Kidney Stone Research Paper

Kidney stones are hard crystal like objects that are formed from substances in the urine. Urine contains substances that can both form and prevent formation of stones. Usually these substances balance each other out, but when there are more minerals than the liquid can dilute, crystals begin to form. The crystals bond together with other minerals to form a solid mass that will continue to get larger unless passed out of the body with the urine.
Cause, treatment and the prevention of reoccurrence depends on what type of stone is formed. Stones come in a variety of sizes, shapes and color but there are four main types. The calcium stone is the most common and is formed when calcium that remains in the kidney collects over time and combines with oxalate in the urine. The struvite stone is more common in women than men and is made of ammonia. It usually forms after a chronic urinary tract infection and can become quite large, sometimes with little warning. Another common type of stone is the uric acid stone, which forms when urine is too acidic. Not so common is the cystine stone, which forms when cystine leaks from the kidney into the urine. This can occur in both men and women who have the genetic disorder …show more content…
Generally, the larger the stone, the more noticeable the symptoms. If the stone is small enough, it will pass on its own through the urine. If it is too big or is causing an infection, a doctor may need to break up the stone into smaller pieces using a special machine. When all else fails, surgery is also an option. A couple things that may lower the risk of reoccurrence is drinking the right amount of fluids and limiting intake of salt and meat. Kidney stones are not usually life threatening, but they do increase the risk of infection, can reduce kidney function and even cause permanent kidney