Is Magnesium Ok For Kidney Stones
The calcium antagonistic action of magnesium is also important in reducing kidney stones risk, and silent kidney stone stones can raise the risk. By raising the magnesium intake, it may be possible to reduce the calcium/magnesium ratio in the diet. Well, a major defensive function could be achieved by this method. Probably just by. This is a very good security. effect could. It is likely that by this time, it will be achieved. increasing the. Magnesium supplementation in the United States. diet. The usual dietary intake of. Magnesium is particularly poor in the context of a relatively high intake of calcium.
Are You Popping Tums Like Candy Why This May Be Detrimental To Your Health
“What do you do if you have heartburn or indigestion?”
“Take Tums, of course.”
Well, it’s time to think twice about this answer.
Taking Tums or other antacids for heartburn has become second nature. It has become the adult version of smarties, yes those small little candy tablets you used to eat as a child and pretend they were medicine. Oh, how the times have changed: now we use medicine like it’s candy.
Heartburn usually occurs when a muscle, called the lower esophageal spincture, does not close completely, allowing stomach contents to regurgitated from the stomach into the esophagus.This muscle acts like a valve, opening to allow food from the esophagus into the stomach, and closing to prevent the backflow of contents from the stomach into the esophagus, but with every valve comes the potential for leaks, and in this case heartburn. Part of the contents regurgitated include gastric acid , which is usually the main culprit behind that burning sensation. It is this acid that can lead to corrossion and excessive inflammtion, after all as it’s name implies it is an acid.
Now that we went over some of the basic physiology and mechanisms of action involved in heartburn, lets talk about some risk factors that can be causing or worsening symptoms.
2. Smoking. Once again is it not the easiest to stop smoking, but it is one of the best things that you can do for acid reflux, amongst many other health concerns.
5. Hernias and pregnancy are also common causes of heartburn.
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Should Seniors Take Magnesium Supplements
There are no obvious signs of low magnesium intake. Magnes can deficiency if intakes are sustained for a long time. Extreme magnesium deficiency may cause numbness, muscle cramps, seizures, personality shifts and irregular heart rhythms. According to Consumer Reports, 75% to 80% of those older than 70 are unable to satisfy their daily magnesium requirements. According to Consumer Reports, the current recommended daily magnesium intake for adults 51 and older is 420 milligrams for men and 320 millegram for women. The kidneys help maintain magnesium by limiting the amount of urine lost.
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What Supplements Can Give You Kidney Stones
Particularly in men, vitamin C supplementation may cause kidney stones. According to a 2013 report, men who took high doses of vitamin C doubled their risk of developing sarcophary. Vitamin C from food, according to the researchers, does not have the same danger. According to a 2013 report, vitamin C is not shown to have the same effect on kidney stones in food.
Risk Factors For Kidney Stones
Approximately 1 in 10 people will develop kidney stones. While anyone can develop kidney stones, the following will increase your risk:
- Dehydration due to dry climate or from intense exercise or you simply dont drink enough water
- Obesity
- Metabolic conditions such as cystinuria, oxaluria or gout
- Use of certain drugs such as protease inhibitors, antibiotics, some diuretics and calcium-based antacids
- Diseases or surgery of the digestive tract including inflammatory bowel disease and gastric bypass surgery
- A diet rich in salt, protein, refined sugars and soft drinks
- You have had kidney stones in the past
- Family history of kidney stones
- Structural abnormalities in the kidney such as ureteropelvic junction obstruction, urinary diversion surgery, horseshoe kidney
- You have polycystic kidney disease or another cystic kidney disease
- Your urine contains high levels of cystine, oxalate, uric acid or calcium
If kidney stones are suspected, your health care provider will order tests to determine if you have kidney stones and to develop a treatment plan. Treatment will depend on how large the stone is, its makeup, whether it is blocking your urinary tract and the degree of pain it is causing.
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Can You Take Vitamin D If You Have Kidney Stones
If patients with vitamin D deficiency also have kidney stones, physicians may be reluctant to prescribe vitaminD therapy to patients. They are worried about the possibility of increasing the amount of calcium in the urine. However, studies in patients with kidney stones have shown that giving vitamin D is safe and effective. In patients with elevated calcium levels in the urine, the investigators will determine the effectiveness of giving Vitamin D to this particular group of patients. Patients with kidney stones should not be given the therapy, as it may raise the risk of calcium stones resurfacing.
Eating Too Many Tums May Cause Motility Issues
Ironically enough, although Tums is marketed for the treatment of the stomach upset associated with heartburn, sour stomach, and acid indigestion, there is a fairly decent chance that if you pop too many Tums, you may find yourself spending excessive time on the toilet for another reason: constipation. In fact, constipation is the number one most common complaint associated with taking more than what is the recommended dosage of Tums, according to GoodRX, which attributes the related slowdown in gut motility to the presence of excess calcium.
