6) Hyperparathyroidism
Hyperparathyroidism is a condition where the parathyroid glands, located in the neck, produce too much parathyroid hormone and can lead to several health issues. One of the most common symptoms of hyperparathyroidism is the development of kidney stones. The excess parathyroid hormone causes the body to absorb more calcium than normal from the intestines, leading to an elevated calcium level in the blood. The body then attempts to rid itself of the excess calcium by excreting it in the urine, leading to the formation of kidney stones.
There are multiple causes of hyperparathyroidism, including a benign tumor in the parathyroid glands, damage to the glands due to radiation therapy, or the parathyroid glands being overactive due to certain genetic mutations. Other causes include vitamin D deficiency or overuse of calcium supplements, however, these are less common. It is important to note that hyperparathyroidism is not caused by dietary calcium intake.