods, canned goods, etc., as they often contain high levels of salt.
– Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, and fiber-rich foods: Potassium, fiber, magnesium, antioxidants, phytate, and citrate in fruits and vegetables help prevent kidney stone formation.
– Limit foods high in oxalate: To reduce oxalate intake (nuts, peanuts, cashews, beans, chocolate, cocoa, and tea are also high in oxalate).
– Limit animal meat: To reduce acidity levels in the body and prevent stone formation, reduce consumption of pork, chicken, and beef.
– Use medication as directed by a doctor, read instructions carefully. Consult a doctor or nutritionist before using dietary supplements.
– Regular health check-ups help detect abnormalities early, allowing timely control to prevent the risk of kidney stone formation.
We hope this information helps you understand the causes of kidney stones and equips you with effective prevention knowledge. If you experience symptoms suggestive of kidney stones, seek early diagnosis and treatment to avoid unfortunate complications.
