Kidney Stones Or Renal Calculi Causes, How Kidney Stones Formed
Kidney stones can be hereditary. If one of your parents has or had this disease, you have the risk of developing it too. They are mostly made of calcium and hypercalciruia, which means high levels of calcium in the urine, and this is what is often inherited through the generations. Some people suffer from renal tubular acidosis. They can't produce sufficient cystine, a necessary amino acid, oxalate (a kind of salt) and uric acid, which can encourage the growth of the stones.
Kidney stones are mostly composed of calcium. However, a smaller number consist of uric acid or something called struvite. Kidney stones form due to an imbalance of water, calcium oxylate, uric acid, and phosphate that are usually present in the urine. Stones are also known to form when the pH of the urine is not normal or when normal mechanisms that protect the kidney's are inundated.
Kidney stones have been a disorder that have been documented in many civilizations. In fact, research has uncovered that even Egyptians (during times of pyramid building) developed kidney stones. It is no wonder considering that you are more likely to develop a kidney stone if you live in a hot and humid climate. The reason is because kidney stones develop because of lack of hydration or liquid to the body. Usually people living closer to the equator develop kidney stones because of the body's need to be well hydrated.
Kidney stones form when a change occurs in the normal balance of water, salts, minerals, and other things found in urine. The most common cause of kidney stones is not drinking enough water. Kidney stones are usually asymptomatic until they obstruct the flow of urine. Symptoms can include acute flank pain (renal colic), nausea and vomiting, restlessness, dull pain, hematuria, and possibly fever if infection is present. Kidney stones may not produce symptoms until they begin to move down the ureter, causing pain. The pain is usually severe and often starts in the flank region, then moves down to the groin.
It is sad to note that this painful disease can be hereditary and transferable from one generation to another. If say one of your parents is suffering from it, your chances of getting it too are very high. Most are made of calcium and hypercalciuria. It is possible that those who suffer greatly are those with renal tubular acidosis and those having problems metabolizing cystine(acid), oxalate(salt) and uric acid, commonly known as gout due to it being hereditary.
High levels of vitamin D can cause calcium kidney stones. People with other diseases like cancer can greatly increase the development of the stones. Uric acid stones can be caused by eating too much meat. Due to the very high excesses of uric acid when one eats meat especially beef, it is a major contributor to this kind of kidney stones
