Kidney stones are no joke! Every year over half a million people seek emergency medical attention due to kidney stones. They can lead to extreme pain when it causes blockage. Some stones have even been found to be as large as a golf ball. Kidney stones also raise your risk of developing other kidney diseases, and if you've had one kidney stone, there’s a 50% chance of developing another one. Although these stones can cause a lot of pain, they don't usually cause damage in most cases. Nevertheless, with regular testing and comprehensive care, you can figure out the root causes of your patient’s kidney stones to help prevent the risk of developing them and other kidney diseases.

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What Are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are made up of substances such as minerals and salts that get concentrated in the urine and form hard objects, also called crystals. Urolithiasis is a kidney condition where kidney stones occur within the urinary tract. There are four main forms of kidney stones. The most typical type is made of calcium, which is a normal part of a healthy diet. Our kidneys usually get rid of extra calcium that our bodies don't need. But some people with kidney stones hold onto too much calcium. This excess calcium joins with oxalates consumed from high-oxalate foods such as potatoes, peanuts, coffee, spinach, and chocolate and forms a stone. The most common type of kidney stone is called calcium oxalate.

Other types of stones are less common. Some come from infections and have magnesium and ammonia. These are called struvite stones. Others form from crystals called monosodium urate, known as uric acid stones. These could be connected to obesity and what we eat. The rarest kind is a cystine stone, which runs in families.

Looking closely at these stones can help us determine why they form and how to lower the chance of developing more stones.

What Causes Kidney Stones? 

Kidney stones form when urine gets concentrated due to various factors. This urine concentration happens when there's not enough water to dilute substances like calcium, oxalate, and uric acid, which can then stick together to create crystals. Also, the urine might lack elements that generally prevent these crystals from joining.

Not drinking enough water, dehydration from issues like diarrhea or vomiting, and specific diets that encourage crystal formation increase the risk of stones. High-salt, high-sugar diets contribute too. On the flip side, insufficient substances like citrate, fiber, and alkaline foods that help counteract crystal concentration also raise the risk.

A history of kidney stones in the family or personally makes it more likely to develop them. Certain medical conditions can affect the substances involved. Disorders like hypercalciuria and hyperparathyroidism alter calcium levels, while gout and diabetes heighten uric acid levels, leading to specific stone types.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and chronic diarrhea raise the chances of stones due to factors like inflammation, poor nutrient absorption, and imbalanced gut bacteria. Stress, being overweight, and other health conditions, such as hypertension or hypothyroidism, can also increase stone risk by affecting gut bacteria, inflammation, and waste elimination.

Some medications like diuretics, excessive laxative use or vitamin C supplements, certain antacids, and antibiotics can also lead to kidney stone development.

Kidney Stone Symptoms

Once kidney stones form, they can either stay in the area or travel down the urinary tract through a tube called the ureter. Small stones might leave the body in the urine without much pain, but larger ones or those that get stuck can block the urine flow, causing swelling, spasms, and pain in the kidney, ureter, bladder, or urethra. The pain from kidney stones is often intense and sharp, felt in the back below the ribs. It might spread to the lower abdomen and groin, coming in waves and changing in strength due to spasms. The pain can also shift as the stone moves through the urinary tract, and there might be a burning sensation or discomfort while urinating.

Common symptoms of kidney stones include:

• Strong, cramp-like pain in the lower back (renal colic)
• Urine that is pink, brown, or red due to blood
• More frequent urination or smaller amounts of urine
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever and chills
• Foul-smelling or cloudy urine

What Are The Benefits of Regular Lab Testing For Patients Who Suffer From Kidney Stones?

Regular lab testing is crucial for patients who suffer from kidney stones because this condition is typically preventable, and there is a high risk of recurring kidney stones. Despite that, regular testing can help assess the underlying factors that cause this health issue so personalized modifications can be accomplished to reduce the risk of development and prevent a recurrence. Treatment strategies can be tailored based on the specific results of the lab tests, and appropriate adjustments can be made after retesting to assess the effectiveness of those treatments.

Top Labs To Run Bi-Annually On Patients Who Suffer From Kidney Stones

Functional labs are a powerful tool to analyze the contributing risk factors involved with the development of kidney stones. Here are the top labs typically used by clinicians:

Micronutrient Panel

As mentioned in the causes section, kidney stones can occur from issues with nutrient absorption or excess minerals and nutrients such as calcium and vitamin C. Therefore, a micronutrient panel can be used to measure the various levels of these nutrients to determine if any imbalances can be contributing to kidney stones. Those imbalances can be addressed through targeted supplementation or nutritional plans to help prevent the development or recurrence of kidney stones. The micronutrient panel measures vitamin, mineral, antioxidants, and other nutrient levels by a serum sample. Retesting can evaluate the effectiveness of treatments.

Phosphorus, Uric Acid, and Parathyroid Hormone Analysis

Blood tests help check for different biochemical problems and levels of various substances associated with kidney stone development. High uric acid and calcium levels raise the chance of kidney stones. Changes in phosphorus balance can also play a role in calcium kidney stones. Practitioners can measure uric acid, phosphorus, and calcium in a patient’s blood to see if they're in balance. They can also look at the parathyroid hormone, which affects calcium and phosphorus levels. These tests should be completed bi-annually to assess the risk of recurrence so preventive measures and proper modifications can be made.

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel

The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) is a blood test used to check your metabolism and how well your kidneys and liver function. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) measures urea nitrogen levels, showing how effectively your kidneys remove waste. Creatinine and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) show how well your kidneys function. A CMP can also provide information on hydration status by looking at electrolyte balances. This test should be run regularly for people prone to developing kidney stones.

Gut Zoomer

An imbalance in the gut bacteria can reduce the breakdown and removal of uric acid and oxalates, raising the chance of developing kidney stones. The Gut Zoomer stool test examines the microbes in your digestive system to check for any of these imbalances balances, which can be indicated in gut conditions such as IBD that can also lead to stones. Using this test can help practitioners create an individualized plan to help balance any underlying causes due to disruptions in the microbiome, and retesting should be completed to help monitor improvements.

Thyroid Panel

It's important to evaluate thyroid health to understand thyroid-related issues that can potentially lead to uric acid buildup. The comprehensive thyroid panel includes thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free and total T3, free and total T4, and reverse T3. Imbalances in thyroid hormones can contribute to increased uric acid levels in the blood, thus leading to kidney stones. Regular thyroid testing should be completed by people with a history of thyroid issues or kidney stones to ensure optimal thyroid levels, which will help to prevent the risk of stone development.

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Additional Labs to Check 

A kidney ultrasound can check the size, location, and if a kidney stone is blocking the urinary tract. Other testing options include abdominal X-rays, intravenous pyelogram (IVP), retrograde pyelogram, MRI scan of the abdomen and kidneys, or an abdominal CT scan.

Analyzing stones that you pass can help identify their specific type and composition. To determine the cause, practitioners may test the stone once it's out of the body and analyze the patient’s blood for calcium, phosphorus, and uric acid. Collecting urine over 24 hours might also be requested to test for calcium and uric acid. This analysis helps guide treatment and prevent future stones.

Summary

Kidney stones can be very painful, and it's estimated that one in every ten people will have a kidney stone at some point. They can range in size. The larger the stone, the more noticeable the pain and symptoms. With proper care and testing, kidney stones can be prevented, and health modifications can be utilized based on the test results. Functional medicine testing can help provide guidance on the appropriate treatment option to manage this condition effectively.