How Can You Prevent Kidney Stones

How Are Children Treated For Kidney Stones

Most childrens kidney stones can be treated with the shock wave lithotripsy , a completely non-invasive procedure. Your child is placed under anesthesia and sound waves of specific frequencies are focused on the stones to shatter them into fragments small enough to be easily passed during urination.

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.

Eat Foods With Low Oxalate Levels

This recommendation is for patients with high urine oxalate. Eating calcium-rich foods with meals can often control the oxalate level in your urine. Urinary oxalate is controlled because eating calcium lowers the oxalate level in your body. But if doing that does not control your urine oxalate, you may be asked to eat less of certain high-oxalate foods. Nearly all plant foods have oxalate, but a few foods contain a lot of it. These include spinach, rhubarb and almonds.

It is usually not needed to fully stop eating foods that contain oxalate. This needs to be worked out individually and depends on why your oxalate levels are high in the first place.

Read Also: Does Chocolate Cause Kidney Stones

Know Your Health History And Family’s Health History

If your family members have had kidney stones, you are more likely to develop them, according to the Mayo Clinic. This is the first step in understanding how to prevent kidney stones for your body. Why? Because the more you know about your risk, the more targeted your decisions can be. For example, there are four different types of kidney stones and a number of different causes. If you know what type your family members had and what caused them, that can inform your preventative actions and lifestyle choices going forward.

Some people should avoid oxalic acid, while other people should avoid high amounts of supplemented calcium, says Dr. Soni. But these recommendations aren’t blanket statements for everyone because it depends on the specific person’s risks and proclivity for developing stones. You are also, according to Dr. Dweck, more likely to have kidney stones in the future if you have already had them. Developing a relationship with a care provider that’s well-versed in the renal system and knows your medical history is a great way to work towards preventing them in the future.

Four Main Kinds Of Kidney Stones

There are four main kinds of kidney stones:

• Calcium oxalate stones, by far the most common type of kidney stone

• Calcium phosphate stones, also very common

• Uric acid stones, often associated with diabetes

• Struvite stones, often caused by an active infection

The two most common kidney stones include calcium’ in their names, so does that mean you should cut out milk and other calcium-rich foods?

Recommended Reading: Watermelon Good For Kidney Disease

Other Benefits Of Staying Hydrated

In addition to helping your kidneys stay healthy, staying hydrated is important for your overall health.

• Its good for cardiovascular health. Dehydration results in decreased blood volume, making the heart work harder to pump a smaller amount of blood. As a result, your cells may receive less oxygen, making exercise and all activities more difficult.
• Its good for muscles and joints. Water lubricates joints and is critical to providing nutrients to the muscle cells.
• Its good for your skin, including improvingskin’s elasticity.
• Its good for your memory, mood and motivation.

In short, staying hydrated is good for you mind and body so do something good for yourself no matter the season. Get outside and enjoy just dont forget to hydrate!

Limit Your Iced Tea Sodas And Soy Or Almond Milk

A 2012 study out of Loyola Universitys School of Medicine found that drinking lots of iced tea can contribute to kidney stones, because tea is high in oxalate. Colas are also a no-no. Colas, especially dark colas, are made bubbly by phosphoric acid, and that increases the risk of kidney stones, Porter says.

Pale sodas like ginger ale are better options, he adds, but beware their high sugar content. Sugars increase the amount of calcium in the urine and lead to metabolic syndrome, bad cholesterol and diabetes, all of which tend to cause more acidic environments in the body. As for dairy substitutes like almond and soy milk? They, too, are high in oxalates.

There may be good news for coffee drinkers, though. A Swedish-based observational study published in October in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases looked at data from 571,657 people who had kidney stones and found a link between increased coffee intake and reduced kidney stone risk.

More on Health

Also Check: How Much Money Is A Kidney Worth

What Are The Best Ways To Prevent Kidney Stones Naturally

1. Drink lots of waterStaying hydrated is key to preventing kidney stones. The kidneys need enough fluid to keep waste moving through them. If you are dehydrated, waste products can accumulate and cause kidney stones. Drinking enough high-quality water flushes out waste and toxins and prevents kidney stone formation. Drink at least half of your body weight in ounces of water to increase urine output. Increasing amount of urine passed will ultimately flush the kidneys.

2. Get rid of sugary beverages and high sodium, processed foodsSugar can increase the concentration of calcium in the urine and increase risk for kidney stones. Drinking sugary beverages and soda has been linked to an increased risk of kidney stones1. These types of beverages are also dehydrating, which contributes to their effects. Ditch the sugar!

Too much salt is not good for the kidneys either. It can contribute to the formation of kidney stones. Having too much sodium in the urine prevents calcium from being reabsorbed from urine and into blood leading to kidney stone development. Avoid processed foods rich in sodium.

