What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
- Do I have a kidney stone or is there another reason for my symptoms?
- What type of kidney stone do I have?
- What size is my kidney stone?
- Where is my kidney stone located?
- How many kidney stones do I have?
- Do I need treatment or will I be able to pass the kidney stone?
- Should I be tested for kidney disease?
- What changes should I make to my diet?
- What type of procedure should I have to get rid of the stones?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Kidney stones can be frustrating at best and agonizingly painful at the worst. To stop your situation from getting worse, you should be evaluated by a healthcare provider as soon as possible. The pain can get severe, and surgery might be necessary. Remember: dont skip your prescriptions, drink lots of water and follow any dietary guidelines. Also, remember that kidney stones are a temporary condition. They wont bother you forever.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 05/03/2021.
References
Continue Learning About Kidney Stones
Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.
Can Too Much Coffee Cause Kidney Stones
Caffeine intake has been shown to be related to increased urinary calcium excretion and potentially increase the high risk of developing kidney stones, although caffeine-containing beverages, like-coffee. Excess consumption of coffee can extensively increase kidney issues.
Well, coffee is the most favorite hot beverage for youngsters nowadays, it gives energy, a concentrated power but as it also provides some health issue like hypertension, kidney disease. So yeah Coffee and Kidney are actually connected. Any discomfort, any health issue consult a doctor first.
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Caffeine And Its Popularity
Caffeine is a popular stimulant worldwide that is frequently consumed to enhance mood, alertness, muscle endurance, and exercise performance. Caffeine is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in seeds and leaves of several types of plants . The amount of caffeine content in each plant varies, depending on the type of plant, its growth environment, and the preparation or brewing method. For example, Robusta coffee usually has a higher caffeine content than Arabica coffee . In addition, the roasted temperature and pressure can influence caffeine content in the coffee .
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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Ask The Harvard Experts: Prevent Kidney Stones With Simple Dietary Changes
Q: I recently passed a kidney stone. I never want to go through that pain again! Whats the best diet to avoid another kidney stone?
A: First and foremost, be sure you drink plenty of fluids every day and avoid dehydration. Kidney stones form when certain minerals concentrate in the urine and form hard crystals. By drinking plenty of fluid, you can decrease the concentration of these minerals. Drink 8 to 12 cups a day.
The most common type of kidney stone is the calcium oxalate stone. About 80% of all kidney stones are made of calcium oxalate. The name might make you think you should eat a low calcium diet to avoid getting them, but you should do the opposite.
The problem is oxalate. Most people who develop calcium oxalate absorb too much oxalate. The extra oxalate is absorbed by the intestines and passed into the blood stream. The body uses what it needs, and the extra oxalate is excreted in the urine. In the urine, the higher concentration of oxalate can combine with calcium to cause kidney stones.
Many of the foods we eat, including some very healthy foods, contain oxalate. Examples include beets, chocolate, spinach, rhubarb, tea, most nuts and chocolate. But its quite difficult to stay on an oxalate restricted diet.
Instead concentrate on eating plenty of calcium rich fools. Inside your intestines, the dietary calcium binds the oxalate before it has a chance to get absorbed into your bloodstream, so less oxalate will need to pass into your urine.
When To See A Doctor For Kidney Stones
If your kidney stones are relatively small they should be able to go through the urethra on their own. However, if your kidney stones are larger than 5mm you will likely need medical assistance to get them out. If this is the case, your urologist may recommend one of these three kidney stone procedures.
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Choose Your Milk Or Creamer Carefully
Many coffee creamers come with added phosphates. This can be especially true in powdered creamers.
Kidney-Friendly Coffee Creamers
Check the refrigerated section to have your best pick of additive-free coffee creamers, including CoffeeMate Natural Bliss line. Even the plant-based options like Sweet Oat Milk are kidney-friendly!
What Are Kidney Stones
Kidneys work as a filter, cleaning the waste from the blood and creating urine. Sometimes, salt and other minerals that are dissolved in the urine form a crystal and get stuck in our kidney. These formations are called kidney stones. Sizes of stones can range from small as a sugar crystal to as big as a ping pong ball. We rarely notice the presence of a kidney stone until they cause a blockage. When this happens, one can feel an intense pain. It means that kidney stones have traveled into the ureters, the narrow tubes leading to the bladder.
