Kidney Stones

Although kidney stones were a part of urinary tract problems even several thousand years ago, their prevalence in the United States has risen recently. Currently, there are no known definite causes of kidney stones. They are usually made up of products in our diets, but people who share the same diet do not always share kidney stone occurrence. Affliction with kidney stones may also run in families, although a genetic cause has not been identified. The pain and inconvenience due to kidney stones makes a significant impact on healthcare spending and doctor visits. People with kidney stones seek the attention of an urologist.

Kidney stones may lodge in the urinary tract of a patient, outside of the kidney, but are named for having originated in the kidney. While the kidneys filter blood plasma and produce urine, crystals of solute sometimes separate from the urine. Normally, they are passed unrecognized in the urine stream and do not cause pain or discomfort. The urine chemistry also contains factors that inhibit larger crystal formation. In some people, the crystals, nonetheless, combine to form larger crystals that collect on the linings of the kidney ducts and tubes. Large crystals that cause pain and discomfort are called kidney stones.

The stones are classified by their components. The most common type contains deposits including those of calcium and oxalate. Other stones are caused by urinary tract infections, uric acid buildup, or other factors. Often, the stones are passed from the kidney and become lodged in the urinary tract; thus, kidney stones can also be classified by their location in the urinary tract.

A person who has a kidney stone does not usually need surgery. Most kidney stones can be passed in the urinary system, aided with plenty of drinking water. Sometimes, the stone can be stored and brought in for examination by a doctor to determine the underlying cause. If a person has repetitive cases of the same type of kidney stones, his or her physician may be able to recommend some lifestyle changes such as diet modification and increased water intake.

Stones that are larger than about three millimeters may be difficult to pass in the urine. If a kidney stone grows to larger than six millimeters, simply passing it in the urine is not usually an option. Some nonsurgical alternatives include disrupting the stones with ultrasonic or mechanical energy, administered through the skin of the abdomen. If these methods are unsuccessful, a patient may turn to a surgeon to remove a larger stone.

Although people of all races, eating all diets develop kidney stones, in the United States, Caucasian Americans typically have more stone problems than African Americans.