On the other hand, there is also research out there that suggests that calcium carbonate does not cause constipation in healthy women at levels up to 500 milligrams per day, via a 2016 study published in Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research. In fact, taking too many Tums has been known in some people to cause the occasional case of diarrhea, per National Health Service. However, diarrhea is more frequently associated with other types of antacids, including proton pump inhibitors and H2 blockers, according to WebMD.
Ultimately, as LiveStrong points out, if you’re frequently taking Tums at levels greater than 500 milligrams per day or if you’re already experiencing constipation even before you begin taking Tums, then you might want to consider trying an antacid that contains a lower level of elemental calcium such as one whose active ingredient is calcium citrate and see if that helps with your symptoms.
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How Are Kidney Stones Diagnosed
Your healthcare provider will discuss your medical history and possibly order some tests. These tests include:
- Imaging tests: An X-ray, CT scan and ultrasound will help your healthcare provider see the size, shape, location and number of your kidney stones. These tests help your provider decide what treatment you need.
- Blood test: A blood test will reveal how well your kidneys are functioning, check for infection and look for biochemical problems that may lead to kidney stones.
- Urine test: This test also looks for signs of infection and examines the levels of the substances that form kidney stones.
What Supplements May Cause Kidney Stones
Vitamin C supplements have been shown to raise the risk of kidney stones in certain individuals. People who have used calcium oxalate stones in the past or who live with these stones have a family history. Vitamin C converts to oxalates in the body in high doses. People who are allergic to eating foods that are high in Oxalate may also experience kidney stone formation. Garabed Eknoyan, MD, says people at risk of this disease should not take more than the daily allowance of Vitamin C as a supplement.
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Supplements And Sunlight Triggered Toxicity
The reported case concerns a 54-year-old man who had recently returned from a trip to Southeast Asia, where he had spent an extended time sunbathing . Upon returning to Canada, a family physician found that his creatinine level was elevated . Four weeks later, despite discontinuing antihypertensive medication and diuretics, which could have caused dehydration and elevations in creatinine, the patients creatinine level was even higher , and he was referred to a kidney specialist.
Further questioning revealed that the man had seen a naturopath who had prescribed high doses of vitamin D. Despite no known history of bone loss or vitamin D deficiency, the man took 800012000 IU of vitamin D daily for 2.5 years.
Workup disclosed hypercalcemia and elevated levels of vitamin D . Renal biopsy results showed kidney damage .
The nephrologist advised him to stop taking vitamin D supplements and to stop eating calcium-rich foods. His diuretics remained on hold, and the patient resumed taking one antihypertensive medication. At the second visit, physicians found that his levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and calcium had continued to increase. The patient also described new-onset skin itchiness, likely due to his high calcium levels.
The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
CMAJ. Published online April 8, 2019. Full text
Common symptoms of kidney stones include:
When To Call A Doctor
Antacids can often relieve symptoms of excess stomach acid. However, sometimes these symptoms mean you have a more serious condition.
Its important that you know how to recognize these conditions and how to respond to them. An upset stomach could actually be gastroesophageal reflux disease or a peptic ulcer.
Antacids can only soothe, not cure, some of the symptoms of these conditions. If you have severe pain that doesnt get better after using the recommended dosage of antacids for two weeks, call your doctor.
Some heart attack symptoms can also mimic stomach pains. You may be having a heart attack if you have severe chest pain that lasts longer than two minutes with any of the following symptoms:
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Vitamin D: The Kidney Vitamin
Many Americans are deficient in an important vitaminvitamin D. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions latest information has found that more than one-half of Americans of all ages have low levels of vitamin D. More and more information is pointing to how important vitamin D is to the body, especially the strength of bones.
In addition to maintaining healthy bones, newer research shows that vitamin D may also protect against heart disease. In fact, people with the lowest vitamin D levels had a 40% higher risk of cardiovascular disease in one study.
Talk with your doctor or dietitian before taking any vitamins that are not ordered for you. There are different types of vitamin D. Your doctor will be very specific about the type and amount you should be taking.
Why is vitamin D connected to the kidney? The kidneys are an important part of helping the body use vitamin D. Vitamin D comes from two sources in people. It could either be exposure to the suns ultraviolet B radiation. Or, it is absorbed from food or food supplements. The kidneys have an important role in making vitamin D useful to the body. The kidneys convert vitamin D from supplements or the sun to the active form of vitamin D that is needed by the body. With chronic kidney disease, low vitamin D levels can be found, sometimes even severely low levels. This may occur because injured kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D into its active form.
COVID-19 patients can become kidney patients.
S For Preventing Kidney Stones
- By Daniel Pendick, Former Executive Editor, Harvard Men’s Health Watch
If youve ever had a kidney stone, you surely remember it. The pain can be unbearable, coming in waves until the tiny stone passes through your urinary plumbing and out of the body. For many, kidney stones arent a one-time thing: in about half of people who have had one, another appears within seven years without preventive measures.