When you have kidney stones, you can feel any of the following symptoms:
- Severe pain in the back, belly, or groin
- Frequent or painful urination
- Blood in the urine
- Nausea and vomiting
According to National Health Services UK, kidney stones often form when concentrations of minerals in the body become too much and start to build up. The kidney cannot filter all of the waste and some of these minerals stay in the kidney. Kidney stones can be made up of any of the following minerals:
- calcium
- ammonia
- uric acid a waste product produced when the body breaks down food to use as energy
- cysteine an amino acid that helps to build protein
You and I are prone to developing kidney stones, but the following conditions increase the risk:
It is important to understand the nature and causes of kidney stones. This gives us a clear picture of how kidney stones are developed and whether or not drinking coffee can cause them.
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Symptoms Of Kidney Stones
Many people with kidney stones have no symptoms. However, some people do get symptoms, which may include:
- a gripping pain in the back usually just below the ribs on one side, radiating around to the front and sometimes towards the groin. The pain may be severe enough to cause nausea and vomiting
- blood in the urine
- cloudy or bad smelling urine
- shivers, sweating and fever if the urine becomes infected
- small stones, like gravel, passing out in the urine, often caused by uric acid stones
- an urgent feeling of needing to urinate, due to a stone at the bladder outlet.
Causes Of Kidney Stones
A kidney stone can form when substances such as calcium, oxalate, cystine or uric acid are at high levels in the urine, although stones can form even if these chemicals are at normal levels.
Medications used for treating some medical conditions such as kidney disease, cancer or HIV can also increase your risk of developing kidney stones.;;
A small number of people get kidney stones because of certain medical conditions that lead to high levels of calcium, oxalate, cystine or uric acid in the body.;
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What Are Kidney Stones Made Of
Kidney stones come in many different types and colors. How you treat them and stop new ones from forming depends on the type of stone you have.
Calcium stones are the most common type.There are two types of calcium stones: calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate.Calcium oxalate is more common.Some people have too much calcium in their urine, raising their risk.Even with normal amounts of calcium in the urine, calcium stones may form for other reasons.
Uric acid is a waste product that comes from chemical changes in the body. Uric acid crystals do not dissolve well in acidic urine. Instead it will form a uric acid stone.
Having acidic urine may come from:
- Being overweight
- A diet that is high in animal protein and low in fruits and vegetables
Struvite stones are common type of stone in Indian population. These stones are related to chronic urinary tract infections . Some bacteria make the urine less acidic and more basic or alkaline. Magnesium ammonium phosphate stones form in alkaline urine. These stones are often large, with branches, and they often grow very fast.
People who get chronic UTIs, such as those with long-term tubes in their kidneys or bladders, or people with poor bladder emptying due to neurologic disorders are at the highest risk for developing these stones. These can also happen in persons with uncontrolled diabetes.
What Are Signs Of Bad Kidneys
Signs of Kidney Disease Youre more tired, have less energy or are having trouble concentrating. Youre having trouble sleeping. You have dry and itchy skin. You feel the need to urinate more often. You see blood in your urine. Your urine is foamy. Youre experiencing persistent puffiness around your eyes.
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How Long Does It Take To Pass A Kidney Stone
The amount of time it can take for you to pass a kidney stone is different from anothers. A stone thats smaller than 4 mm may pass within one to two weeks. A stone thats larger than 4 mm could take about two to three weeks to completely pass.
Once the stone reaches the bladder, it typically passes within a few days, but may take longer, especially in an older man with a large prostate. However, pain may subside even if the stone is still in the ureter, so its important to follow up with your healthcare provider if you dont pass the stone within four to six weeks.
Can Coffee Cause Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are a common urinary tract condition that can affect anyone, although men are at a greater risk than women. There are many factors that trigger the formation of kidney stones but coffee isnt one of them. As much as coffee contains potassium, it is rich in caffeine which increases calcium levels in urine excreted. Kidney stones are formed whenever certain substances, passed through urine, increase over time and mix up forming hard solid stones in your kidneys. When the kidney stones are being passed out, they cause immense pain to the patient and cause discomfort. So, it is important that you take caution with how many cups of coffee you consume in a day. Nevertheless, it also triggers other conditions in your body such as increased blood pressure and cardiovascular problems to mention a few.
