Kidney stones, also known as lithiasis or stones, are small mineral crystals that form in the kidneys. Usually, these crystals travel from the organ to the urinary tract, where they are expelled during urination. Sometimes, however, they get stuck in the kidney, where they join with other small crystals and form a stone. Most of these are made up of calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, or both. You should consult your doctor if you suffer from such ailment; both your doctor and a urologist can offer you several options for treatment; However, you can also do some home procedures to try to get rid of kidney stones.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Taking Basic Measurements
Step 1. Drink lots of water and other liquids
Taking fluids makes you urinate more, and urinating ultimately helps you get rid of the stone. The best drink is always natural water. Out of 10 kidney stones only 1 or 2 require more invasive surgery than drinking lots of water and waiting, so make sure that if you need to take any steps to get rid of the stones, this is it.
- Many sources recommend that women drink around 2.2 liters of fluid per day, while men should drink around 3 liters.
- You must aim to drink enough water so that the urine is light yellow or clear, this shows that you are getting enough fluids.
Step 2. Have a lemonade or lime-flavored drink
You should look for sodas that are low in sugar or you can make your own. Lemons and limes are very rich in citric acid, which helps prevent mineral crystals from swelling and turning into kidney stones as a result.
Avoid dark beers, as they contain oxalates which can contribute to the formation of kidney stones
Step 3. Take pain relievers if needed
You can take NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are available with various active ingredients; ibuprofen (Moment, Brufen), naproxen (Aleve) or aspirin are all readily available and commonly used. However, if you are under 18, do not take aspirin, as it has been linked to a dangerous disease called Reye's Syndrome, which causes acute brain damage.
If you have a large, painful kidney stone, you may need to be prescribed a stronger pain reliever. If this is the case, your doctor will be able to accurately diagnose the situation
Step 4. Know when to see a doctor
Most kidney stones clear up on their own with a little patience and plenty of fluids. Usually only about 15% of these require medical intervention. Consult your doctor if:
- You have frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs); these worsen in the presence of kidney stones.
- You have had a kidney transplant, have a compromised immune system, or currently only have one kidney.
- You are a pregnant woman. The type of treatment for stones during pregnancy usually depends on the trimester of the pregnancy.
- You think the kidney stone is blocking the urinary tract. Signs of obstruction are reduced urine flow, need to urinate at night and flank pain.
Step 5. Take medication or schedule removal if you can't clear the stone
If the stone doesn't go away by itself, you may need to resort to medication or one of the many removal procedures.
- Shockwave lithotripsy is an ideal procedure for stones smaller than 2 cm. Not a good choice for pregnant women, as it requires x-rays to locate the stone and may not be effective for much larger ones.
- If the stones are found in the urethra, your doctor might do a ureteroscopy. This procedure involves inserting a microscopic camera into the urethra so the doctor can see the stone and then remove it by inserting a tool through the bladder and into the urethra, clearing the duct.
- If you have a very large (greater than 2 cm) or irregularly shaped kidney stone, the doctor may perform a percutaneous nephrolithotomy or nephrolithotripsy. While you are under general anesthesia, the surgeon will make a small incision in the back of your body and will remove (nephrolithotomy) or to break (nephrolithotripsy) the stone.
- If the stone is due to hypercalciuria, a clinical syndrome characterized by excess calcium excretion in the urine, the doctor may prescribe a diuretic, orthophosphate, bisphosphonate or, more rarely, calcium-binding agents.
- If you also have gout, he may prescribe allopurinol for you.
Part 2 of 2: Preventing Kidney Stones
Step 1. Give up or at least cut back on sugar, fizzy drinks, and corn syrup
Sugar disrupts the body's ability to absorb calcium and magnesium, which therefore becomes responsible for the formation of kidney stones. Fructose in table sugar and high fructose corn syrup are related to an increased risk of kidney stones. If you want to maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid the formation of these "painful pebbles", try reducing the amount of sugar you consume.
