Kidney stones, also known as renal lithiasis, are one of the most common and painful disorders of the urinary tract, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Acid salts and minerals make up kidney stones. The small, hard deposits travel from the kidneys through the urinary tract before releasing through the urethra during urination. Though uncomfortable, medical intervention to treat kidney stones is not often necessary, reports the Mayo Clinic. A kidney stone can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pearl, according to the National Institutes of Health. Being over the age of 40 places a person at higher risk of developing kidney stones; but the condition can develop at any age.
Calcium Oxalate
The Mayo Clinic reports that the most common type of kidney stones are in the form of calcium oxalate. The body requires calcium, but if too much calcium is present the unused portion moves to a person's kidneys. Fruits, vegetables, nuts and chocolate contain high levels of calcium oxalate. The liver also creates calcium oxalate. High levels of calcium oxalate in the urine appear because of dietary factors and consuming high doses of vitamin D. Bypass surgery, inflammatory bowel disease or diarrhea causes the body to delay absorption of calcium, causing a calcium kidney stone to form. People who develop calcium oxalate stones may be required to stop eating certain foods containing high levels of oxalate. These foods include chocolate, sweet potatoes, spinach and rhubarb. It is important to note that drinking milk does not cause kidney stones, advises the Cleveland Clinic. Calcium intake should not be limited.
Urinary Tract Infections
Infection of the urinary tract causes struvite kidney stones to form. The urinary tract consists of the kidney, bladder, ureters and urethra. These types of stones grow rapidly and very large, according to the Mayo Clinic. More women than men suffer form struvite stones because women develop urinary tract infections more frequently. The bacteria responsible for causing the urinary tract infection create a chemical reaction in the urine causing the stone to form.
Uric Acid Stones
Uric acid stones commonly form in people who are dehydrated, consume high protein diets or suffer from gout. The Mayo Clinic suggests that certain genetic disorders and blood-producing tissues also create uric acid stones. A person receiving chemotherapy is also at risk of developing uric acid stones, according to FamilyDoctor.org. The American Kidney Fund recommends that a person decrease red meat consumption to avoid uric acid stones.
Crystine and Oxalate
Cystinuria and hyperoxaluria are two rare inherited disorders which cause kidney stones to form, reports the NKUDIC. Cystine stones form in people whose kidneys release small amounts of cystinuria, an amino acid. The amino acid does not dissolve in urine and builds up, forming hard deposits. Patients suffer from hyperoxaluria because the body creates high levels of oxalate, a salt. NKUDIC explains when a person's urine contains more salt than urine, oxalate crystals, or kidney stones, form.