Preventing kidney stones isnt complicated, but it does take some determination.
Kidney stones form when certain chemicals become concentrated enough in the urine to form crystals. The crystals grow into larger masses , which can make their way through the urinary tract. If the stone gets stuck somewhere and blocks the flow of urine, it causes pain.
Most stones occur when calcium combines with oxalate. Stones can also form from uric acid, which is a byproduct of protein metabolism.
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Why Do People Take Antacids
Linstedt: For relief from indigestion, upset stomach or acid reflux. People can experience these conditions for many reasons. It could be caused by another condition or medication. It could also be a response to something you ate or drank, how close to bedtime you eat or how large your meals are.
But the root cause for all these conditions is stomach acid. And antacids help by neutralizing that acid.
Related reading: How to tell the difference between an ulcer and GERD.
Can A Large Kidney Stone Cause An Injury
Your risk of injury from a kidney stone can go up based on the size and location of the stone. A larger stone could get stuck in a ureter, causing pressure to build up. This can lead to renal failure and, in the worst-case scenario, you could lose your kidney. The chance of passing a 1 cm stone is less than 10%, and stones larger than 1 cm typically dont pass.
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What Causes These Side Effects
Some of these adverse effects almost seem made upafter all, some people take antacids after every meal. I can remember popping Tums like they were candy. Back when I was in college, I would keep a mega pack in my pocket and consume them all day long. I had no clue that there were could be so many adverse effects until later on when I realized that my heartburn was caused by my Tums habit.
Let me explain what causes some of these side effects.
Types Of Food That Can Lead To Kidney Stones
According to a publication in Clinical Nutrition Research, dietary assessment plays a very important role in both the prevention and treatment of kidney stones.
Together with a physician or nutritionist, its important to evaluate the dietary intake of calcium, oxalates, sodium, proteins, and other foods that may be promoting the formation of these stones.
However, since prevention is better, we want to share some of the foods that have been identified as possible triggers of kidney stones. You should try to avoid these foods or consume them with caution, especially if youre prone to kidney stones.
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What Are Some Alternatives To Antacids For Treating Heartburn And Acid Indigestion Caused By Acid Reflux
Linstedt: If your symptoms are frequent or severe, your doctor may also recommend other medicine besides antacids. For example, OTC medicines called histamine-2 blockers may work better for you. These include cimetidine and famotidine .
Proton pump inhibitors are another option. These reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes, and theyre available over the counter and by prescription. Some doctors prescribe PPIs for long-term treatment.
The Problem Is Not Enough Acidity
- Key Point
Many people are surprised to find that the stomach actually needs to be highly acidic. Problems will begin to arise when your stomach acid pH levels rise. At a normal dosage, antacids can make your stomach less acidic, which is only contributing to the problem.
The reason you experience acid reflux is not because your stomach has too much acid, but because it doesnt have enough acid. Your stomach acid pH is naturally between 1 and 3. This is highly acidicmuch like car battery acid.
When your stomach acid is at the correct pH balance, it breaks down food and provides the body with essential nutrients, as it should. However, when your stomach acid pH level risesmeaning your stomach is less acidicyou run into a number of problems including heartburn.
This is because the valve at the top of your stomach known as the esophageal sphincter only works correctly when your stomach is at the right acidity. When your pH level is high, the valve can fail to close which allows stomach acid to flow up into the esophagus.
While antacids neutralize the stomach acid in your esophagus and relieve pain, they also seep down into your stomach. When this happens, it makes your stomach more alkalinemeaning less acidic.
Since this is the problem to begin with, you experience more acid reflux. So, while you may experience immediate relief, its short lived and makes for an even bigger problem in the long run.
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Medicines That Can Cause Kidney Stones
While certain medications are necessary for treating or managing serious health conditions, they can sometimes create unintended negative consequences. And, in some cases, these consequences involve the increased risk of kidney stone formation.
Not every medication on the market is a prospective culprit, of course. However, research has found that there are some that have a greater tendency to lead to stone formation than others. Additionally, certain medications can raise your risk of certain types of stones.
For example, taking loop diuretics can sometimes lead to calcium kidney stones. Loop diuretics are a powerful type of diuretic that work by reducing, if not completely eliminating, your bodys ability to reabsorb sodium, chloride, and potassium. This results in an increase in your urine output. So, even though it does help your body in some regards, it also puts it in a state more prone to calcium stone formation.
Other medications that can result in calcium-based stones include glucocorticoids , theophylline , and even some antacids. Even over-the-counter vitamins can raise your risk of calcium stones. Vitamin C and D are the biggest culprits, so keep this in mind if you take either of these.
Then there are the medications that have a tendency to support the formation of uric acid stones. Aspirin is probably the most well-known, but medicines taken for gout, laxatives , and thiazides can have the same negative effects.
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