question: What are kidney stones and is there any valid reason for the body to create them?
comment: Take a spoon of salt and put it in a glass. The salt is in a crystal form. Then pour water in it. The salt dissolves into the liquid. Then let the water sit in the sun and evaporate. The water leaves and the salt turns back into crystal form. Kidney stones work the same way. But instead of sodium and chloride, they are made out of other salts and minerals that crystalize, such as calcium. Your kidneys are the part of your body that remove excess salts and minerals from your blood (among other things) and make urine. These salts and minerals are fine when dissolved in a lot of water, but if there isn't enough fluid, they clump together and form kidney stones. The valid reason for your body to expel these crystalizing substances is that your body has too much of them in the blood and needs to get rid of them ASAP in order to damage to other parts of your body. But you also need to retain water. So your kidney stones send out concentrated amounts of crystallizing substances and they form kidney stones. There are a few other reasons why kidney stones form. Sometimes there's urinary tract infection and the bacteria help stones form. And there are lots of reasons why you blood might have too much of a crystal forming substance (e.g., you are missing an important enzyme from birth, you are eating too much protein, etc.)
passages: "Renal calculus" is from the Latin "rēnēs" meaning "kidneys," and "calculus" meaning "pebble". Lithiasis (stone formation) in the kidneys is called nephrolithiasis (), from "nephro-" meaning kidney + "-lith" meaning stone and "-iasis" meaning disorder.
  
  Section::::Research directions.
   Struvite stones (triple-phosphate/magnesium ammonium phosphate) have a 'coffin lid' morphology by microscopy.
  
  Section::::Diagnosis.:Composition.:Uric acid stones.
   Section::::Treatment.:Lithotripsy.
   There are a number of documented cases of historical figures and distinguished members of society who were kidney stone formers. This condition is caused by nephrolithiasis, which are more commonly known as kidney stones, or urolithiasis, where the stone forms in the urinary system. These are crystal deposits that can accrete in the urinary system when certain chemical substances become concentrated in the urine. Among the symptoms associated with nephrolithiasis are intense colicky pain, nausea, fever, chills, and the reduction or blockage of urine flow. Historically, the condition of having a kidney or bladder stone was referred to as "the stone" or "the gravel".
   Section::::Diagnosis.:Location.
  
  Urolithiasis refers to stones originating anywhere in the urinary system, including the kidneys and bladder. Nephrolithiasis refers to the presence of such stones in the kidneys. Calyceal calculi are aggregations in either the minor or major calyx, parts of the kidney that pass urine into the ureter (the tube connecting the kidneys to the urinary bladder). The condition is called ureterolithiasis when a calculus is located in the ureter. Stones may also form or pass into the bladder, a condition referred to as bladder stones.
  
  Section::::Diagnosis.:Size.
   By far, the most common type of kidney stones worldwide contains calcium. For example, calcium-containing stones represent about 80% of all cases in the United States; these typically contain calcium oxalate either alone or in combination with calcium phosphate in the form of apatite or brushite. Factors that promote the precipitation of oxalate crystals in the urine, such as primary hyperoxaluria, are associated with the development of calcium oxalate stones. The formation of calcium phosphate stones is associated with conditions such as hyperparathyroidism and renal tubular acidosis.
   Section::::Treatment.
   Section::::Treatment.:Surgery.
   Calcium is one component of the most common type of human kidney stones, calcium oxalate. Some studies suggest that people who take calcium or vitamin D as a dietary supplement have a higher risk of developing kidney stones. In the United States, kidney stone formation was used as an indicator of excess calcium intake by the Reference Daily Intake committee for calcium in adults.
   BULLET::::- The CIA believes that terrorist Osama bin Laden may have had kidney stones, an enlarged heart, low blood pressure and two missing toes.
  
  BULLET::::- Between 2001 and 2006, 14 American astronauts developed kidney stones during space missions. During long-duration space flights, astronauts are at higher risk for kidney stones because of an increase in the amount of calcium in their blood. This is caused by a loss of bone density in zero gravity.
  
  BULLET::::- In January 2014, Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon.com suffered a kidney stone.
   BULLET::::- In the final years of his life, Benjamin Franklin is known to have used laudanum, an alcoholic herbal preparation of opium, to alleviate the pain of recurrent kidney stones.
  
  BULLET::::- The eminent Italian anatomist and surgeon Antonio Scarpa suffered severely from a stone for several years. This caused a bladder inflammation which led to his demise in 1832.
  
  Section::::Sports figures.
  
  BULLET::::- Nearing the end of his life, in 1985 the father of competitive weightlifting, Bob Hoffman, suffered from a number of physical ailments, including kidney stones.
   BULLET::::- In 1954, when Billy Graham was preparing to preach at Berlin's Olympic Stadium, he began to suffer pain from a kidney stone. Wondering whether the Devil might be mounting a vengeful attack against him, he chose to continue the public service without painkillers, rather than appearing groggy or undergoing hospitalization.
   BULLET::::- In September 2017, Linux creator Linus Torvalds passed a kidney stone over an interval he described as "seven hours of pure agony".
  
  Section::::Others.:Fictional.
  
  Fictional incidents of kidney stones have been portrayed in the media on several occasions.
  
  BULLET::::- In season one, episode 11 of "Modern Family", Phil Dunphy (Ty Burrell) is seen writhing on the bed because of a kidney stone, and Claire has to drive him to the hospital.
  
