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Practical articles for understanding and caring for your urinary health.
Kidney stones are solid masses of mineral salts that form in the kidneys. There are different types of stones, and each is linked to various causes. The most frequent causes of stone formation are diet, obesity, and certain diseases.
Kidney stones form when there is a high concentration of minerals in the urine, leading to the formation of a solid material very similar to a stone. Kidney stones can be of different sizes and shapes. If it is very small, like a grain of sand, you may not feel it and it may pass on its own without causing pain. If the stone grows large enough, it can get stuck in the urinary system and block the flow of urine, causing several symptoms that we will discuss shortly.
Kidney stone pain is one of the conditions that can cause some of the most intense pain in the world. Between 10% and 15% of the population may suffer from it, being more common in men.
Phytate is a naturally occurring molecule found in many foods, mainly whole grains, legumes, and nuts.
https://www.devicare.com/es/calculos-renales/lit-control-ph-up.htmlTheobromine is a crystallization inhibitor and is used to prevent the formation of kidney stones. Depending on the type of stone, there are more specific inhibitors, such as theobromine, which is a specific inhibitor of uric acid crystals.
At the molecular level, kidney stones form when mineral salts suspended in urine become too concentrated and there isn't enough urine volume to dissolve them. These minerals begin to precipitate, and if there aren't enough crystallization inhibitors, they form crystal nuclei that grow and become stones.
Depending on the type, size, and location of the stone, your doctor will most likely give you some recommendations to help you pass the kidney stone spontaneously, that is, naturally without surgical intervention.