Some citrus-flavored sodas, such as 7UP and Sprite, contain high levels of citric acid. While you should avoid sugary drinks, occasionally sipping on one of these clear sodas can be a good way to increase your citric acid intake
Step 2. Exercise
Work out 30 minutes every day. Moderate exercise has been found to reduce the risk of kidney stones by up to 31%.
Aim to do at least 150 minutes each week of moderate aerobic activity, such as walking, jogging, or even just gardening
Step 3. Limit your animal protein intake to 170g or less per day
Animal proteins, especially red meats, increase the risk of developing kidney stones, especially those of uric acid, so try to stick to this daily amount, which is approximately the size of the palm of your hand or a deck of cards; all this allows you to reduce the risk of developing any type of kidney stones as much as possible.
- Red meats, offal and seafood are rich in a substance called purine. This organic molecule increases the body's production of uric acid and can cause kidney stones. Eggs and fish also contain purine, albeit in smaller quantities than red meats and seafood.
- Get protein from other sources, such as calcium-rich dairy products or legumes. Legumes contain fiber and phytate, a compound that can help prevent kidney stones from forming. Also beware of soy, as this food also contains high levels of oxalate.
Step 4. Try to get enough calcium
The fact that many kidney stones are made up of calcium may lead you to think that it is a good thing to reduce the amount of calcium in your diet. However, research has found that diets too low in calcium actually increase the risk of kidney stones. Eat a good variety of dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, to meet your daily requirement for this mineral.
- Children between the ages of 4 and 8 need 1,000 mg of calcium per day, children between the ages of 9 and 18 should take 1,300 mg, while adults aged 19 and over require at least 1,000 mg. Women over 50 and men over 70 should take 1,200 mg of calcium per day.
- Unless suggested by your doctor, you should avoid taking calcium supplements. The calcium you consume from your normal diet has no effect on kidney stones, but if you consume too much of it by absorbing it from supplements, you can increase the risk of developing this disorder.
Step 5. Follow a "low oxalate" diet
The most common composition of kidney stones is mainly based on calcium oxalate, so avoiding foods that are rich in it can try to prevent future formations. Limit your consumption of oxalate to 40-50 mg per day.
- If you eat foods that contain oxalates, try to consume foods that contain calcium at the same time. In fact, oxalate and calcium tend to bind together before reaching the kidneys, thus reducing the risk of developing kidney stones.
- Foods that are rich in oxalates (10 mg or more per serving) are nuts, most berries, wheat, figs, grapes, mandarins, beans, beets, carrots, celery, eggplant, cabbage, leeks, olives, okra, peppers, potatoes, spinach, sweet potatoes and courgettes.
- Drinks that contain high levels of oxalate (more than 10 mg per serving) include dark beer, black tea, chocolate-based drinks, soy-based drinks, and instant coffee.
- The body can sometimes convert high doses of vitamin C - such as those taken in supplements - into oxalate. Unless recommended by your doctor, avoid taking vitamin C supplements.
Step 6. Avoid crash diets
These drastic weight loss systems increase the amount of uric acid in the blood, raising the risk of kidney stones. High-protein diets, such as the Atkins diet, put kidney health at serious risk and should be avoided.
That said, a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and a limited amount of lean protein can be a great way to stay healthy and prevent kidney stones
Step 7. Be especially cautious if you already have a previous history of kidney stones
According to studies, about half of all patients who have already suffered from a kidney stone will have another within 7 years of the first episode. Make sure you take all preventative measures if you have had a kidney stone in the past because it means you are at increased risk.
Advice
- Eat healthy and stick to your eating plan. Set a diet consisting of vitamins and other nutrients, avoiding fast foods and products that are high in saturated fat.
- "Natural" remedies such as dandelion, apple cider vinegar, rose hip and asparagus have little or no scientific support as useful treatments for kidney stones.
