Try Plants Rather Than Animals For Protein
Red meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs boost your uric acid levels, which may lead to kidney stones. High-protein diets also reduce citrate levels, which is the chemical in urine that prevents kidney stone formation. You dont have to give up animal protein entirely just save it for one meal, and keep the portion heart-healthy, equal to the size of a pack of playing cards.
For an effective strategy for treating and preventing kidney stones, schedule a visit at Urology Associates of Southeastern NC today. Call the office at 763-6251, or request an appointment online.
Talk To Your Doctor About Preventative Medications
If youre prone to certain types of kidney stones, certain medications can help control the amount of that material present in your urine. The type of medication prescribed will depend on the type of stones you usually get.
For example:
- If you get calcium stones, a thiazide diuretic or phosphate may be beneficial.
- If you get uric acid stones, allopurinol can help reduce uric acid in your blood or urine.
- If you get struvite stones, long-term antibiotics may be used to help reduce the amount of bacteria present in your urine
- If you get cystine stones, capoten may help reduce the level of cystine in your urine
Tips For Staying Hydrated
Since staying hydrated is a top treatment and prevention strategy, consider these tips to help you increase your water intake.
- Set a phone reminder. If you rarely remember to drink water, use your digital device to remind you.
- Park a water bottle on your desk. Keep a water bottle front and center as a reminder to drink up. Its helpful to think of your day in parts say before and after lunch. Try to drink a bottle in each of these time windows.
- Infuse it with flavor. If water seems boring, liven it up with a splash of 100 percent orange juice or some juice- or fruit-filled ice cubes.
- Eat water-rich foods. Foods like melon, grapes, tomatoes and cucumbers provide some water to help you meet your fluid needs.
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Complications Of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can range in size from a grain of sand to that of a pearl or even larger. They can be smooth or jagged, and are usually yellow or brown. A large stone may get stuck in the urinary system. This can block the flow of urine and may cause strong pain.
Kidney stones can cause permanent kidney damage. Stones also increase the risk of urinary and kidney infection, which can result in germs spreading into the bloodstream.
How To Prevent Kidney Stones Avoid Taking Fluoridated Water
Drinking fluoridated water may also increase your risk of developing kidney stones. According to a study, drinking fluoridated water is linked to kidney stones . Mottled and discolored tooth enamel is one of the initial signs that youre consuming too much fluoride. To flush fluoride out of your water, you can have a reverse-osmosis system that is installed in your home.
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What Causes Struvite Stones
Struvite stones are caused by an upper urinary tract infection from bacteria. Ammonia produced as a waste product by the bacteria can make the urine less acidic . Struvite stones form when the urine becomes more alkaline. The main chemicals in a struvite stone include struvite and calcium carbon-apatite. These stones can grow quickly and become quite large. This can happen with few symptoms at first or little warning.
Drink Plenty Of Water
The number one risk factor for kidney stones is not drinking enough water. If you are not drinking enough, your urine will have higher concentrations of substances that can form stones. An easy way to check if you are drinking enough water is to check the color of your urine. It has to be a very light yellow.
Read how much water you should drink daily.
If you happen to be taking any multi-vitamins or B supplements that contain vitamin B2 , the color of your urine will be a very bright, nearly fluorescent yellow. This will mar your ability to take the urine color as a guide to your level of hydration.
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What Causes Kidney Stones
Stones form as a result of increased non-soluble substances in the urine. The most common type of kidney stone is calcium oxalate but other types include magnesium-ammonium-phosphate and uric acid stones.
Although other risk factors include hyperparathyroidism , bacteria and medications, the biggest risk factor for stone formation is dehydration, which results in decreased urine output, which in turn leads to an elevated concentration of crystals in the urine. The crystals bind together to form stones.
Studies have found a higher incidence of kidney stones in the stone belt in the southern part of the country. It is believed that warmer weather and corresponding dehydration contribute to this higher incidence. Thats why it is important to stay well hydrated, especially when outside.
Avoiding Recurrence Of Kidney Stones
If you have had one kidney stone, some tips that may help to prevent a second stone forming include:
- Talk to your doctor about the cause of the previous stone.