6. Drink fresh organic citrus juice regularlyOrganic citrus fruits can break up kidney stones naturally due to their naturally high levels of citric acid. Juice your own citrus juice or add citrus slices like lemon, lime or orange to your water daily to prevent kidney stones. Low citric acid levels have been linked to kidney stone formation4.

Risk Factors For Kidney Stones

“Kidney stones” is a term that covers different types of small, solid crystals. They can have different causes and different food culprits. Some are related to kidney infections. Others form because you have too much of certain minerals in your system.

Genes can play a role, too. Forty percent of the people who get kidney stones have relatives who have them, too. Their bodies may get rid of too much calcium or too little citrate in their pee, for instance.

Other conditions that make kidney stones more likely include:

• Obesity. When youâre overweight, you tend to get them more often. The same is true if you have diabetes.
• Gout. This painful condition happens when uric acid builds up in your blood. That makes crystals form in your joints or kidneys.
• Intestinal surgery. If youâve had certain types of gastric bypass surgery or other intestinal surgery, your risk may go up.
• Hyperthyroidism. It can raise calcium levels in your blood and trigger kidney stones.
• Certain kidney diseases. One example is polycystic kidney disease, in which clusters of cysts grow in your kidneys. Another is medullary sponge kidney, a birth defect that causes cysts to form in the organâs tubes.

Middle-aged men are most likely to get kidney stones, though it can happen to people of any age or sex.

Also Check: Can Diet Coke Cause Kidney Stones

Natural Remedies To Fight Kidney Stones At Home

Kidney stones are a common health problem.

Passing these stones can be incredibly painful, and unfortunately, people who have experienced kidney stones are more likely to get them again (

However, there are a few things you can do to reduce this risk.

This article explains what kidney stones are and outlines 8 dietary ways to fight them.

Don’t Underestimate Your Sweat

Saunas, hot yoga and heavy exercise may be good for your health, but they also may lead to kidney stones. Why? Loss of water through sweating – whether due to these activities or just the heat of summerleads to less urine production. The more you sweat, the less you urinate, which allows for stone-causing minerals to settle and bond in the kidneys and urinary tract.

One of the best measures you can take to avoid kidney stones is to drink plenty of water, leading you to urinate a lot. So, be sure to keep well hydrated, especially when engaging in exercise or activities that cause a lot of sweating.

Recommended Reading: Aleve Bad For Kidneys

Kidney Stone Prevention Guide

Drink Water

Consume Citrate

Watch your Salt

Calcium not too little, not too much

Less Meat

Oxalate

Jason Orien, MD is a urologist at Portneuf Medical Center. He specializes in the treatment of kidney stones, cancers of the prostate, kidney, and bladder, enlarged prostate, erectile dysfunction, vasectomy, and womens health needs including overactive bladder, prolapse, and urine leakage. He is trained in minimally invasive robotic and laparoscopic techniques. To schedule an appointment, please call 208-239-2770.

How Will I Know If I Have A Kidney Stone

To find out the size and type of kidney stone you have, your doctor may do tests, including:

• Blood tests to show if there is too much calcium or uric acid in your blood
• Urine tests to show the type of wastes that are in your urine. For this test, your doctor may ask you to collect your urine over two days.

• Imaging tests, such as an ultrasound, CT scan or X-ray, to show kidney stones in your urinary tract

If you get kidney stones often, your doctor may ask you to urinate through a strainer to catch stones that you pass. Your doctor will then find out what they are made of to decide what is causing your kidney stones and how to prevent them.

You May Like: Does Soda Pop Cause Kidney Stones

National Kidney Foundation & Moonstone Nutrition

This partnership will focus on providing valuable information to both patients and healthcare professionals regarding risk factors, symptoms, prevention and treatment options, and include the development of new, educational resources, as well as a series of virtual events. To learn more about this partnership, click below.

What Are The Most Common Types Of Kidney Stones

The most common type of kidney stone is a calcium oxalate stone. This type happens when calcium and oxalate combine in your urine. It can happen when you have high quantities of oxalate, low amounts of calcium and arent drinking enough fluids.

Stones caused by uric acid are also fairly common. These come from a natural substance called purine, which is a byproduct of animal proteins .

Don’t Miss: Is Watermelon Good For Ckd Patients

How Are Kidney Stones Treated

Once diagnosed, your healthcare provider will first determine if you even need treatment. Some smaller kidney stones may leave your system when you urinate. This can be very painful. If your provider decides that you do need treatment, your options include medications and surgery.

