Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones, or renal calculi, are solid masses made of crystals. Kidney stones usually originate in kidneys, but can develop anywhere along urinary tract.
Types of Kidney Stones
Not all kidney stones are made up of the same crystals.
Calcium Kidney Stones
Calcium stones are the most common. They can be made of calcium oxalate, phosphate, or maleate. Eating fewer oxalate-rich foods can reduce your risk of developing this type of stone. High levels of oxalate increase the risk for calcium stones.
Uric Acid Kidney Stones
This type of kidney stone is more common in men than in women. They can occur in people with gout or those going through chemotherapy. This type of stone develops when urine is too acidic.
Struvite Kidney Stones
This type of stones found mostly in women with urinary tract infections. These stones can be large and cause urinary obstruction. These stones are caused by a kidney infection.
Cystine Kidney Stones
Cystine stones are rare. They occur in both men and women who have the genetic disorder cystinuria. With this type of stone, cystine (an acid that occurs naturally in the body) leaks from the kidneys into the urine.
