Understanding The Different Types of Kidney Stones and Their Causes

Kidney stones are quite common — if you haven’t experienced one yourself, you probably know someone who has. The condition affects around 12 percent of the Indian population.

If you or your loved one(s) is suffering from kidney stones, use Krishna’s Patharchatadi Swaras, an Ayurvedic blend of powerful herbs that naturally help dissolve and remove kidney stones.

A kidney stone will pass by itself depending on its size and shape, and whether you will have another one in the future can be avoided by knowing its composition.

By understanding what a stone is made of, a doctor can find its cause, prescribe the best treatment, and suggest some appropriate lifestyle and diet changes that can prevent its future occurrences. Keep reading to learn everything about the different types of kidney stones, their causes, and more.

How to Know You Have Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are hard, irregularly shaped, rock-like masses formed in the kidneys. They occur when there is not enough fluid and too much waste, which includes minerals, salts and other substances, in the kidneys. Common causes are dehydration, diet, medical conditions, medications or genetics.

The primary symptom of kidney stones is pain in the back, abdomen, or side. Other symptoms may include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Blood in urine
• Pain during urination
• Inability to urinate
• Increased frequency of urination
• Foul-smelling or cloudy urine
• Fever or chills

These symptoms usually occur when the stone starts moving out of the kidney. Stones that remain in the kidneys typically do not cause pain. The discomfort arises when they begin to move and block the urinary tract.

Types of Kidney Stones And Their Causes

There are different types of kidney stones, varying in shape, size, and texture. The smallest ones can be as tiny as a poppy seed or even microscopic crystals that are detectable in a urine test but aren’t visible to the naked eye. On the other hand, they can grow large enough to fill the entire kidney, measuring over 4 or 5 centimeters, depending on the size of an individual’s kidney.

To keep it simple, kidney stones can be broadly categorized into two main types: calcium stones and non-calcium stones.

First, let’s understand what calcium stones are, which are the most common ones among all, accounting for around 70-80 percent of all cases.

Calcium Stones

Most kidney stones are calcium stones, primarily found as calcium oxalate. Oxalate is a substance produced by your liver daily or absorbed from certain foods. Foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and chocolate tend to have high oxalate levels.

Various dietary factors, high doses of vitamin D, intestinal bypass surgery, and certain metabolic disorders can lead to increased levels of calcium or oxalate in the urine.

Calcium stones can also form as calcium phosphate. This type is more common in metabolic conditions like renal tubular acidosis and may be linked to specific medications used to treat migraines or seizures.

Non Calcium stones

These are the ones that do not contain calcium. Among these, the commonest is Uric acid stone.

Uric Acid Stones

These form when a person consumes too much organ meats and shellfish. Such foods are high in purines, a natural chemical compound that increases the production of monosodium urate. Under favourable conditions, monosodium urate can crystallize and lead to the formation of stones in the kidneys, especially when the urine becomes too acidic.

Uric acid stones can also occur in those with chronic diarrhoea or malabsorption, diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Also, the formation of uric acid stones tends to run in families.

Struvite Stones

These stones are more common in women and often develop due to specific types of urinary tract infections caused due to waste products of bacteria. These stones are composed of magnesium ammonium phosphate and can grow rapidly and become quite large, sometimes filling the entire kidney.

If left untreated, struvite stones can lead to frequent and potentially severe urinary tract infections, as well as a loss of kidney function.

Cystine Stones

These are rare and develop when there is too much amino acid cysteine in the urine. Often caused by a hereditary genetic disorder known as cystinuria.

How to Know What Type of Kidney Stone You Have?

The symptoms will be the same regardless of what type of stone you have; however, they will largely depend on the size of the stone. When a larger stone passes from your kidney to the ureter, it causes a maximum level of pain. A ureter is a tube with a diameter of 3mm to 4mm that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder for excretion.

A stone smaller than this measurement passes naturally without causing any pain, while a stone that is larger can create a blockage that causes inflammation or swelling of the kidneys, and results in the symptoms mentioned earlier.

Often, you will only come to know what type of stone you passed if you are straining your urine or see it in the toilet or it has been surgically removed. Your doctor may provide you with a urine mesh screen or a pee strainer to place over the toilet seat, helping you collect any material that passes in your urine.

A kidney stone may look like a tiny grain of sand or a small piece of gravel. Be sure to store any stones you collect in a sealed cup or plastic bag to keep them dry and secure until you can give them to your doctor for analysis.

So, finding the composition of the stone is not something you can do on your own. Your doctor sends it to a lab for analysis. This stone analysis can also help identify whether you’re likely to develop another stone in the future.

To prevent future stones, make sure you drink enough fluid in a day and take certain other steps to prevent kidney stones. To improve the function of your kidneys, include Ayurvedic products like Kidney Relive Juice in your diet, which enhances the filtering of waste from your urine. Also Read: Top Ayurvedic Remedies for Kidney Stones

Can Some Types of Kidney Stones Be Prevented More Easily Than Others?

Different types of kidney stones form for various reasons, and while preventative measures for different stones often overlap, there are some slight differences.

The most crucial step to prevent most kidney stones is to drink enough water every day. The amount of water needed may vary based on your age and gender.

Depending on the type of stone, you may need to watch out for the foods you eat and avoid some, like reducing your intake of sodium, animal protein, or oxalate. Know more about Top Foods to Avoid If You Have Kidney Stones

While most kidney stones are calcium-based, it’s not always advisable to reduce calcium intake. In fact, having too little calcium in your diet can increase your chances of developing kidney stones. Also read: The Role of Calcium in Kidney Stone Formation: Myths and Facts

For cystine stones, which are caused by a genetic disorder, medications that raise the pH of your urine may be necessary. However, staying hydrated and maintaining a healthy diet are essential for preventing cystine stones as well.

Wrapping Up!

Understanding the type of kidney stone you have can help identify its cause and may give clues on how to reduce your risk of developing one in the future. If you pass a stone, try to save it and bring it to your doctor for analysis.

If you’re feeling uncertain or overwhelmed about what changes to make, consult a urologist to ensure you get the best treatment