Your Health: Kidney Stones

One of the most common disorders of the urinary tract, kidney stones are hardened stone-like masses, comprised of the crystals which build up on the inner surface of the kidneys. Made up of calcium and other minerals, they are very painful and researches have proved that they are no modern ailment; the remains of a 7,000 year old mummy revealed that even the ancient Egyptians suffered from kidney stones. While the condition is more common in men, it can even affect women and doctors still don’t know what, exactly, causes different varieties of kidney stones to form.

Most people have certain chemicals in their urine which helps to inhibit the formation of these crystals but, in some people, these luhibitors do not always work correctly. A less common type of stone is caused by an infection of the urinary tract, and these are called struvite, or infection stones. Kidney stones can form for a variety of reasons and can be made up of different composites, but one thing that’s known for sure is the fact that, once a person gets a kidney stone, they are more likely to develop more of them in the future.

At one time, it was believed that certain foods caused people to develop kidney stones. Recent findings, however, suggest that foods may promote the formation of kidney stones in those who are susceptible, but that it doesn’t appear that particular foods have any bearing on the formation of kidney stones in a person who is not susceptible. However, it is more likely for a person who has a family history of kidney stones to develop them.

The truth of the matter is that kidney stones may form for a variety of reasons; urinary tract infections, kidney disorders and certain metabolic disorders, such as hyperparathyroidism have also been linked to the formation of kidney stones. 70% of those who suffer from renal tubular acidosis, an unusual hereditary disease, develop kidney stones and the condition is most prominent in men, from age 40-70 years. Women get stones less frequently then men, but occasionally they occur, usually around the age of 50.