What causes kidney stones?

Kidney stone attacks are usually caused by genetic factors, environmental influences, eating habits and abnormal body metabolism. Treatment and prevention require a variety of methods, including drug regulation, surgical removal and dietary adjustment, depending on the cause.

1. Influence of genetic factors

People with a family history of kidney stones are more susceptible to the disease. Genetics can cause abnormal metabolism of calcium, oxalate or uric acid in the body, increasing the risk of stone formation. If there is a family history of the disease, it is recommended to have regular physical examinations to screen the health of the kidneys in a timely manner.

2. Environment and eating habits

High temperatures and insufficient daily drinking can lead to concentrated urine, increasing the chance of stone formation. Excessive intake of high-salt, high-protein, and high-oxalate foods such as spinach, strong tea, and beans can increase the concentration of oxalate or sodium in urine, promoting stone formation. Maintaining adequate daily drinking of about 2000-2500 ml of water and appropriately reducing the intake of oxalate- and high-sodium foods can effectively reduce the risk of stone recurrence.

3. Abnormal body metabolism

Pathological causes such as urinary tract infection and hyperparathyroidism can accelerate the deposition of calcium or other minerals and form stones. For these causes, in addition to controlling diet, the primary disease needs to be treated. For example, infection requires antibiotic treatment, and hyperparathyroidism can be solved by hormone regulation or surgical removal of parathyroid adenoma.

4. Treatment options

1. Mild stones: Small stones can be dissolved by alkalizing or acidifying urine. For example, potassium citrate tablets can help improve the urine environment and dissolve calcium oxalate stones.

2 Medium-sized stones: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a non-invasive treatment method, usually suitable for stones with a diameter of less than 2 cm.

3. Severe stones: Endoscopic surgery or traditional open surgery is required to remove large stones, such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), to treat complex or large kidney stones.

In addition to finding the cause of kidney stones, you also need to pay attention to healthy diet and water intake in the long term. If you have severe symptoms such as renal colic, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately. Symptomatic treatment can effectively reduce the risk and improve the quality of life.