With a fast-paced lifestyle today, many young adults are leading busy lives of irregular meals and high-stress schedules. Most of us tend to have the misconception that serious health problems are normally associated with old age, but that’s not the case anymore, as there are many health issues now affecting younger people. One of those unexpected and painful conditions is a kidney stone. These tiny, solid mineral formations can be intensely painful and may disrupt everyday activities with symptoms such as back pain, nausea, and the frequent urge to urinate.
Kidney stones are largely associated with older people, but doctors are reporting they are now seeing them in younger adults in their 20s and 30s. This shift raises a question: Why are young adults getting kidney stones all of a sudden? The answer is bad food choices, dehydration, and too much eating processed food.
That is why it is important to understand what are the causes of kidney stones in young adults. What is the reason behind it? Let’s find out in this blog.
What Are the Causes of Kidney Stones in Young Adults?
Not Drinking Enough Water
Fluids help to clear out waste and minerals from the body. If you’re not drinking enough water, that urine starts to look dark and concentrated. This can allow substances such as calcium, oxalate, or uric acid to stick together and crystallize into stones.
Unhealthy Diet
The food you eat every day has a massive impact on the overall health of your kidneys. Like eating excessive sugar, junk food, and processed food, these all have a high impact on your body, including your kidneys.
Too Many Soft Drinks and Energy Drinks
Fizzy drinks, energy drinks, and pre-packaged juices, for instance, are high in sugar and phosphoric acid, which directly affects the body’s mineral absorption. These beverages also decrease a person’s body’s natural capacity to get rid of waste through the kidneys. They cause elevation of calcium and oxalate in the urine, promoting stone production.
Overeating Animal Protein
Meat, eggs, and seafood are high in animal protein. Eating too much of these can. Rise of uric acid, which results in uric acid stones.
Lack of Physical Activity
When a person sits for too long without moving, the whole system in the body is adversely affected, including the kidneys. The body starts to release calcium from bones to enter the bloodstream and leave the body in urine when you’re immobilized. This excess calcium can deposit in the kidneys and create kidney stones in young adults.
Obesity and Weight Problems
Being overweight increases the probability of kidney stones for several reasons. It has the power to acidify urine, which is a good condition for stone formation. Obesity is also associated with other health problems, including diabetes and high blood pressure, that can do additional harm to the kidneys.
Family History and Genetics
If someone in your family, meaning your parents or siblings, has suffered from kidney stones, you’re more likely to develop them as well. Some people naturally produce higher levels of the substances that form stones because of their genes. They might take in too much calcium from food or lose too much water through sweat or urine.
Underlying Medical Conditions
Some medical conditions make people more likely to develop stones, such as UTIs, inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic conditions, and hyperparathyroidism. Additionally, if you have undergone any gastrointestinal surgeries or have them, it may also elevate your risk of developing kidney stones.
Medications and Supplements
Use of certain medications or vitamin supplements in excess has the potential to increase the risk of stone formation. Over-the-counter calcium supplements may cause high calcium in the urine. High doses of vitamin D and some antibiotics and drugs that treat migraines or seizures can also cause kidney stones.
Stress and Ignoring Health
Bad eating habits and less water can lead to stress and poor mental health, disturbed sleep, or the effects of medication, and affect kidney function.
Consult Dr. Madhav Mayank Sharma for kidney stone treatment.
Dr. Madhav Mayank Sharma is one of the best laparoscopic surgeons in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, who owns Kidney Stone Hospital in Bharatpur. He provides advanced hemorrhoidectomy & proctology treatments on par with international standards purely by laser application. He ensures that you get expert care and effective treatment plans according to your needs.
Final thoughts
By understanding the causes of kidney stones in young adults, you can take proper steps to reduce the risk. If you notice any of the signs of kidney stones, then make an appointment with your healthcare provider before it affects your overall health.