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Nutrition Facts Of Coffee
While a cup of coffee provides no carbohydrates, fats, or protein, it does provide other nutrients. An 8-oz cup of black coffee will give you;
-
8 ounces of fluid
-
116 milligrams of potassium
-
a great source of antioxidants, like the polyphenol chlorogenic acid
There are also studies that show regular coffee-drinkers have lower risks for developing type 2 diabetes, liver cirrhosis and cancer, as well as Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases.
How Can I Prevent Kidney Stones
There are several ways to decrease your risk of kidney stones, including:
- Drink water. Drink at least six to eight 8-ounce glasses every day . Staying hydrated helps you urinate more often, which helps flush away the buildup of the substances that cause kidney stones. If you sweat a lot, be sure to drink even more.
- Limit salt. Eat less sodium. You may want to connect with a dietician for help with planning what foods you eat.
- Lose weight. If youre overweight, try to lose some pounds. Talk to your healthcare provider about an ideal weight.
- Take prescriptions. Your healthcare provider may prescribe some medications that help prevent kidney stones. The type of medication may depend on the type of stones you get.
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Diet Tips To Prevent Stones
If you are not producing enough urine, your doctor will recommend you drink at least 3.5 liters of liquid each day.This equals about 15-18medium size glasses.This is a great way to lower your risk of forming new stones.Remember to drink more to replace fluids lost when you sweat from exercise or in hot weather.All fluids count toward your fluid intake.But its best to drink mostly no-calorie or low-calorie drinks.This may mean limiting sugar-sweetened or alcoholic drinks.
Knowing how much you drink during the day can help you understand how much you need to drink to produce 2.5 liters of urine.Use a household measuring cup to measure how much liquid you drink for a day or two.Drink from bottles or cans with the fluid volume on the label.Keep a log, and add up at the end of the day or 24-hour period.Use this total to be sure you are reaching your daily target urine amount of at least 2.5 liters of urine daily.
One simple way is to assure that you need to go to the loo minimum 7-8 times in 24 hours. Observe the color of the urine, it should be water colored always. Having a dilute urine is the most important precaution in reducing the risk of recurrence.
Indian food is salt rich. Excess salt in diet will increase the calcium in your urine. This tip is for people with high sodium intake and high urine calcium. Your doctor may advise you to avoid foods that have a lot of salt. The following foods are high in salt and should be eaten in moderation:
Chronic Kidney Disease And Diet
From 1990 to 2010, the incidence of Chronic Kidney Disease has doubled. In a review of the standard American diet and its effects on the kidney, the diet appears to have negative effects on human renal function. A decline in renal function was observed in those who consumed an animal protein-rich diet, as compared to those consuming a plant protein-rich diet. Consumption of excessive animal proteins leads to a marked acid load to the kidney, and has been associated with the development of kidney stones. Higher meat consumption leads to increased renal acid excretion and the production of ammonia, which can cause metabolic acidosis and a higher risk for tubulointerstitial injury. In addition to eliminating meat, it is beneficial to add dietary fiber. In a meta-analysis of 14 trials involving 143 participants, the additional dietary fiber significantly reduced serum urea and creatinine levels.
Consumption of animal products impairs renal vascular function, leading to increased inflammation and subsequent microalbuminuria. Studies show that meat ingestion impacts factors such as GFR, glucagon, prostaglandins, and increased albuminuric response. Glomerular hyperfiltration is thought to be due to an inflammatory response via vasodilatory prostaglandins, as a result of animal protein consumption. This is supported by studies showing that the level of hyperfiltration decreases when indomethacin is administered.
References:
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Medication For Kidney Stones
For most people with recurrent calcium stones, a combination of drinking enough fluids, avoiding urinary infections, and specific treatment with medications will significantly reduce or stop new stone formation.
Certain medications such as thiazide diuretics or indapamide reduce calcium excretion and decrease the chance of another calcium stone. Potassium citrate or citric juices are used to supplement thiazide treatment and are used by themselves for some conditions where the urine is too acidic.
For people who have a high level of uric acid in their urine, or who make uric acid stones, the medication allopurinol will usually stop the formation of new stones.
How Common Are Kidney Stones
Each year, more than half a million people go to emergency rooms for kidney stone problems. It is estimated that one in ten people will have a kidney stone at some time in their lives.
The prevalence of kidney stones in the United States increased from 3.8% in the late 1970s to 8.8% in the late 2000s. The prevalence of kidney stones was 10% during 20132014. The risk of kidney stones is about 11% in men and 9% in women. Other diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity may increase the risk for kidney stones.
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