A sudden, sharp pain in your lower back, discomfort that refuses to settle, and an unexpected trip to the emergency room: this is how kidney stones often make their presence felt. What makes them even more frustrating is that many people have no idea they were at risk until the pain begins. You may be drinking what seems like enough water or following a regular diet, yet everyday habits, certain health conditions, and even genetics can quietly increase your chances of developing kidney stones. Understanding these hidden risk factors is the first step toward protecting your kidney health.
In this blog, we’ll explore the seven common things that increase your risk of kidney stones, explain the different types of kidney stones, and help you understand why knowing these risks matters more than most people realize.
What Are Kidney Stones?
Definition: They are hard, pebble-like pieces of matter that form in your kidneys.
How they form: Kidney stones (renal calculi or nephrolithiasis) are hard, crystalline deposits made of minerals and salts that form within the kidneys when certain substances in the urine become highly concentrated and crystallize. These crystals gradually stick together, forming stones that can vary in size from tiny grains to larger masses.
Why do they cause severe pain: When a stone moves through the urinary tract, it may obstruct the flow of urine, causing severe pain and other urinary symptoms.
Types of Kidney Stones
There are basically four types of kidney stones, all formed due to different reasons.
Calcium Stones
| Prevalence | The most common of all Kidney stones. |
| Composition | Calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate |
| Primary Cause | Excess calcium or oxalate crystallizing in urine |
| People Most at Risk | Adults with poor hydration, high-salt diets, or metabolic disorders |
| Distinctive Symptoms | Severe flank pain, blood in urine, painful urination |
| Treatment Approach | Hydration, dietary changes, medications, or stone removal if needed |
Uric Acid Stones
| Prevalence | 2nd most common |
| Composition | Uric Acid Crystals |
| Primary Cause | High uric acid levels in acidic urine |
| Major Risk Factors | Animal protein, gout, diabetes, obesity, dehydration |
| Distinctive Symptoms | Similar symptoms, often associated with gout or acidic urine |
| Treatment Approach | Increase fluid intake, medications to alkalinize urine, dietary changes, stone removal if required |
Struvite Stones
| Prevalence | Uncommon |
| Composition | Magnesium Ammonium Phosphate |
| Primary Cause | Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) |
| People Most at Risk | Individuals with recurrent UTIs or urinary tract abnormalities |
| Distinctive Symptoms | Frequent UTIs, fever, or chills if infection is present |
| Treatment Approach | Antibiotics to treat infection, along with stone removal procedures |
Cystine Stones
| Prevalence | Rare |
| Composition | Cystine (an amino acid) |
| Primary Cause | Inherited genetic disorder |
| People Most at Risk | People born with cystinuria, often diagnosed at a young age |
| Distinctive Symptoms | Recurrent kidney stones with repeated episodes of pain |
| Treatment Approach | Lifelong hydration, medications to reduce cystine levels, and surgical treatment for larger stones if necessary |
7 Things That Increase Your Risk of Kidney Stones
These are the seven things that increase the risk of kidney stones:
Not Drinking Enough Water
Kidneys help remove any waste minerals and excesses to be discharged from our body with water. And if we don’t drink enough, it gets difficult for them to do so. Resulting in crystallisation and forming stones.
Eating Too Much Salt
Every 2300 mg of sodium that we consume excretes about 40 mg of calcium in the urine, which is a lot. It is recommended to limit salt intake. There is hidden sodium in various processed, canned, and packaged foods as a preservative ingredient. So, the next time you find yourself eating a bag of chips, look at the sodium in it.
A Diet High in Animal Protein
Animal meat is high in purines, which increase uric acid levels in the body and can also boost urinary and can also boost uninery excretion of Oxate. Specifically, if you eat red meat, poultry, fish, and shellfish.
Being Overweight or Obese
Insulin resistance is common in obesity, and it stops the kidneys from buffering acid, creating highly acidic urine forming uric acid stones. Other than that, when a person has more body weight, the kidneys need to dump more calcium, oxalate, and uric acid into the urine.
Certain Medical Conditions
Metabolic & Hormonal Disorders
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Gout
Gastrointestinal Diseases
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) / Crohn’s disease / Ulcerative colitis
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Prior Gastric Bypass Surgery
Kidney & Genetic Disorders
- Renal Tubular Acidosis (RTA)
- Cystinuria
- Medullary Sponge Kidney
Family History and Genetics
If your family has a history of genetic conditions like cystinuria, Dent’s disease, or Familial Hypocalciuric Hypercalcemia, the chances are you may get kidney stones.
Certain Medicines and Supplements
- Calcium Supplements
- Vitamin D Supplements
- Vitamin C / Ascorbic Acid
- Loop Diuretics
- Protease Inhibitors
- Sulfa Antibiotics
- Fluoroquinolones
- Ceftriaxone
- Triamterene
- Guaifenesin / Ephedrine
Early Warning Signs of Kidney Stones
- Severe pain in the back, side, or below the ribs.
- Pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin
- Pain or burning during urination
- Pink, red, or brown urine (blood in the urine)
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
- A persistent need to urinate, or urinating more frequently than usual
- Nausea and vomiting
When Should You See a Doctor?
If you see any of these symptoms, we suggest that you come to Karan Hospital, Palampur. We have an excellent Department of Urology that will first understand your problem and make a unique way of dealing with it because we know every problem acts in a different way in different bodies.
Don’t let issues like these reach the point that becomes unbearable; reach out so they can be treated in the early stages.
