subject: What Causes Kidney Stones - Kidney Stone Breakthrough [print this page] Kidney stones are one of the most painful of the urologic disorders. Usually, the first symptom of a kidney stone is extreme pain, which begins suddenly when a stone moves in the urinary tract and blocks the flow of urine. Typically, a person feels a sharp, cramping pain in the back and side in the area of the kidney or in the lower abdomen. Later, pain may spread to the groin. But what causes kidney stones?
The causes of kidney stones are diverse. Number one is heredity. Some people are more susceptible to forming kidney stones compared to others. For example, people with rare hereditary diseases like renal tubular acidosis are more predisposed to forming kidney stones. Number two is geographical location. In the United States, people living in regional stone belts with hot climate and practicing poor fluid intake are more prone to developing kidney stones.
Diet is another factor. Nowadays, fast foods, over-processed meals, and excessive animal fats and animal proteins form a large portion of our diets, which may contribute to the formation of kidney stones. In relation to diet is obesity. Obesity is directly related to poor dietary habits, and puts a lot of strain on the bodys organs and biochemical systems.
Aside from all these, another one of the root causes of kidney stones is dehydration. As mentioned, people who practice poor fluid intake are more prone to having stones in their kidneys. This is because less fluid intake increases the concentration of minerals in the kidneys, and increases the chances of these minerals to crystallize and clump together, forming stones in the long run.
A surprising response to the question What causes kidney stones? is medication. Certain medications like diuretics, excess amounts of vitamins A and D, and calcium-containing antacids can contribute to the formation of kidney stones.