- Ask your doctor to check whether the medications you are on could be causing your stones. Do not stop your medications without talking to your doctor.
- Get quick and proper treatment of urinary infections.
- Avoid dehydration. Drink enough fluids to keep your urine volume at or above two litres a day. This can halve your risk of getting a second stone by lowering the concentration of stone-forming chemicals in your urine.
- Avoid drinking too much tea or coffee. Juices may reduce the risk of some stones, particularly orange, grapefruit and cranberry. Ask your doctor for advice.
- Reduce your salt intake to lower the risk of calcium-containing stones. Dont add salt while cooking and leave the saltshaker off the table. Choose low- or no-salt processed foods.
- Avoid drinking more than one litre per week of drinks that contain phosphoric acid, which is used to flavour carbonated drinks such as cola and beer.
- Always talk to your doctor before making changes to your diet.
Drinking mineral water is fine it cannot cause kidney stones because it contains only trace elements of minerals.
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How To Treat Kidney Stones
Kidney stone is a common disease that can remain silent for a long period. Symptoms of very small stones can be silent and usually flush out on their own. However, some renal stones can cause excruciating pain. Kidney stones treatment is usually done based on these parameters
- Size
- Location
- Number of stones
Since the thickness of the ureter is not more than 4mm, stones less than 4mm in size usually do not require surgical procedures. The doctor usually recommends drinking enough water and prescribes medications to reduce the pain. Several over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen , acetaminophen , or naproxen , can help reduce the pain until the stones are completely flushed out of the body. Urologists also recommend some alpha-blockers, which relax the muscles in the ureter for quicker expulsion of the stone.
For stones greater than 5mm, surgical procedure is inevitable. Surgical or less invasive procedures are regarded as the most effective way to treat kidney stones that are resistant to medications or other home remedies. Doctors usually recommend four surgical procedures for kidney stones based on their size and location
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.
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Causes Of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones form when certain chemicals become concentrated enough in your urine to form crystals. The crystals grow into larger masses , which may 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 one of two substances: oxalate or phosphorous. Stones can also form from uric acid, which forms as the body metabolizes protein.
To prevent kidney stones, you need to prevent the conditions that make stones more likely to form. Here are the most important steps:
Drink plenty of water: Drinking extra water dilutes the substances in urine that lead to stones. Strive to drink enough fluids to pass 2 liters of urine a day, which is roughly eight standard 8-ounce cups. It may help to include some citrus beverages, like lemonade and orange juice. The citrate in these beverages help to block stone formation.
Get the calcium you need: Getting too little calcium in your diet can cause oxalate levels to rise and cause kidney stones. To prevent this, make sure to take in an amount of calcium appropriate to your age. Ideally, obtain calcium from foods, since some studies have linked taking calcium supplements to kidney stones. Men 50 and older should get 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day, along with 800 to 1,000 international units of vitamin D to help the body absorb the calcium.
Learn Your Stone Type
Kidney stones contain various minerals and salts that clump together and form stones. Knowing which type you develop can help direct the preventive measures you take to lower your risk factors.
Calcium oxalate stones, for instance, are the most common type of kidney stone and may be linked to oxalate-rich foods, such as chocolate and tea. Your Southeastern NC urologist can analyze your stone content and help develop a personalized strategy for preventing future occurrences.
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Should I Cut Out All Foods That Have Oxalate Or Calcium
No, this is a common mistake. Some people think that cutting out all foods that have oxalate or all foods with calcium will keep stones from forming. However, this approach is not healthy. It can lead to poor nutrition and can cause other health problems. A better plan? Eat and drink calcium and oxalate-rich foods together during a meal. Doing this helps oxalate and calcium bind to one another in the stomach and intestines before reaching the kidneys, making it less likely for kidney stones to form in the urine.
Plan Your Plate For Kidney Stones
British Columbia Specific Information
If you have had kidney stones before, you are at a higher risk of getting them again. Eating certain foods may help lower your risk of having kidney stones again. To learn about what foods you should choose to help lower your risk of having kidney stones, see our Healthy Eating Guidelines For People with Kidney Stones web page.
