Calcium oxalate can cause kidney stones, which can be treated with medication or surgery. Imbalances in blood and urine chemistry can cause the formation of stones, which can be prevented with a balanced diet and filtering water. Early detection is important to avoid blockages and emergency treatment.
Calcium oxalate is a chemical compound often responsible for kidney stones, small clumps of minerals that can appear anywhere in the urinary tract. Stones can create a blockage, making it difficult and painful to urinate. Treatment for kidney stones may include giving medications to make them easier to pass or surgery to remove the stones if they are too large for the patient to pass safely. There are also some preventative measures that people can take.
Kidney stones, including calcium oxalate crystals, form when there are imbalances in a patient’s blood and urine chemistry. In healthy people, minerals that people absorb through food and drink make their way into the kidneys, and the body can safely excrete them. The kidneys try to maintain a chemical balance to inhibit stone formation. When people have unbalanced diets or health problems, calcium oxalate crystals can start to build up. As they grow, the crystals provide a matrix upon which other materials can grow, leading to a small mass.
In people with small calcium oxalate stones, it may be possible to see them in a urine sample. Having high levels of calcium oxalate or very small crystals in your urine is a sign of a problem. The doctor may run some tests and conduct an interview with the patient to find out why the stones are forming. Treatments may include dietary and medication recommendations. Sometimes, patients have to start filtering their water to avoid highly mineralized water.
If a doctor doesn’t catch the stones early, the patient may experience the growth of larger stones that create blockages in the urinary tract. This can cause severe pain, abdominal swelling, difficulty urinating, and bloody or cloudy urine. Patients may need emergency treatment to address the problem. Medical imaging studies can reveal stones in the urinary tract, and your doctor may perform a cystoscopy to look directly into your bladder and determine if it’s possible to remove stones that way before recommending more invasive surgical procedures.
People concerned about calcium oxalate crystal formation should make sure they are eating a balanced diet with plenty of calcium. While it may seem counterproductive to consume more calcium to prevent stone formation, research suggests that low calcium is what contributes to oxalate buildup in the kidneys. In people with a family history of stones, it may be helpful to meet with a doctor to discuss other preventative measures.
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