Kidney stones (also called renal calculi, nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis) are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. However, they can develop anywhere along your urinary tract, which consists of these parts:
Kidneys
Ureters
Bladder
Urethra
Kidney stones can be a painful medical issue. The causes of kidney stones vary according to the type of stones.
01.
Calcium oxalate Stones
The most common type, formed when calcium combines with oxalate in the urine. Factors like high oxalate levels in certain foods, high doses of vitamin D, and certain metabolic disorders can increase the risk.
02.
Calcium Phosphate Stones
Formed when calcium combines with phosphate, often associated with metabolic conditions like renal tubular acidosis.
03.
Uric acid Stones
These form in people who lose too much fluid due to chronic diarrhea or malabsorption, eat a high-protein diet, have diabetes, or have metabolic syndrome. Uric acid stones are more common in men than in women.
04.
Struvite Stones
Struvite stones form in response to a urinary tract infection. They can grow quickly and become quite large, sometimes with few symptoms or little warning. Struvite stones are composed of magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate.
05.
Cystine Stones
Cystine stones form in people with a hereditary disorder called cystinuria that causes the kidneys to excrete too much of a specific amino acid (cystine). These stones are rare and tend to recur.