Who’s most likely to get kidney stones? What are the risk factors?

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Who’s most likely to get kidney stones? What are the risk factors?

White men in their 30s and 40s are most likely to get kidney stones. However, anyone can develop kidney stones.

There are several risk factors for developing kidney stones. These include:

  • Not drinking enough liquids.
  • Having a diet that includes the substances that form the stones (phosphate, for example, is in meat, fish, beans and other protein-rich foods).
  • Having a family history of kidney stones.
  • Having a blockage in your urinary tract.

Certain medical conditions can also increase your risk of developing stones. This is because they may increase or decrease levels of the substances that make up a kidney stone. These conditions can include:

  • Hypercalciuria (high calcium levels in your urine).
  • High blood pressure.
  • Diabetes.
  • Obesity.
  • Osteoporosis.
  • Gout and cystic fibrosis.
  • Kidney cysts.
  • Parathyroid disease.
  • Inflammatory bowel disease and chronic diarrhea.
  • Some surgical procedures, including weight loss surgery or other stomach or intestine surgeries.

Some medications can increase your risk of developing a stone. These medications include:

  • Diuretics (water pills).
  • Calcium-based antacids (used to treat osteoporosis).
  • Crixivan® (used to treat HIV infections).
  • Topamax® and Dilantin® (used to treat seizures).
  • Cipro® (ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic).
  • Ceftriaxone (an antibiotic).

Certain foods can also place you at risk of a kidney stone. These foods include:

  • Meats and poultry (animal proteins).
  • Sodium (diets high in salt).
  • Sugars (fructose, sucrose and corn syrup).

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