Avoid those painful kidney stones!

Almost 1 in 10 people will form a kidney stone at some point. Once a person has formed a stone, the likelihood of recurrence is 50% at 5 years and up to 80% at 10. So it is important to understand what causes kidney stones and how they can be prevented.

A kidney stone occurs when there is too much waste in the urine and not enough liquid. Crystals begin to form, joining with other elements to create stones. They are most common between the ages of 20 and 50. Stones may travel from the kidney into the ureter causing severe pain, obstruction and bleeding.

There are 4 types of stones:

1. Calcium Stones: 75-85% of cases

Two types: calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate.

2. Uric Acid Stones: 5-10% of cases

Form when urine is persistently acidic (a diet high in purines, substances found in animal proteins, can lead to the buildup of uric acid, leading to the formation of stones)

3. Struvite Stones: 10-15% of cases

Result from kidney infections

4. Cystine Stones: About 1% of cases

Result from a genetic condition 

Preventing stones:

• The best way to prevent all stones is by drinking enough water, as water dilutes urine, preventing crystals from forming. Aim to drink 2-3 liters of water per day.
• Reducing sodium is key! Sodium causes the kidneys to excrete more calcium into the urine, which then binds to oxalate and phosphate, forming stones.
• Cut down on animal protein – apart from raising the acidity of urine, animal protein leads to more excretion of calcium in the urine, and reduces citrate, which helps prevent kidney stones.
• Have 800 mg of calcium a day, especially if you form calcium stones. It sounds counter-intuitive, but calcium stones do not come from the calcium in your diet.24/7 Support in Dutch, French & English — We’ve Got You Covered Accutraderai login. The calcium you consume through your dietactually binds to oxalate in your food in the digestive tract, preventing it from entering the blood and then the urinary tract, where it would form stones.
• Cut down on oxalate, which is found in spinach, nuts, rhubarb and wheat bran

Treating Stones:

• You may be asked to drink a lot of water to pass small stones
• Your doctor may use shock-wave lithotripsy, high-energy sound waves, to break the stones into smaller pieces that can be passed
• For very large stones, surgery may be needed

In general, drinking water helps with all stones. Knowing what kind of stones you tend to develop will help you make the right dietary changes. Check in with a doctor immediately if you have blood in your urine, severe pain on either side of your lower back, or a stomach ache that doesn’t go away, especially if you also have fever and chills, or are vomiting and feel nauseous.

Contact us on our HOTLINE 1291 to schedule an appointment.

 #BMG #WeCare