What are kidney stones? What causes kidney stones? What are kidney stones? Kidney stones usually comprised of a compound called calcium oxalate, are the result of an accumulation of dissolved minerals on the inner lining of the kidneys. These deposits can grow to the size of a golf ball while maintaining a sharp, crystalline structure. The kidney stones may be small and pass unnoticed out of the urinary tract, but they may also cause extreme pain upon exiting. Kidney stones that remain inside the body can lead to many conditions, including severe pain and ureter (the tube connecting the kidney and bladder) blockage that obstructs the path urine uses to leave the body. 1). R.E.- Scientists at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA, say that people with kidney stones are at a significantly higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease. What causes kidney stones? The leading cause of kidney stones is a lack of water. Stones commonly have been found in those that drink less than the recommended eight to ten glasses of water a day. When there is not enough water to dilute the uric acid (component of urine), the pH level within the kidneys drops and becomes more acidic. An excessively acidic environment in the kidneys is conducive to the formation of kidney stones. Medical conditions such as Crohns disease, urinary tract infections, renal tubular acidosis, hyperparathyroidism, medullary sponge kidney, and Dents disease have been known to lead to kidney stones. It also has been suggested that water fluoridation - the addition of fluoride to drinking water - is responsible for some cases of kidney stones. Vitamin D and Calcium supplements linked to kidney stone risk 2). R. E.- Scientists at Creighton University Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA, found that calcium and vitamin D supplements could increase the risk of developing kidney stones because they raise levels of calcium in the blood and urine. 3). R. E. -Head researcher, J. Christopher Gallagher, M.D., explained that perhaps using vitamin D and calcium supplements is not as benign as people had thought. He advised people not to exceed the guidelines for these supplements of 800 international units of vitamin D, and 800-1,200 milligrams of calcium per day (according to the Institute of Medicine). When asked which of the two supplements might be raising kidney stone risk, Dr. Gallagher said: It is not clear whether it is the extra calcium, the vitamin D or both together that cause these problems. Who gets kidney stones? Kidney stones are twice as common among males as females. Most people who experience kidney stones do so between the ages of 30 and 50. A family history of kidney stones also increases ones chances of developing them at some point in life. Similarly, a previous kidney stone occurrence increases the risk that a person will develop subsequent stones in the future if preventative action is not taken. Additional risk factors for kidney stones include diets that are high in protein and sodium but low in calcium, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, high blood pressure, and conditions that affect how calcium is absorbed in the body such as gastric bypass surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, and chronic
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 09:53:43 +0000
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