What are urinary tract stones?
A common condition that should not be overlooked
Are you experiencing abnormal pain in your flank or lower back?
Or have you just been diagnosed with urinary tract stones and are wondering how they should be treated? Perhaps… the person affected is not you, but a family member or someone close to you who is facing this condition. No matter your situation, correctly understanding urinary tract stones will help you make appropriate decisions about care and treatment, and reduce the chance of recurrence in the future.
Many people believe stones are caused only by drinking too little water. Some think that once you have stones, everyone must undergo surgery, or believe that drinking beer and lemon juice can treat stones. In reality, this condition has more complex causes and treatment approaches than that.
The good news is that today, urinary tract stones can be treated effectively, and most patients can return to normal life if they receive appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
In this section, we will begin with the most basic question: “What are urinary tract stones, and how do they occur?”
What are urinary tract stones?
Urinary tract stones (Urinary tract stones) are hard masses formed from the crystallization of minerals and various substances dissolved in urine. When these substances become too concentrated, tiny crystals gradually clump together and grow into a stone.
Stones can occur in several locations, including:
- Kidney
- Ureter
- Bladder
- Urethra
The most common locations are the kidneys and ureters.
Stones inside the kidney may cause no symptoms for a long time. But when a stone moves down into the ureter and obstructs urine flow, pressure inside the kidney increases, leading to cramping pain in the flank—this is a hallmark symptom of the condition.
How do stones form?
Normally, minerals in urine can dissolve. However, when the body does not have enough water or when certain substances in urine are present in excessive amounts, crystallization occurs and gradually aggregates into a stone.
The body also has substances that help prevent stone formation, such as citrate (Citrate). If these substances decrease, the risk of stone formation increases.
Simply put, stones form when “stone-forming substances are too abundant” or “stone-preventing substances are too low”, to the point that the body can no longer maintain the balance of the urine.
Causes and risk factors: Why do urinary tract stones occur?
Stones do not occur from a single cause, but from multiple factors together—lifestyle behaviors, diet, underlying diseases, and genetics. Although some factors cannot be changed, most can be prevented and risk can be reduced.
Not drinking enough water
Not drinking enough water is the most important risk factor for stone formation. When urine volume decreases, the concentration of minerals and other substances increases, making it easier for crystals to form and clump into stones.
Thailand has a hot climate. People who work outdoors, exercise regularly, or sweat a lot should therefore drink enough water to compensate for the body’s water loss.
Eating salty foods
Many people may not realize that eating salty foods does not only increase sodium intake, but also causes the kidneys to excrete more calcium in the urine.
When urinary calcium increases, it is more likely to combine with other substances and crystallize into stones.
Reducing salty foods is therefore one effective way to lower the risk of stone formation.
Eating too much animal protein
Red meat and organ meats increase uric acid levels and reduce citrate levels in the urine, making the urine more acidic, which contributes to stone formation. It is recommended to consume them in appropriate amounts and to eat a balanced diet covering all 5 food groups.
Foods high in oxalate
Foods that naturally contain oxalate, if eaten in large amounts together with low water intake, may increase the risk of stones in some people.
For example:
- Spinach
- Tea
- Cocoa
- Chocolate
- Almonds
However, it is not necessary to avoid all of these foods, but they should be consumed in appropriate amounts.
Not getting enough calcium from food
Many people avoid milk or dairy products because they fear they will cause stones. But in fact, dietary calcium binds to oxalate in the intestines, reducing oxalate absorption and helping to lower the risk of stone formation.
Therefore, most people who have had stones should not avoid dietary calcium, unless a doctor recommends it in specific cases.
High-dose vitamin C
Taking high-dose vitamin C, especially more than 1,000 milligrams per day continuously for a long time, may increase oxalate production in the body and increase the risk of stones in some people.
Those with a history of stones should therefore avoid taking high-dose vitamin C continuously unless there is a medical indication.
Certain diseases and medications
For example:
- Gout
- Obesity
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Chronic inflammatory bowel disease and chronic urinary tract infections
These conditions all increase the risk of stone formation. Certain medications and some types of supplements may also increase the chance of stones in some patients, so they should be used under a doctor’s guidance.
Urinary tract stones are a common condition and result from multiple factors, not just drinking too little water. Although some factors, such as genetics, cannot be changed, most factors can be prevented by adjusting lifestyle behaviors—such as drinking enough water, reducing salty foods, eating a balanced diet, and properly managing underlying conditions.
Once you understand the causes of the condition, in the next section we will get to know the symptoms of urinary tract stones, so you can recognize warning signs and know when you should see a doctor promptly.
