I have seen an abundance of kidney stones recently. They quietly develop over time, without any notification to their owner. These uninvited guests start forming when certain substances in the urine, such as oxalate, vitamin C, cystine and uric acid, become highly concentrated. When the body lacks enough fluid to dilute these minerals, they begin to crystallize and stick together inside the kidneys.
Over time, these tiny crystals can grow into solid figures without causing immediate symptoms. Besides genetic luck or lack thereof, a very significant contributor to kidney stone formation is chronic dehydration. When you do not drink enough, urine becomes more concentrated, increasing the likelihood of mineral crystallization. Even mild dehydration over long periods can create the ideal environment for stones to develop.
Certain medication increases your risk of kidney stones. High intake of sodium, sugar and certain proteins can alter the balance of substances in the urine and therefore increase the risk of stone formation. Foods rich in oxalates, such as nuts, dark beer, instant coffee and chocolate milks, further contribute when consumed in excess without proper hydration.
Kidney stones are rarely the result of a single event (at the football game this weekend, I drank too much dark beer and ate nuts the entire football game) but rather a gradual process that often goes unnoticed until it becomes troublesome. There are ways to reduce the risk before symptoms appear. Paying attention to how much water you drink a day, if you have a family history or personal history of stones, and they are passed or surgically removed, ask the urologist to send the stone to pathology so you know what kind of stone it is. This allows us, nonsurgeons, to help you avoid potential causes and prevent future ones.
It is amazing to me how often this is not done (no comment on the money-based system of Western medicine). Regular health checkups with a doctor who can spend more than five minutes with you may also help identify potential issues early, especially for individuals with a history of kidney stones. I have been told by women who have had babies with no anesthetic that passing a kidney stone was more painful. If that does not encourage you to get evaluated for kidney stone formation, I do not know what will.
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