Stress and Kidney Stones

Can Stress Cause Kidney Stones?

Between a pandemic stricken world and upcoming post-pandemic environment, as well as the general events of life, we have probably all experienced stress at some point of our lives. Stress in moderate levels is a normal experience for most, however, excess stress is a key contributor to kidney damage. Stress when combined with chronic dehydration in particular,  can trigger kidney stone formation. This is because stress causes high blood pressure and high blood glucose. This imbalance affects the homeostatic equilibrium within the body. This can lead to  the narrowing of the blood vessels and subsequent damage in the renal blood vessels. 

What are kidney stones? 

Kidney stones or renal calculi are hard solid masses made of crystals that originate in the  kidneys and develop along the urinary tract comprising the ureters, bladder and the urethra. A  small kidney stone may pass easily through the urinary tract, however, larger stone may obstruct the urinary tract, leading to pain, discomfort and other complications. The types of kidney stones are identified primarily on the basis of the materials that constitute them. These include: 

  • Calcium Stones: Most common type of kidney stones, made up of calcium deposits,  including calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate deposits.  
  • Uric Acid Stones: Caused in cases of highly acidic urine environments, usually affecting  individuals with a protein-rich diet. 
  • Struvite Stones: Comprise magnesium ammonium phosphate, associated with urinary tract infections. 
  • Cystine Stones: Caused due to cystinuria, marked with high values of amino acid cystine in the urine, leading to dysregulation of urinary function.  
  • Kidney stones left untreated can lead to haematuria (bloody-urine), severe pain, discomfort,  urinary tract infections, kidney infections, loss of kidney function and potential kidney damage.  

What is Stress? 

Stress is a normal bodily reaction to changes in physical, physiological, intellectual and emotional stimuli. It assists the body in adjusting to the new situation. 

The autonomic nervous system regulates the ‘fight-or-flight response’. It leads to the  manifestations of physical symptoms including aches, pains, chest pain, fatigue, headaches,  dizziness, muscles tension, digestive problems, urinary issues, weak immune system and more.  

It has three primary forms namely:  

  • Major life event: Involve stressors that require for sharp behavioural changes over a  comparatively shorter period of time, for example, stress induced by: death of a loved  one, divorce, loss of a job.
  • Chronic strains: Involve stress inducers that are continuously present over an elongated  period of time , for example: chronic disabilities, poverty.
  • Daily hassles: Comprise stressors regarded generally as a minor nuisance can potentially cause physiological i.e. bodily, psychological and behavioural responses, over the course of a day. These might seem insignificant, however have an impact due to alterations in the regulatory processes of the body, for example: interactions with people, traffic.  

What is the association between stress and kidney stones? 

The simplest answer is that stress can indirectly cause kidney stones. 

Kidney stones are predominantly caused by dehydration and subsequent concentration of the  urine. This is a potential consequence of a series of problems where stress causes poor  nutrition, increase in a sedentary lifestyle, alteration in quality and quantity of sleep, increased  caffeine intake and possible weight gain. So in short, stress initiates a series of consequences to unhealthy behavioural habits culminating in the development of kidney stones. 

Studies assessing the association between stress and physiological function indicate that the  heart rate and subsequent blood pressure increase in stress. This alters the sympathetic and  autonomic nervous system activity, employing the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands. This affects regulatory functions and mechanisms that regulate sodium and water retention. This  contributes to the deterioration of kidney function. This is linked to a hypothesised  development of chemical component build up. These build ups are markers of disease activity and impaired kidney function and are referred to as kidney stones.  

What causes kidney stones?

1. Diet 

Kidney stones are build-up of chemical components. These can predominantly be  formed from our dietary intake in the form a variety of foods, mainly including:

  • Oxalate-rich foods: Oxalate is found in healthy amounts in many food groups such as fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, tea and chocolate.  However some foods have high levels of oxalate in particular including peanut, rhubarb, spinach, beetroots, and sweet potatoes. This food should be limited by individuals who form calcium oxalate stones.  
  • Purine-rich foods: These include red meats, organ meats and shellfish. They contain a high level of amino acid purine. High purine content can potentially lead to  increased uric acid production, inducing kidney stone formation. 
  • Alcohol: It can cause blood sugar imbalances, affecting homeostatic function and    increasing the pressure on the kidneys for excretion. Alcohol can also increase uric acid levels.  

2. Gut problems

Chronic inflammatory diseases such as Irritable bowel disease, Crohn’s disease and  Ulcerative colitis have the potential to contribute to impaired renal function and health,  as well as inducing kidney stone formation cascades. This can be attributed to the  common axis shared by the gut, kidney and liver. The small intestine may manifest dysfunction in the form of malabsorption of nutrients. As a result the small intestine can potentially bind to calcium components thereby creating oxalates that can accumulate in the kidneys in the form of kidney stones.  

3. Obesity 

Obesity can be associated with the formation of uric acid stones and calcium oxalate  stones. This is linked to a low urine volume, low pH values in the urine and  hyperuricosuria (high uric acid excretion).  

4. Other medical conditions 

Medical conditions such as gout, type 2 diabetes, renal tubular acidosis and  hyperparathyroidism can increase the risk of kidney stone formation.  

How to prevent kidney stones?

It is vital to avoid dehydration, as chronic dehydration is a primary cofactor in the pathogenesis of kidney stone formation. Additionally, limiting protein intake from beef, chicken, eggs, dairy  products and sodium-rich foods, can be beneficial in preventing kidney stones. Replacing  animal protein with vegetable protein sources can also help. To summarise, increasing fluid intake, ingesting the right amount of calcium, reducing sodium intakes, limiting animal protein sources and avoiding food increasing the risk of stone formation can help prevent kidney stones.  

Stress and health management 

Stress is a regular part of life. It can be caused by a variety of reasons. If you continue to feel  stress for a long period of time, it is advisable to discuss this with your GP or a counsellor in order to understand the underlying cause and develop treatment plans and therapies such as  cognitive behavioural therapy and biofeedback techniques, in order to reduce stress and  promote general well being.  

FAQs 

Can stress cause urine crystals 

Stress can indirectly, through a cascade of regulatory actions, cause kidney stones. Urine  crystals are caused by a build-up of excessive minerals in the urine. 

What is the major cause of kidney stones 

Kidney stones are caused by a variety of reasons including lack of hydration, excess or  lack of exercise, alterations in dietary intake of minerals and chemical components,  infections, family history and other diseases such as gout, obesity, chronic kidney disease and more.

This content is purely informational and isn’t medical guidance. It shouldn’t replace professional medical counsel. Always consult your physician regarding treatment risks and benefits. See our editorial standards for more details.

Get our health newsletter

Get daily health and wellness advice from our medical team.
Your privacy is important to us. Any information you provide to this website may be placed by us on our servers. If you do not agree do not provide the information.

My Klarity Team

This article has been written by one of our medical experts.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

my.klarity.health presents all health information in line with our terms and conditions. It is essential to understand that the medical information available on our platform is not intended to substitute the relationship between a patient and their physician or doctor, as well as any medical guidance they offer. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making any decisions based on the information found on our website.
Klarity is a citizen-centric health data management platform that enables citizens to securely access, control and share their own health data. Klarity Health Library aims to provide clear and evidence-based health and wellness related informative articles. 
Email:
Klarity / Managed Self Ltd
Alum House
5 Alum Chine Road
Westbourne Bournemouth BH4 8DT
VAT Number: 362 5758 74
Company Number: 10696687

Phone Number:

 +44 20 3239 9818