How urinary stones are formed is actually related to these factors

Urinary stones are a common disease in daily life, but how are urinary stones formed? Most people are not very clear about this issue. In fact, there are many reasons that can cause the formation of urinary stones, such as eating habits, genetic reasons, metabolic abnormalities, etc.

1. Eating habits

Not drinking water is the most common cause of urinary stones. Urinary stones are more common in men. Men usually exercise a lot but don’t like to drink water, which may cause urinary stones in the long run.

In terms of diet, eating more dairy products can increase calcium absorption, eating more meat can increase uric acid in the urine, and eating a lot of spinach can increase the excretion of oxalic acid in the urine, all of which may increase the formation of stones. Some people leave their native places for a long time, and some of them increase the chance of developing kidney stones.

2. Genetic causes

According to statistics, the incidence rate of urinary stones in patients with a family history is generally higher than that of ordinary patients. Therefore, the formation of urinary stones may also be due to genetic reasons.

3. Caused by other diseases

Some diseases such as hyperthyroidism, hypercortisolism, osteolytic bone tumors, etc. may induce the formation of urinary stones.

4. Other metabolic abnormalities

In addition to some metabolic abnormalities caused by congenital or acquired diseases, there are also some metabolic abnormalities whose causes are not very clear, such as idiopathic hypercalciuria, idiopathic hyperuricemia, etc.

Possible causes of urinary stones

1. Epidemiological factors

These include factors such as age, gender, occupation, socioeconomic status, dietary composition and structure, water intake, climate, metabolism and genetics. Upper urinary tract stones are common in people aged 20 to 50 years. There are more men than women. The peak age of onset in males is 35 years old. There are two peaks for women, at 30 and 55 years old. During World War II, the incidence of upper urinary tract stones decreased, but during the interval and in the past four decades, the incidence increased significantly, suggesting that it is related to changes in economic income and dietary structure. Experiments have shown that an increase in animal protein and refined sugar and a decrease in fiber in the diet promote the formation of upper urinary tract stones. Drinking plenty of water to dilute the urine can reduce the formation of crystals in the urine. Relatively high temperature environment and reduced activity are also influencing factors, but occupation and climate are not the only determining factors.

(II) Urine factors

1. Excessive excretion of stone-forming substances, and increased excretion of calcium, oxalic acid, and uric acid in urine. Long-term bed rest, hyperparathyroidism (reabsorptive hypercalciuria), idiopathic hypercalciuria (absorptive hypercalciuria - increased intestinal calcium absorption or renal hypercalciuria - decreased tubular calcium reabsorption), other metabolic abnormalities and renal tubular acidosis all increase urinary calcium excretion. Gout, persistent acidic urine, chronic diarrhea and thiazide diuretics all increase uric acid excretion, endogenous oxalic acid synthesis or intestinal absorption of oxalic acid, which can cause hyperoxaluria.

2. Uric acid decreases and pH increases.

3. Decreased urine volume increases the concentration of salts and organic substances.

4. The content of substances that inhibit crystal formation in urine decreases, such as citric acid, pyrophosphate, magnesium, acidic mucopolysaccharides, and certain trace elements.

(III) Abnormal anatomical structure

For example, urinary tract obstruction may lead to the deposition of crystals or matrix in areas with poor drainage, urine retention and secondary urinary tract infection, which is conducive to stone formation.

(IV) Urinary tract infection

The cause of most calcium oxalate stones is unknown. Calcium phosphate and ammonium magnesium phosphate stones are associated with infection and obstruction. Uric acid stones are related to gout, etc. Cystine stones are a rare familial genetic disease caused by the excretion of large amounts of cystine in the urine.