Nephrolithiasis And The Formation Of Kidney Stones

At some point in their lives, about 20 people develop a kidney stone. The hard, crystalline mineral material formed in the kidney or urinary tract is called a kidney stone. Kidney stones are regarded as the common causes of blood in the urine and frequent severe pain in the abdomen, flank, or groin. These are also referred as renal calculi.

The kidney stones are formed when there is a decrease in urine volume or an excess of stone-forming substances in the urine. The most common kind of kidney stone carries calcium combined with either oxalate or phosphate. Several chemical compounds that can form stones in the urinary tract include uric acid and the amino acid cystine.

Conditions and activities that intensify the risk of kidney stones are dehydration from reduced fluid intake and strenuous exercises without adequate fluid replacement. Obstruction to the flow of urine also leads to stone formation. It can also be caused by infection in the urinary tract and are termed as struvite or infection stones.

The risk of developing kidney stones is higher among men. In addition, its prevalence is higher on Caucasian men than blacks. The prevalence starts to rise at their age of 40s and continues to rise until their 70s.

People who have obtained more than one kidney stones are prone to develop more stones. Family history is another risk in forming kidney stones.

Different medical conditions also lead to the increase of risk in developing kidney stones. Gout is an outcome of an increased amount of uric acid in the urine , which can lead to the formation of uric acid stones. Hypercalciuria or high calcium in the urine, which is an inherited condition can also develop stones more than half of cases. This condition is where much calcium is drawn from food and excreted into the urine that may develop calcium phosphate or calcium oxalate stones.

There are several conditions connected to to the increased risk of kidney stones. These are hyperparathyroidism, kidney diseases like renal tubular acidosis, and some inherited metabolic conditions such as cystinuria and hyperoxaluria.

Chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and people with inflammatory bowel disease are related with the formation of kidney stones too.

I am Dr. Ralph A Highshaw, MD and I offer the best possible care using the most current state-of-the-art diagnostic testing, treatments, and surgical procedures. You can either contact me or check www.SouthernCaliforniaUrologist.com if you would need any urological services in reference to Nephrolithiasis or kidney stones.