Kidney Stones
Causes
Kidney stones often have no definite, single cause, although several factors may increase your risk.
Kidney stones form when your urine contains more crystal-forming substances than the fluid in your urine can dilute. At the same time, your urine may lack substances that prevent crystals from sticking together, creating an ideal environment for kidney stones to form.
It is important for a urologist to decipher what is the root cause to help prevent more stones from appearing in the future. If possible, try to save your kidney stone if it passes, so that you can bring it to us for analysis. Learn more about what kidney stones are here.
Types of kidney stones
Knowing the type of kidney stone you have helps determine its cause, and may give clues on how to reduce your risk of getting more kidney stones.
Types of kidney stones include:
Calcium stones.
Struvite stones.
Uric acid stones.
Cystine stones.
Risk factors
Factors that increase your risk of developing kidney stones include:
Family or personal history.
Dehydration.
Certain diets.
Obesity.
Digestive diseases and surgery.
Other medical conditions.
Certain supplements and medications.
Dr. Pigato may recommend preventive treatment to reduce your risk of recurrent kidney stones if you're at increased risk of developing them again.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
Pain so severe that you can't sit still or find a comfortable position.
Pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
Pain accompanied by fever and chills.
Blood in your urine.
Difficulty passing urine.