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by Baker J

Risk Factors for Kidney Stones

A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.
It is possible to develop kidney stones with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing kidney stones.
Personal or family history of kidney stones is one of the more common factors. Kidney stones are also more common in adults under 40 years old who are Caucasian or Asian. Risk factors for specific types of kidney stones include:
  • Excess dietary sodium and oxalate. Oxalate can be found in green, leafy vegetables, chocolate, nuts, or tea.
  • Low fluid intake, especially during warmer weather, which can lead to dehydration
  • Overactive parathyroid gland
  • Chronic bowel disorders such as Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis
  • Some diuretics
  • Calcium-based antacids
  • History of urinary infection
  • More common in women
  • Excess dietary red meat or poultry
  • Gout
A rare genetic disorder increases risk of cystine stones.

References

Kidney stones and ureteral stones. Urology Care website. Available at: http://www.urologyhealth.org/urology/index.cfm?article=148. Accessed April 16, 2013.

Kidney stones in adults. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse website. Available at: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/stonesadults. Updated January 28, 2013. Accessed April 16, 2013.

Nephrolithiasis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us. Updated March 22, 2013 . Accessed April 16, 2013.

Pietrow PK, Karellas ME. Medical management of common urinary calculi. Am Fam Physician. 2006;74(1):86-94.

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1 Kidney Stones -- Adult condition

Kidney stones are pieces of a stone or crystal-like material. These stones form inside the kidneys or other parts of the urinary tract. The kidneys remove waste from the ...

2 Diagnosis of Kidney Stones condition indepth
3 Conditions InDepth: Kidney Stones condition indepth
4 Lifestyle Changes to Manage Kidney Stones condition indepth
5 Other Treatments for Kidney Stones condition indepth
6 Reducing Your Risk of Kidney Stones condition indepth
7 Resource Guide for Kidney Stones condition indepth
9 Screening for Kidney Stones condition indepth
10 Surgical Procedures for Kidney Stones condition indepth
11 Symptoms of Kidney Stones condition indepth
12 Talking to Your Doctor About Kidney Stones condition indepth
13 Treatments for Kidney Stones condition indepth
14 Medications for Kidney Stones condition indepth
15 Hydronephrosis -- Adult condition

Hydronephrosis occurs when urine builds up in the kidneys and cannot drain out to the bladder. The kidneys swell from the excess urine. The condition may affect one kidne...

16 Cystolitholapaxy procedure

Cystolitholapaxy is a procedure to break up bladder stones into smaller pieces and remove them. Bladder stones are minerals that have built up in the bladder. Ultrasonic ...

17 Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy for Kidney Stones procedure

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a nonsurgical treatment for stones in the kidney and ureter. It uses high-energy shock waves to break kidney stones into tiny pie...

18 Kidney Stones -- Child condition

Kidney stones are crystallized material in the urine. These stones form in the kidneys or other parts of the urinary tract. The kidneys remove waste (in the form...

19 Electrohydraulic Lithotripsy procedure

Electrohydraulic lithotripsy is one of many methods to treat kidney stones or bile stones. It uses an electrohydraulic device with a flexible probe to deliver electricity...

20 Laparoscopic Ureterolithotomy procedure

Laparoscopic ureterolithotomy is a procedure to remove stones from the ureter. The ureter is a tube between the kidney and the bladder. Urine passes down to the bladder t...