Kidney Stones

What Causes Kidney Stones?

To successfully treat and prevent recurrence of kidney stones we need to understand and — if possible — remove the underlying causes and risk factors.  We need to ask: "What else is going on inside the body that might allow kidney stones to develop?"

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Accurate diagnosis of the factors behind kidney stones consists of three steps:

Step 1: List the Possible Causative Factors

Identify all disease conditions, lifestyle choices and environmental risk factors that can lead to kidney stones.  Here are five possibilities:
  • Potassium Need
  • Excess Protein Consumption
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Hyperparathyroidism
  • Ulcerative Colitis

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

Identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:
past vaccinations
somewhat elevated basophil count
chronic diarrhea
significant right iliac pain
meal-related bloating
significant red blood in stools
frequent unexplained nausea
omnivorous diet
frequent unexplained fevers
elevated ESR
severe vision disturbances
flatulence
... and more than 40 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of kidney stones:
Cause Probability Status
Ulcerative Colitis 91% Confirm
Sarcoidosis 19% Unlikely
Potassium Need 5% Ruled out
Hyperparathyroidism 2% Ruled out
Excess Protein Consumption 2% Ruled out
* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

In the Urinary Symptoms section of the questionnaire, The Analyst™ will ask the following question about kidney stones:
Have you suffered from kidney stones?
Possible responses:
→ Never had one / don't know
→ Probably had one/minor episode(s) now resolved
→ Major episode(s) now resolved
→ Current minor problem
→ Current major problem
Based on your response to this question, which may indicate either history of kidney stones or kidney stones, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:
Excess Protein Consumption

High protein intakes may lead to loss of calcium, leading in turn to the development of kidney stones.

Hyperparathyroidism

Increased calcium and phosphorous excretion in the urine may cause kidney stones.

Sarcoidosis

Kidney stone formation can be a sign.

Ulcerative Colitis

When the immune system triggers inflammation in other parts of the body because of ulcerative colitis, kidney stones may result.  This influence is usually mild and stones may not be a problem once the colitis is treated.

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