Did you know that there are different types of kidney stones? It's important to know what type you're suffering from. This will allow you to address the problem that's causing the stones, so that you can better manage or even treat the condition. Here are the most common types of kidney stones you should know about.
1. Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stones
The most common type of kidney stone is calcium stones. This is a stone that forms when calcium binds with oxalic acid or oxalates. These stones tend to occur because of elevated levels of calcium, oxalates, or both.
In order to manage and treat calcium oxalate kidney stones, it's recommended that you reduce your calcium intake and make adjustments to your diet to avoid foods with high oxalate content. This includes foods like iced tea, coffee, spinach, various nuts, and more. But sometimes it's not a dietary issue.
IBD and Diabetes are examples of other health conditions that can facilitate you to have challenges with calcium oxalate stones. It's important to understand various kidney stone risk factors in order to make the necessary health adjustments. As always, you should talk to your doctor to diagnose what the cause might be.
2. Calcium Phosphate Stones
Calcium phosphate kidney stones are caused by abnormalities in the way the urinary system functions. Your doctor may order a series of blood and urine tests to determine whether any urinary or kidney problems could be causing this type of stone, which often occurs simultaneously with calcium oxalate stones.
3. Uric Acid Stones
Uric acid stones are the second most common type of kidney stones. It is formed over time due to high levels of uric acid. Uric acid stones form when your urine is often too acidic. Uric acid can form stones by itself or with calcium. This can be caused by many factors. The most common is a diet that has a high level of animal protein. It can also be facilitated as can calcium stones by a low consumption of water.
Uric acid stones are also very prevalent in patients that have a family history of kidney stones. There are genetic factors that may lead to high levels of uric acid, so it often becomes a condition that needs to be managed rather than treated.
4. Struvite Stones
Struvite stones can happen when you have certain types of urinary tract infections in which bacteria make ammonia that builds up in your urine. Struvite stones are made of magnesium, ammonium and phosphate.
5. Cystine Stones
Cystine stones are made of a chemical that your body makes naturally, called cystine. Cystine stones are very rare and happen in people who have a genetic disorder that causes cystine to leak from the kidneys into the urine.
These are the five most common types of kidney stones. To properly treat your condition, it starts by identifying the type of stone you have and addressing it at the root cause.