  BULLET::::- In season five, episode 11 of "Reba" entitled "Brock's Got Stones", Brock Hart has Kidney Stones, and passes them on his own.
   BULLET::::- Former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert, has had a number of kidney stones, necessitating kidney stone removal surgery. Senator John McCain has had four small kidney stones and he takes the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide to prevent their formation. Other congress members who have experienced kidney stones include Representatives Tom Price and Mike Simpson, and Senator Ted Kennedy.
  
  BULLET::::- Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove under U.S. President George W. Bush was hospitalized in September 2005 due to kidney stones.
   Section::::Treatment.:Surgery.:Ureteroscopic surgery.
   BULLET::::- New York Giants football coach Bill Parcells underwent medical treatment for a kidney stone in 1990. Against his doctor's advice, Bill Parcels attempted to coach the next game against the Minnesota Vikings, but a reporter noted he "appeared drawn and in pain".
  
  BULLET::::- During a 1996 attempt to cross Antarctica, explorer and endurance record holder Sir Ranulph Fiennes was forced to turn back because of kidney stones. He lists it as his most painful experience.
   Kidney stones are more common in people with Crohn's disease; Crohn's disease is associated with hyperoxaluria and malabsorption of magnesium.
  
  A person with recurrent kidney stones may be screened for such disorders. This is typically done with a 24-hour urine collection. The urine is analyzed for features that promote stone formation.
  
  Section::::Risk factors.:Calcium oxalate.
   BULLET::::- The Soap Lady, a mysterious mummified female on exhibit at the Mütter Museum, may have suffered from a kidney stone or gallstone.
  
  BULLET::::- Dutch blacksmith Jan de Doot is remembered for having his portrait painted with the "four ounce palpable stone" that he supposedly removed from his perineum using a kitchen knife in 1651.
  
  BULLET::::- In 1981, Bart Giamatti, the President of Yale University and future Commissioner of Baseball, had a kidney stone removed.
  
  BULLET::::- Socialite Lydia Hearst-Shaw, granddaughter of William Randolph Hearst, suffers from kidney stones.
   BULLET::::- Among his many medical maladies, in 1964 composer Cole Porter was hospitalized for the removal of kidney stones. He died two days later, most likely bronchopneumonia in his chest. He was also found to have chronic nephrosclerosis, or degeneration of the kidneys.
  
  BULLET::::- Opera singer Birgit Nilsson painfully passed a kidney stone following a concert in Göteborg, Sweden.
  
  BULLET::::- Tony-award winning composer Charles Strouse became infected as a result of a kidney stone. He recovered after treatment with antibiotics and the removal of the stone.
   The most common renal stone is calcium oxalate and is usually caused by treatable metabolic disorders of hypercalcuria (increased calcium levels in the urine). These stones cause pain with passage and blockage and have been known to recur.
  
  Uric acid stones have similar characteristics as the calcium oxalate stones, but occur much more rarely (approximately 5% of all renal stones). Since they are translucent, they cannot be seen by radiographs.
   Section::::Diagnosis.:Classification.
  
  Urinary stones may be composed of the following substances:
  
  BULLET::::- Calcium oxalate monohydrate (whewellite)
  
  BULLET::::- Calcium oxalate dihydrate (weddellite)
  
  BULLET::::- Calcium phosphate
  
  BULLET::::- Magnesium phosphate
  
  BULLET::::- Ammonium phosphate
  
  BULLET::::- Ammonium magnesium phosphate (struvite)
  
  BULLET::::- Calcium hydroxyphosphate (apatite)
  
  BULLET::::- Uric acid and its salts (urates)
  
  BULLET::::- Cystine
  
  BULLET::::- Xanthine
  
  BULLET::::- Indigotin (rare)
  
  BULLET::::- Urostealith (rare)
  
  BULLET::::- Sulfonamide (rare)
  
  Section::::Diagnosis.:Jackstone calculus.
   Famous people who were kidney stone formers include Napoleon I, Epicurus, Napoleon III, Peter the Great, Louis XIV, George IV, Oliver Cromwell, Lyndon B. Johnson, Benjamin Franklin, Michel de Montaigne, Francis Bacon, Isaac Newton, Samuel Pepys, William Harvey, Herman Boerhaave, and Antonio Scarpa.
   BULLET::::- Chart singer Peter Andre was forced to postpone two shows at Plymouth Pavilions in 2010 because of a kidney stone.
  
  BULLET::::- Other artists and musicians who have suffered from a kidney stone include Nick Drake, Billy Joel, Gene Simmons, and Adam Young.
  
  Section::::Authors.
   Section::::Pathophysiology.:Inhibitors of stone formation.
  
  Normal urine contains chelating agents, such as citrate, that inhibit the nucleation, growth, and aggregation of calcium-containing crystals. Other endogenous inhibitors include calgranulin (an S-100 calcium-binding protein), Tamm–Horsfall protein, glycosaminoglycans, uropontin (a form of osteopontin), nephrocalcin (an acidic glycoprotein), prothrombin F1 peptide, and bikunin (uronic acid-rich protein). The biochemical mechanisms of action of these substances have not yet been thoroughly elucidated. However, when these substances fall below their normal proportions, stones can form from an aggregation of crystals.
   BULLET::::- New York Mets' relief pitcher Dennis Cook began to suffer from a kidney stone just as his team reached the World Series in 2000. However, he was able to pitch during the first game.
  
  BULLET::::- In 2004, Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer had surgery for kidney stones. A stent was used to allow two stones to successfully pass.
  
  BULLET::::- Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillén was hospitalized while passing a kidney stone in 2004. He said, "that was something I don't wish anybody has, even my worst enemy."
  