Medications. Medications may be prescribed to:

• Your healthcare provider may recommend that you take an over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen or, if youre in the emergency room, an IV narcotic.
• Manage nausea/vomiting.
• Relax your ureter so that the stones pass. Commonly prescribed medicines include tamsulosin and nifedipine .

You should ask your healthcare provider before you take ibuprofen. This drug can increase the risk of kidney failure if taken while youre having an acute attack of kidney stones especially in those who have a history of kidney disease and associated illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

Surgery. There are four types of surgeries used to treat kidney stones. The first three are minimally invasive, meaning that the surgeon enters your body through a natural opening , or makes a small incision.

What You Can Do To Prevent Kidney Stones

If youâve already had a kidney stone, your doctor may recommend medication to keep it from happening again. What kind will depend on what caused the stone.

Also, take charge of your diet:

• Drink lots of water. Stay hydrated, especially when you exercise.
• Check food labels. Read the ingredients. Avoid or cut back on foods with high amounts of ingredients like sodium chloride, monosodium glutamate , and sodium nitrate.
• Choose foods wisely. Usually itâs good to get more spinach and nuts in your diet. But if you have calcium oxalate stones, which are the most common type, your doctor may tell you to avoid or limit foods high in oxalates:
• Nuts, including almonds, cashews, pistachios, and peanuts
• Soy products, including soy burgers, soy milk, and soy cheese

Read Also: Is Apple Cider Vinegar Good For The Kidneys

Foods To Prevent Kidney Stones

Certain foods can increase your risk of developing kidney stones. Eating in moderation while maintaining a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables is encouraged. It is important to be mindful of the following foods that can lead to the formation of kidney stones in certain people: foods high in sodium, cola beverages, fast foods, processed meats, certain supplements, black tea, chocolate, spinach, soy milk, almonds, cashews, soy beans.

The good news is there are many items you can include in your regular diet to help prevent stones from occurring.

Water. Although a beverage and not necessarily a food, drinking water is the most important way to prevent kidney stones. We recommend two to three liters of water each day.

Lemon. Lemon contains citric acid that stops kidney stones from forming and helps break up stones that have already formed. For a refreshing beverage, add some fresh squeezed lemon into your water!

Cruciferous vegetables. Vegetables rich in potassium such as brussels sprouts, broccoli and kale decrease calcium loss and stop kidney stones from forming. These foods also have antioxidant effects that help prevent bladder, prostate and kidney cancers.

Whole grains. Most whole grains contribute to a healthy weight which is helpful in prevention and treatment of kidney stones.

Calcium. The calcium in milk and yogurt can decrease the risk of forming kidney stones.

Learn more here, or call us call at 401-793-5400.

About the Author:

How Long Does It Take A Kidney Stone To Form

You can have kidney stones for years without knowing theyre there. As long as these stones stay in place within your kidney, you wont feel anything. Pain from a kidney stone typically starts when it moves out of your kidney. Sometimes, a stone can form more quickly within a few months.

Talk with your healthcare provider about your risk factors. They might do a 24-hour urine test to check how quickly you develop stones.

Also Check: Is Pomegranate Juice Good For Your Kidneys

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.

Should I Cut Calcium Out Of My Diet If I Develop Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stones

If you develop kidney stones composed of calcium, you may be tempted to stop eating foods that include calcium. However, this is the opposite of what you should do. If you have calcium oxalate stones, the most common type, its recommended that you have a diet higher in calcium and lower in oxalate.

Foods that are high in calcium include:

• Cows milk.

Its also important to drink plenty of fluids to dilute the substances in your urine.

You May Like: Are Grapes Good For Kidney Stones

Be Careful Of Supplementing Calcium And Vitamin C

Some minerals and common dietary ingredients that can increase your risk for kidney stone development include sodium , vitamin C, and calcium. Eating plenty of calcium- and vitamin C-rich foods isn’t much of a concern at all, Dr. Soni says. The real cause for concern is ingesting significant amounts of these minerals via supplements or cold-preventing methods like Emergen-C. According to Dr. Soni, having really high amounts of these ingredients can be a risk if you’re prone to kidney stones. Be sure to stay in touch with a medical provider about any supplements you’re taking.

Treatment And When To See A Doctor

If a person suspects that a kidney stone is the cause of substantial pain or discomfort, it is important to see a doctor.

Although most people experience no long-term consequences from kidney stones, they can be extremely painful and require medical monitoring.

In most cases, treating kidney stones involves increasing fluid intake, taking pain medications, and using medications that make the urine less acidic.

People with smaller stones may be able to go home and wait for the stone or stones to pass. People with larger or more severe stones may need to stay in the hospital.

Stones that are too large to pass or that become stuck in the urinary tract may require surgery. Surgery to remove the stones may also be necessary if an infection has developed around it.

Recommended Reading: Is Tea Good For Kidneys