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Kidney stones
Kidney stones are formed when tiny crystals separate
from the urine and collect inside the kidney forming a small stone.
Stones can develop over a period of months or even years. The size
of a kidney stone can range from a small speck to the size of a
golf ball! luckily most people's urine contains chemicals that prevent
the formation of these crystals. However, every year up to a million
people are diagnosed with kidney stones. An estimated 10% of the
people living in the U.S. will develop kidney stones at some point
in their lives. If you're prone to
kidney stones you could have them as early as your twenties. Although
they usually don't occur until after you turn 30, it might help
to develop habits that will avoid these painful little guys in the
future.
Who's at risk: Anyone
can get a kidney stone. However some are at more risk than others.
White Americans are more likely to develop a
stone than Black Americans.
Men are 4 times as likely to develop kidney
stones than are women. Stones occur most typically in men ages 20
to 40.
If you live in the southeastern U.S. you're
more likely to get kidney stoned.
If you commonly have urinary tract infections you
are at a higher risk for "struvite
kidney stones."
You are at an exceptionally high risk for
oxalate kidney stones if...
- You have a family history of oxalate kidney
stones
- You have already had an oxalate kidney stone
- You have a disorder
such as Hypercalciuria, hyperoxaluria, hyperuricosuria, cystinuria,
cystic kidney disease, renal tubular acidosis, hyperparathyroidism,
or gout.
Kidney Stone Types, Causes and Prevention
Oxalate Kidney Stones
The most common kidney stone
is composed of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate. These
make up 70% to 80% of all kidney stones reported in the US. Because
of this, people used to avoid dairy products high in calcium to
prevent kidney stones. This is wrong! Today, we know that foods
high in calcium, including milk and most other dairy products, actually
help prevent oxalate kidney stones from forming. This is because
the calcium in the food absorbs the oxalate and phosphate in the
digestive tract before it enters the blood so these crystals never
make it to the kidneys. Instead the oxalate and phosphate is flushed
out of the body through the digestive tract. A diet high in calcium
is good for you. It's good for your muscles, your bones and your
kidneys. Calcium only becomes a problem when it is abnormally excreted
into the kidneys. This can be caused by a disorder or by eating
too much sugar. Too much sugar causes your pancreas to release insulin,
which causes extra calcium excretion in your urine. So
keep your sweets in moderation. Dehydration can also lead
to a high concentration of calcium oxalate in the urine. When you
exercise especially in a hot climate make sure you are guzzling
water. The rest of the time, you should still make sure to drink
lots of water. Water is the number one most important nutrient in
your diet. Large doses of vitamin C and a lack of vitamin B can
cause excess oxalate in the urine, leading to this type of kidney
stone. Although vitamin C is good for you in many ways, those of
you who are at an exceptionally high risk for oxalate kidney stones
due to your family history, having suffered from one already, or
having a disorder, should limit your daily vitamin C intake to 100
to 200 mg per day.
The second most common kidney stones are Struvite
stones. This type of kidney stone is caused
by recurrent urinary tract infections in women. So try to keep the
opening to your urinary tract (near the vagina) clean, as well as
anything that might come into contact with it clean. If you find
you are having many urinary tract infections, ask your doctor for
advice. Vitamin C and cranberry juice can work wonders. For this
particular type of stone, Vitamin C is a good thing. So as you can
see, different kidney stones require different ways of prevention.
The trick is to find out whether you are at risk for one or the
other and then plan your diet, including your vitamin C intake,
accordingly.
Kidney Stone Prevention
Those of you who are at
an exceptionally high risk for oxalate kidney stones: meaning
you have a family history of oxalate stones, you've had one already,
or you have a disorder that makes you prone to oxalate stones...
- Drink plenty of water.
- Drink and eat plenty of dairy products -
Milk does a body good!
- Avoid foods that cause a significant increase
in oxalate excretion into the urine: spinach, rhubarb, beets,
nuts, chocolate, tea, wheat bran and strawberries
- You may also consider
limiting eggs, fish, animal fat and
protein, which also increase oxalate content in the urine.
- Supply your body with Vitamin B's which
prevent oxalate excretion, by eating carrots, peas, raisins, broccoli,
milk, or potatoes (37mg 3 times a day for teens, 50mg 3 times
a day for adults).
- Supply your body with Vitamin B6 by eating
carrots (a Vitamin B6 powerhouse), and don't forget potatoes,
corn, cantaloupe broccoli, beans and bananas.
Women, to prevent Struvite Stones...
- Keep your urinary tract free of infection.
- Take showers regularly with soap and water
to keep yourself nice and clean.
If you are not at high risk for oxalate stones...
- Maintain the urine's pH with vitamin
C from oranges or orange juice to prevent urinary infection and
struvite kidney stones.
- Zinc also promotes healing and prevents struvite
crystals. Get your zinc by eating mushrooms, sunflower seeds,
lima beans, pecans, and as long as you don't overdo it - egg
yolks and poultry. (40 to 60mg of zinc daily for teens and 50
to 80mg daily for adults)
Everyone...
- Drink lots of
water to dilute the toxins in
the kidneys and to flush crystals out of the body. Most
of us are dehydrated. If you are thirsty you are already dehydrated.
If your urine is deep orange-yellow you are dehydrated. Drink
up. There's plenty for everyone.
- Avoid always sleeping on the same side.
A study found that 93 out of 110 patients with kidney stones preferred
sleeping on one side and spent large amounts of time sleeping
on that particular side.
What if you get a kidney stone?
Most kidney stones pass out of the body through
the urine without help from a doctor. Stones that remain in the
kidney causing lasting symptoms or complications can be treated
using various non-surgical techniques. Most often surgery is unnecessary.
If you notice blood in your urine or feel a sharp pain in your back
or side, see your physician.
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