Kidney stones are painful crystalline formations that occur within the urinary tract. These stones can form when the balance of water, salts and minerals change. The type of kidney stone a patient develops depends on the changes that occur within the urinary tract. Check out this PDF to learn the types and causes of Kidney stones.

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Types and Causes of Kidney Stones
The urinary tract removes waste from the body and helps to ensure the body has a proper balance of water and salt.
When this balance is upset, a kidney stone can develop. To understand how kidney stones are formed, you must first
understand how the urinary tract works.
The urinary tract is comprised of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. As the body metabolizes protein, a waste
product called urea is formed. Urea is then mixed with water and salts from the body to form urine. The urine is
produced in the kidneys and travels down through the ureters to the bladder. The bladder stores the urine until you
urinate. During urinations, the urine travels through the urethra and exits your body.
What Are Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones are painful crystalline formations that occur within the urinary tract. These stones can form when the
balance of water, salts and minerals change. The type of kidney stone a patient develops depends on the changes
that occur within the urinary tract.
There are four main types of kidney stones-
• Calcium Stones
Calcium stones are the most common type of kidney stones. These stones occur when high levels of calcium are
present within the body. Certain medical conditions, such as hyperparathyroidism, can increase the risk of
developing this type of kidney stone.
You can reduce your risk of developing calcium stones by limiting the amount of calcium oxalate rich foods. These
foods include chocolate, peanuts, potato chips, spinach and beets.
• Cystine Stones
Cystine stones are less common; however, they do occur. This type of stone is formed when too much cysteine is
found in the urine. This condition is often the result of heredity. Cystine stones tend to run in families. Since this type
of stone is based on heredity, there is little you can do to prevent the formation of these stones. However,

3. researchers are now discovering that drinking approximately 4 liters of water daily along with alkalizing the urine pH
can help prevent cystine stones from forming. Additionally, alkalizing drinks, such as mineral water and citrus juice,
along with avoiding sodium can help lower the risk.
• Struvite Stones
Struvite stones occur when there is infection within the urinary tract (UTI) or kidneys. This type of stone can be quite
large, and antibiotics along with the removal of the kidney stone are often necessary. Because women are at a high
risk of developing UTIs, more women suffer from this type of kidney stone.
There are several things that can be done to help reduce the risk of struvite stones. Primarily, UTIs should be
promptly treated with antibiotics to lower the risk of developing struvite stones. Additionally, proper wiping techniques
should be utilized.
• Uric Acid Stones
Uric acid is a waste that is produced in the body; however, too much uric acid can cause kidney stones to develop.
Several things that can increase the risk of developing a uric acid stone, including a diet rich in animal protein, low
urine output, drinking too much alcohol, gout and digestive issues, such as inflammatory bowel disease. This type of
kidney stone can be avoided by limiting the amount of animal protein, especially red meat. Additionally, limit the
amount of alcohol you consume and increase the amount of water you drink.
Kidney stones are quite common. These stones form when the delicate balance within the urinary tract becomes
disrupted due to dehydration, digestive issues and food choices. Whether you suffer from kidney stones already or
just want to prevent them, drink plenty of fluids, eat a sensible diet, use good wiping habits and limit the amount of
alcohol you consume.