Kidney stones are made up of salts and metabolites formed in your body, they can come from the table salt you have consumed or may be a formed product of your protein metabolism which deposits and form inside stones in your kidneys. They cause excruciating pain when they pass through your urinary tract and can be silent enough to destroy your whole kidney function before even you can recognize the harm done

In Indian population, about 12% of them are expected to have urinary stones  and once you’ve had one kidney stone, you’re 50 percent more likely to get another within the next 10 years.

There is no one sure way to prevent kidney stones, especially if you have a family history of the condition. A combination of diet and lifestyle changes, as well as some medications, may help reduce your risk.

A Urologist is at a unique position to help you in knowing, treating, analysing, and preventing your stone problem.

7 points to keep you away from becoming a new stone former or a recurrent stone former:

1. Stay Hydrated: liberal intake of water to have a daily urine output of 2000 to 2500ml on a normal sunny day. A word of caution for heart and kidney failure patient not to increase your free water intake in consultation of your cardiologist or nephrologist, also sparkling water/sodas promote stone formation.
2. Reduce sodium intake: Your kidney is a obligate parasite for sodium and in exchange of sodium pours calcium in your urine which combines with oxalates to form stone. So, sodium is the culprit do not blame calcium for your stones!  
3. Increase your citric acid intake: lemon and lime are rich source.
4. Limit your oxalate intake: Oxalate (oxalic acid) is an antinutrient found in many plant foods, including leafy greens, fruits, vegetables, and cocoa and a good quantity is produced by our own body.
5. Eat less animal protein if you are a omnivore: A diet high in animal protein sources, such as meat, fish, and dairy, is associated with a higher risk of kidney stones.
6. Obesity and uncontrolled Diabetes are promoters of stone formation.
7. If you have your stone with you ask your urologist to get it analysed.

 

What have we gained through this blog:

Kidney stones are common. There is no guarantee that prevention methods will work, but they may reduce your risk. Your best bet for preventing kidney stones is staying hydrated and making certain dietary changes.

If you have a condition that increases your risk of kidney stones, such as inflammatory bowel disease, persistent urinary tract infection, or obesity, talk to your doctor about ways to manage it to decrease your kidney stone risk.

If you’ve passed a kidney stone before, ask your doctor to have it tested. Once you know what type of stone you’ve had, you can take targeted steps to prevent new ones from forming.