What are the Causes of Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones are crystallized deposits of minerals and salts that form inside of the kidneys. There is no singular cause of these stones; instead, several factors lead to their development. These include a poor diet, a lack of physical fitness, and medical conditions.
Here are some of the causes of kidney stones:
Diet:
- High sodium:
High amounts of sodium in a diet increase calcium concentration in the urine which can form into stones.
- High oxalate intake:
Foods rich in oxalates can solidify in the kidneys and become stones especially if they have high levels of calcium.
Physical fitness:
- Obesity:
A lack or absence of physical activity can cause weight gain leading to obesity. Obesity can change the acid levels inside the kidney leading to the development of stones.
- Hypercalciuria:
Hypercalciuria is a condition in which there is an excessive amount of calcium in the urine and it worsens when physical activity reduces.
Medical conditions:
- Hyperparathyroidism:
If the parathyroid glands become overactive they can increase the levels of calcium in the blood and urine.
- Gout:
Gout raises the levels of uric acid in the blood leading to the growth of uric acid stones.
How to Prevent Kidney Stones:
By knowing the causes of kidney stones you can prevent them. You need to alter your diet, improve your physical fitness and get medical treatments. Here is how you can prevent kidney stones from occurring:
– Diet:
- Reduce sodium intake:
Reduce your sodium intake to decrease the concentration of calcium in your kidneys. Eat less amounts of salt with a limit of 2,300 mg per day.
- Avoid oxalate-rich foods:
Remove foods from your diet that are high in oxalates because they support the formation of stones. Avoid foods such as spinach, nuts and others.
-Physical fitness:
- Keep a healthy weight:
Maintaining a proper body weight can improve the composition of your urine which reduces the chances of getting kidney stones.
- Active lifestyle:
Being active can stop calcium from occuring in urine. Getting enough movement throughout the day helps the kidney function properly.
– Medication:
- Potassium citrate:
This medication has high levels of urinary citrate which combine with calcium to prevent stone crystallization. This is used to prevent the rise of calcium based kidney stones.
- Antibiotics:
Antibiotics are given to patients who get kidney stones from urinary tract infections. These medications treat the infection thus preventing stone formation.
Urologists in Chennai that help Prevent Kidney Stones:
There are many urologists in Chennai working in hospitals throughout the city. Some of the most famous hospitals that deal with conditions like kidney stones are Tamil Nadu Urological Research Centre PVT LTD, RG Stone Urology & Laparascopy Hospital and Chennai Kidney Care & Stone Centre. Each of these hospitals have urologists who treat kidney stones.
The Laser Kidney Stone Clinic has many highly qualified urologists. This includes Dr. Karthik Gunasekaran and Dr. P. Saravanan, two of the best and most famous urologists in Chennai.
If you want high-quality treatment from renowned urologists, come to the Laser Kidney Stone Clinic.