Kidney stones are generally caused by a combination of events, with several of them increasing the risk. Kidney stones form when there is a high concentration of crystal-forming chemicals, such as calcium, oxalate, and uric acid in the urine. This results in a shortage of chemicals in the urine that prevents crystals from sticking together, allowing kidney stones to develop.

The most prominent reasons for kidney stones are drinking little water, obesity, lack of exercise, weight loss surgery, and a high-salt or sugar diet. Infection and family history may play a role in some individuals.

Kidney stones can be treated by meeting with any nephrologist (kidney stone specialist or kidney stone doctor). The best hospital for kidney stones in any city in India also provides better facilities related to kidney stones.

In severe cases, kidney stones may cause kidney failure. If the size of the stone is big, it could get lodged in the urinary tract. This might obstruct urine flow, cause excruciating pain, and harm the kidneys permanently. Further, kidney stones can raise the risk of infection, which can transmit bacteria into the bloodstream.

If you have a kidney stone, avoid fruits high in oxalates, such as guava, beetroot, and sweet potatoes. These foods should be consumed only after consulting a nephrologist (kidney stone doctor or kidney stone specialist).

Lithotripsy is one of the best treatments for kidney stones. This technique involves delivering focused ultrasonic energy or shock waves directly to the stone after it has been identified via fluoroscopy (a form of X-ray "movie") or ultrasound (high-frequency sound waves). This breaks the stone into smaller pieces that travel through the urinary system and get eliminated upon urination.

Within three months of treatment, 70 to 90% of patients who undergo this treatment are found to be stone-free.

Surgical treatment is normally advised for kidney stones bigger than 0.5 cm in diameter, as well as those who have failed to respond to conservative treatment.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is the most popular medical therapy for treating kidney stones (ESWL). A kidney stone is broken into small fragments using high-energy shock waves in this procedure. The little bits can then travel more readily through the urinary tract.