When do kidney stones form?

Kidney stones, or renal calculi, form when there is a large concentration of crystals in the urine. In most cases, this happens when a person does not drink enough water, causing the urine to be too concentrated, explains Rafael Bagosti, nephrologist at NefroStar Brasília.

Eating foods high in salt and protein is an important factor. Bacteria overgrowth in the urinary tract can also lead to the formation of some types of kidney stones, especially coral-shaped stones, which are produced when there is an increase in ammonia production by the body and an increase in urine pH.
Rafael Bagusti, Nephrologist

The best prevention in this case is to drink plenty of fluids.“The best treatment is to keep the urine diluted,” says Anwar Ibrahim Mitri, a urologist at the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital. “To do that, we need to drink a lot of fluids.”

Ideally, anyone with urinary tract stones should drink 2 to 3 litres a day, preferably throughout the day, as there is no point in eating everything, for example, at lunchtime and then skipping it for the rest of the day. Because the urine will be concentrated and stones will always form when the urine is high in density.
Anwar Ibrahim Mitri

Mitri gives a tip: Every time you go to the bathroom, drink a glass of water. “So, one thing leads to another. And at night, I recommend taking it before going to bed and leaving a glass of water at the head of the bed, and if you wake up during the night, drink another glass of water. That way, your urine is always clear.”