What causes a kidney stone to devlop, and how can it be prevented?

Water, water, water: Kidney stones may occur for a number for a number of different reasons. The most common is not drinking enough water. There are other reasons including diet as well as inherited disorders. If you have a history of kidney stones, your urologist should order the appropriate tests to determine the type of stones you have as well as their cause(s).

Dehydration number 1: The biggest risk for most people is dehydration. You should consume enough liquids to produce about 2.5 liters each 24 hours. This decreases the risk of future stones about 90%. There can be other metabolic factors though that can increase your risk of future stones. Typically, a 24 hour urine collection can be very helpful in identifying risk factors.