In the US, about one person in ten will develop a kidney stone within their lifetime. In 2010, kidney stones were responsible for over 600,000 emergency room visitors. The doctors with Metropolitan Urological Specialists in Washington, Florissant, and St. Louis, Missouri have some important information to keep you in the loop on your potential risks.
So why do kidney stones develop?
The crystals that develop kidney stones are produced from substances usually in the urine. These substances include calcium, oxalate, phosphate, uric acid, and other chemical compounds. Your kidneys ordinarily expel these chemicals into the urine. However, when their concentration in the urine is really high, these chemicals do not stay dissolved and instead begin to crystallize and precipitate away from the urine. There are additional compounds in the urine termed inhibitors that really help to keep the crystals from clinging together. If the concentration of crystals is too high or the relative amount of inhibitors is too low, a kidney stone will form. Lots of factors can contribute to your chance of having a kidney stone, including your familial genetic predisposition, diet, and fluid intake, where you live, as well as your work environment.
What are the different types of kidney stones?You will find different kinds of kidney stones, each with a unique chemical structure.
The majority of kidney stones contain calcium. Calcium stones are composed of calcium that's chemically bound to either oxalate (calcium oxalate stones) or phosphate (calcium phosphate stones). Of those, calcium oxalate is way more common. Pure calcium phosphate stones are the most rare and generally suggest an underlying ailment or metabolic disorder. The most common stone composition is in fact a mixture of mainly calcium oxalate with a modest amount of calcium phosphate.
About fifteen percent of kidney stones contain no calcium. These include uric acid stones, struvite stones, and cystine stones.
Just how common are kidney stones?
In America, about 1 person in ten will build up a kidney stone within their lifespan. In 2010, kidney stones were the reason for more than 600,000 emergency room trips. We know that men are more apt to have kidney stones than women. Caucasians are 5 times more prone to have kidney stones than African-Americans. Stone incidence peaks between 40 and 50 years of age and has a tendency to decline.
What exactly are my probability of recurrence?
Kidney stones often recur. If a male has had one kidney stone, and does nothing to reduce his danger of recurrence, research has revealed he has about a sixty percent to seventy percent chance of having another. If a man has had 2 kidney stones, the prospects of recurrence reach over 90 percent. The odds of recurrence are slightly lower for women.
There are actions you can take to tremendously lessen your risk of recurrence. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the experts at Metropolitan Urological Specialists. They have offices in St. Louis, Washington, and Florissant, MO.
