How are kidney stones caused?

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on September 03, 2024
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There are many causes leading to the formation of kidney stones, related to daily water and food intake, lifestyle habits, living environment, genetics, and certain diseases. For example, patients with hyperuricemia and those with hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands are prone to the formation of kidney stones. Additionally, individuals who often stay in high-temperature environments and neglect to drink water frequently and urinate regularly, can easily experience concentrated urine, which also promotes the formation of kidney stones. Furthermore, people who consume large amounts of calcium and oxalate-rich foods over long periods are also commonly at risk of developing kidney stones.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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Is kidney stones serious?

Whether kidney stones are serious depends on the specific size and location of the stones, and whether there is accompanying kidney hydronephrosis or infection. If it is just a small stone inside the kidney, such as one with a diameter of about five millimeters, this situation is not serious. By drinking more water, urinating frequently, exercising more, and combining with medications like stone expulsion granules and stone expulsion solutions, the stones can generally be expelled from the body. If the stones are large and cause kidney hydronephrosis, or even lead to pyelonephritis or renal abscesses, this situation is more serious. It requires anti-inflammatory treatment and timely surgical intervention to remove the stones, relieve the obstruction of the urinary system, and protect kidney function.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
41sec home-news-image

How are kidney stones caused?

There are many causes leading to the formation of kidney stones, related to daily water and food intake, lifestyle habits, living environment, genetics, and certain diseases. For example, patients with hyperuricemia and those with hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands are prone to the formation of kidney stones. Additionally, individuals who often stay in high-temperature environments and neglect to drink water frequently and urinate regularly, can easily experience concentrated urine, which also promotes the formation of kidney stones. Furthermore, people who consume large amounts of calcium and oxalate-rich foods over long periods are also commonly at risk of developing kidney stones.

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Written by Guan Hai Fang
Urology
1min 9sec home-news-image

Is it easy to treat kidney stones?

If kidney stones are treated using extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, the procedure depends on the size and location of the stones, among other factors. Whether the stones can be effectively expelled after the procedure also varies from person to person, but generally, it tends to be successful. Kidney stones are caused by the accumulation of crystalline substances in the kidneys, and there are many reasons for the formation of kidney stones, including diet, genetics, environment, occupation, and other factors. The specific cause can only be confirmed after the stone is removed for pathological analysis. Generally, when the stones are relatively small, such as less than 0.5 centimeters, it is advisable to drink more water and undergo some important auxiliary treatments. Under the guidance of a physician, medication can be used as needed. For stones measuring 0.5 to 2 centimeters, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is required to break the stones and then expel them. If the stone exceeds 2 centimeters, surgical treatment is generally necessary.

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
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How big must a kidney stone be to require lithotripsy?

If the kidney stone is between 0.5 and 1.5 centimeters in size, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is required. After the treatment, patients should drink more water, urinate frequently, and exercise more, such as running, jumping rope, and playing basketball, to facilitate the expulsion of the stones. Then, one week later, a follow-up visit to the hospital for an ultrasonic examination of the urinary system should be done to check the status of the stone expulsion. If the kidney stone is larger than 1.5 centimeters, minimally invasive surgery is required for stone disintegration, primarily using percutaneous nephrolithotomy with Holmium laser lithotripsy.

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Written by Wu Ji
Nephrology
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How to treat polycystic kidney kidney stones

Patients with polycystic kidney disease who develop kidney stones should be treated the same as patients without polycystic kidney disease. It is encouraged for patients to drink more water. If the stones are symptomatic, treatments such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy may be considered. The main principles of treatment include managing renal colic, promoting stone expulsion, dissolving stones, or surgical interventions, as well as preventing recurrence. During a renal colic episode, it is primarily recommended to administer antispasmodic analgesics. Commonly used medications include scopolamine butylbromide and atropine, or combinations of atropine with pethidine or morphine. Expulsion therapy mainly involves drinking plenty of water, proper physical activity, and the use of some antispasmodic drugs to help expel the stones. Surgical treatment is aimed at patients with anuria and post-renal acute renal failure, or in cases where the stone diameter is larger than one centimeter, or if the expulsion therapy is ineffective, especially if there are still episodes of renal colic. Systemic metabolic disorders are an important cause of kidney stone formation, thus even after stones are cleared, recurrence is possible. Therefore, to prevent recurrence, it is advisable to ensure a daily urine output of 2000 to 2500 milliliters, avoid drinking tea and coffee as much as possible, adjust dietary habits, and treat systemic metabolic abnormalities, such as hypercalcemia, hyperuricemia, and cystinuria, among others.