How to Prevent Kidney Stones?

Solid mineral deposits that develop inside your kidneys are known as kidney stones. When such deposits go through your urinary tract, they cause immense pain.  Read our blog to find out how you can prevent kidney stones.

Dr.Sumanta Mishra Created on 3rd Aug, 21

Rigid mineral deposits that manifest within your kidneys are known as kidney stones. When such deposits go through your urinary tract, they cause immense pain.  Furthermore, once you have had a single kidney stone, you have a fifty percent chance to have another in the upcoming ten years. Hence, you may visit the most leading urologist in Bhubaneswar for treating kidney stones.

 

There is no confirm method for stopping kidney stones. Mainly if you have an ancestral background of kidney stones. Still, some medicines, lifestyle, and dietary changes may aid in decreasing your risk.

 

How to Naturally Prevent Kidney Stones

Minor changes to your nutrition plan and current diet can help prevent kidney stones.

 

  • Drink more water

 

Drink water to prevent kidney stones

An excellent way to stop kidney stones is to drink excess water. Your urine output will become less if you do not drink enough water. When you have low urine output, your urine becomes more concentrated. It will less likely dissolve urine salts, which will lead to stones.

 

Drink approximately eight glasses of fluids every day. At least, drink that much that you can pass two liters of urine. You will require more liquids if you sweat a lot or exercise. You will also consume more water if you have a cystine stones history.

 

Check your urine color to see if you are dehydrated; it should be pale yellow or clear. You should drink more water if your urine is dark.

  • Consume more calcium-rich foods

 

The calcium oxalate stone is the most prevalent kidney stone type, leading several individuals to think they need to avoid calcium. The inverse is correct. Low-calcium diets can raise your risk of osteoporosis and kidney stones. On the other hand, calcium supplements may raise your kidney stones risk. You can take calcium supplements while eating. It will help to lower this risk.

 

Calcium-rich foods include low-fat cheese, low-fat milk, and low-fat yogurt.

  • Consume less sodium

 

A rich-salt diet increases your chances of getting calcium kidney stones. Studies found that excess salt in the urine stops calcium from getting reabsorbed from the urine into your blood. This situation results in a high calcium level in the urine, which can lead to kidney stones.

 

You should eat less salt to lower urine calcium levels. You can decrease the chances of kidney stones by reducing the calcium in your urine.

 

Carefully read food labels to decrease your sodium intake.

 

The following foods are high in sodium:

  • Processed foods, like crackers and chips
  • Foods that have monosodium glutamate
  • Foods that have sodium nitrate
  • Foods that have sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
  • Canned Soups
  • Canned Vegetables
  • Lunch Meat
  • Condiments

 

You can use a salt-free herbal seasoning blend to flavor foods.

 

  • Consume fewer foods high in oxalate

 

Oxalate makes some kidney stones. It is a natural compound present in foods that manifest kidney stones when it binds with calcium within the urine. Keeping oxalate-rich foods to a minimum may assist you in stopping the stone’s formation.

 

The following foods are rich in oxalates:

  • Spinach
  • Chocolate
  • Soy Products
  • Beets
  • Wheat Bran
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Peanuts
  • Rhubarb
  • Coffee

 

Calcium and oxalate stick together in your digestive tract before going to your kidneys. So, if you eat calcium-rich foods and rich-oxalate foods simultaneously, then stone formation becomes more difficult.

 

  • Consume fewer animal proteins

 

Animal high-protein foods are acidic and may raise urine acidity. More urine acid causes calcium oxalate and uric acid kidney stones. You should try to stay away or limit from:

  • Beef
  • Poultry
  • Fish
  • Pork

 

  • Avoiding vitamin C supplements

 

Supplementing with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) can lead to kidney stones, particularly in males.

As per a study, men who took more vitamin C supplements doses have a twofold raised risk of developing kidney stone. Vitamin C from food, as per researchers, does not pose the same risk.

 

Herbal remedies

Stonebreaker, also known as Chanca Piedra, is a popular herbal folk medicine for kidney stones. Some people think the herb aids in the prevention of calcium-oxalate stones. They also believe it makes stones smaller.

You should use herbal medicines carefully. They are not researched or well-regulated for preventing or treating kidney stones.

 

Medications to help prevent kidney stones

Changing your diet alone may not be enough to prevent kidney stones from forming in some cases. If you have repeated stones, speak with your doctor about how medicines can help you in kidney stones treatment.

 

Conclusion

Kidney stones commonly occur. Prevention methods do not guarantee that they will work. Still, they may decrease your chances. Staying hydrated and making specific dietary changes are your best bets for avoiding kidney stones. If you have a condition that puts you at risk for kidney stones, like a persistent urinary tract,  inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, infection, or talk to your doctor about managing it.

 

If you have ever passed a kidney stone, have it tested by your doctor. You can take steps to stop new stones from developing once you know what kind of stone you have had.

Relevant Questions

Q. I am 33 years old and I am diagnosed with kidney stones. Is surgery the only option to eliminate kidney stones? Would you please suggest any helpful advice?

Surgery is not the only option for kidney stones. It depends on multiple factors such as the size of the stone, is it obstructing urine or not, what is the kidney's function, is the stone causing symptoms or complications, etc. In these cases, surgery is needed. If you have a large stone or symptoms of it kindly consult a urologist for further evaluation and proper management.

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Q. I am 61 years old. Recently I have been diagnosed with a kidney stone, and I experience severe abdominal pain frequently, should I do consider surgery or medicines would help?

Kidney stones if causing severe abdominal pain then it may be due to obstruction of the urinary tract like infundibulum, pelvis, or ureter. If the stone is causing obstruction and symptoms then surgery is advisable. Sometimes if the kidney stone is very small like less than 4-5 mm medicines may help to flush it out.

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