What Increases Your Risk of Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones can occur in almost anyone, says Anil Agarwal MD, clinical professor of nephrology at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine. While common conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure can increase the risk of kidney stones, otherwise healthy individuals can also develop them, notes Dr. Agarwal.
Kidney stones can develop in both men and women, but they’re more likely to develop in men, according to the Urology Foundation. Stones are also more common in white people than in African American people.
A number of lifestyle factors may also contribute to kidney stones.
Not Drinking Enough Water
Often, people with kidney stones aren’t drinking enough water, says Agarwal. “Or they may be doing hard physical labor or working out, sweating, and losing fluids that way.”
Not drinking enough water causes the urine to become concentrated, meaning the levels of waste products, including excess calcium, are high. “The solution? Drink more water,” says Shidham.
Not Consuming Enough Calcium
People often believe that if they have calcium stones, they shouldn’t be eating foods high in calcium, says Shidham. But eating a low-calcium diet may increase your risk of stones by up to 50 percent, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Low calcium levels can cause oxalate levels to rise in the kidneys, leading to stones. “If you have calcium stones, you should not stop eating normal calcium foods,” advises Shidham. “Studies show that a normal calcium diet is better than a low-calcium diet for stone risk. However, it’s best to avoid calcium supplements unless your doctor advises them.”
A High-Salt or High-Sugar Diet
Some causes of increased calcium in the urine may include a diet high in salt or refined sugars, says Shidham.
Eating Large Amounts of Oxalate-Rich Foods
A high amount of oxalate-rich foods can potentially contribute to the oxalate levels in your urine, causing calcium-oxalate stones. Shidham says that these include:
- Nuts, including almonds
- Spinach
- Beets
- Dark chocolate
- Cocoa
Because some of these foods offer many health benefits, doctors may suggest reducing how much you eat (rather than eliminating them entirely). Or they may recommend eating oxalate-containing foods alongside those that are rich in calcium, so that the calcium and oxalate bind in the stomach or intestines before they reach the kidneys.
Drinking Colas
Drinking colas, which contain phosphate, can also increase calcium levels in the urine and make calcium-phosphate stone formation more likely, says Agarwal.
Consuming Too Much Protein
People who eat a lot of protein, especially animal protein, may produce uric acid stones, says Agarwal.
Shidham cautions that too much animal protein and protein supplements can raise urinary calcium and uric acid levels and lower protective citrate levels, increasing the risk of stones.
A Lack of Stone Formation Inhibitors
Some natural substances present in normal urine have the capability to block kidney stone formation, but some people lack those inhibitors in their urine, Agarwal explains. “So, even though a lot of us are running around and not drinking water, not everyone gets a stone because of those inhibitors of stone formation present in urine,” he says. Notably, citrate, a form of citric acid, is an important inhibitor of stone formation. “If you’re excreting very low amounts of citrate (one of the most important inhibitors) in the urine, you have little protection from stone formation,” Agarwal adds.
Low citrate content could be due to certain medications, chronic diarrhea, kidney acid-base problems, or high protein intake, according to Shidham.
Family History and Genetics
Kidney stones can run in families, too, so genetic factors may also play a role, says Agarwal.
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