You may also call 8-1-1 to speak to a registered dietitian, Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or you can Email a HealthLinkBC Dietitian.
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How To Prevent Kidney Stones
Drink water and cut back on sodium and animal protein to avoid kidney stones or to keep them from coming back.
If you’ve 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. Kidney stones are more common in men than in women, and they tend to recur. In about half of people who have had one, kidney stones strike again within seven years without preventive measures.
Preventing kidney stones is not complicated, but it does take some determination. “It means drinking plenty of fluids and following a diet that is low in sodium, with limited animal protein and age-appropriate intake of calcium,” says Dr. Melanie Hoenig, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. “Dietary changes are important, but it is difficult to stick with them every day.”
Add Lemon And Lime Juice To Water
Lemon and lime juice serve as kryptonite for certain types of kidney stones. They contain citrate, which both neutralizes acid in urine and can stop calcium stones from forming.
For example, uric acid crystals form and turn into stones in an acidic environment, Dr. De explains. So if your urine is alkaline , then uric stones wont form, and you can actually dissolve uric acid stones with high doses of citrate.
Add lemon or lime into your water whenever you can. Aim for getting a total of a half cup of lemon or lime juice concentrate into your drinking water over the course of a day.
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Treatment For Kidney Stones
Most kidney stones can be treated without surgery. Ninety per cent of stones pass by themselves within three to six weeks. In this situation, the only treatment required is pain relief. However, pain can be so severe that hospital admission and very strong pain-relieving medication may be needed. Always seek immediate medical attention if you are suffering strong pain.
Small stones in the kidney do not usually cause problems, so there is often no need to remove them. A doctor specialising in the treatment of kidney stones is the best person to advise you on treatment.
If a stone doesnt pass and blocks urine flow or causes bleeding or an infection, then it may need to be removed. New surgical techniques have reduced hospital stay time to as little as 48 hours. Treatments include:
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Tell Your Friends And Make An Impact
As the summer season approaches, the masses look for ways to keep themselves hydrated and avoid heatstroke. However, with busy schedules and overworked routines, most people fail to take proper care of their health. In these circumstances, one very common issue that arises is that of kidney stones.
Kidneys remove the wasteful substances and fluid from our blood and make urine- an excretory product. They achieve this task with the help of nephrons. Nephrons are the structural and functional components of the kidney. At times, when there is an excess of certain wasteful compounds, they clump together to form stones. Kidney stones are scientifically called nephrolithiasis. These are tiny deposits that build up with time. Every year, kidney stone problems cause at least half a million people to visit hospitals. Estimations show that one in ten people might have a kidney stone at some point during their lifetime .
How Do They Form?
Urine contains a variety of salts and minerals. When the amount of these two substances increases, it can lead to the formation of stones or calculi. There are many different kinds of kidney stones. Calcium stones are the most commonly found ones. They can either be calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate.
Recognizing the Symptoms
Easiest Ways to Prevent Kidney Stones Formation
References
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What Are The Best Ways To Prevent Kidney Stones Naturally
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.
Stop Using Otc Painkillers
Many people have the habit of taking over-the-counter painkillers to control every little pain instead of using natural remedies. There are pills for fever, for cold, for inflammationall these can be very damaging to the kidneys. Same goes with long-term medications.
Pharmaceutical drugs reduce blood flow to the kidneys, affecting their functions. Long-term use of these drugs can cause acute renal failure.
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Does Drinking A Lot Of Water Help
Kidney stones develop if the or uric acid salts in the urine can no longer dissolve. That may happen if the concentration of these substances is too high. The salts then form crystals, which develop into stones. This risk is lower if the urine is diluted as much as possible.
One study suggests that the risk of developing a second kidney stone can be reduced by drinking more water than usual. Participants drank enough to produce about 2.5 liters of urine per day. After a period of five years, the study showed the following:
- 27 out of 100 people who drank the same amount as they did before developed another kidney stone.
- 12 out of 100 people who drank more than they did before developed another kidney stone.
So drinking more helped prevent another kidney stone from forming in 15 out of 100 people. The study participants found it easy to drink more fluids.