What causes kidney stones?

The formation of kidney stones is usually related to genetics, eating habits and lifestyle. Specific causes include metabolic abnormalities, insufficient drinking water, high-salt and high-purine diet, urinary tract infection, etc. In addition to identifying the causes, prevention and treatment also require personalized measures for different causes.

1. Genetic factors

If a family member has kidney stones, heredity may increase the risk of the disease because certain genes can cause abnormal excretion of urinary calcium, urinary oxalate, or uric acid. Excessive accumulation of these minerals directly contributes to the formation of stones. If you suspect a genetic tendency, you should have regular medical examinations, monitor kidney health, and improve your drinking and eating habits.

2. Dietary habits and insufficient water intake

The high salt and purine intake in the modern diet will increase the concentration of calcium and uric acid in the urine, promoting the formation of stones. For example, people who often eat pickled foods, animal offal, and red meat are more likely to suffer from kidney stones. Insufficient daily water intake will increase the concentration of urine, which is not conducive to the dissolution of minerals and promotes crystal deposition. It is recommended to drink about 2000 ml of water every day and consume more low-salt and low-purine foods, such as green leafy vegetables and low-fat dairy products.

3 Physiological metabolism and health status

Certain metabolic diseases, such as gout, hypercalcemia, or obesity, can lead to the accumulation of oxalate, urate, or calcium salts. Poor metabolic conditions can interfere with the metabolic balance of the kidneys and form stones. For example, gout patients have high uric acid levels in their bodies, which can easily lead to the formation of urate stones. Treating the underlying disease and improving basic metabolism can help control stones. At the same time, you need to follow the doctor's advice to choose drug treatment, such as allopurinol to relieve elevated uric acid.

4 Urinary tract infection and external factors

Urinary tract infection may change the chemical composition of urine, causing substances that promote stone growth, such as ammonium magnesium phosphate, to appear in the urine. Female patients face a higher risk of urinary tract infection due to their physiological characteristics. Long-term infection that is not thoroughly treated may lead to kidney stones. In addition, sedentary lifestyle habits such as excessive consumption of sugary drinks can also increase the risk. Improving daily lifestyle, such as increasing exercise and reducing the intake of sugary drinks, can help reduce the incidence of stones.

5Other special diseases or lifestyle factors

For example, patients with chronic kidney disease or those receiving long-term treatment with antibiotics or certain antiviral drugs may also develop stones due to drug side effects or metabolic disorders. For these people, it is particularly important to follow the doctor's advice to adjust the dosage and cycle of the drug. Certain unbalanced weight loss methods, such as high-protein diets, may also increase the burden on the kidneys and are recommended to be avoided.

The formation of kidney stones is the result of multiple genetic, environmental, dietary and lifestyle factors. Prevention should start with daily diet and lifestyle, develop the habit of drinking plenty of water, low-salt and low-purine diet, and pay attention to the control and treatment of underlying diseases. For recurrent or large stones, see a doctor as soon as possible for a detailed evaluation and decide whether medication, extracorporeal lithotripsy or surgical treatment is needed according to the situation, which can significantly improve the quality of life.