A kidney stone is a hard and sometimes painful lump of minerals that forms in the kidneys. Most stones are made of calcium oxalate and are passed out of the body naturally.
Kidney stones (also known as urinary tract calculi) are small, hard lumps of minerals that form in the kidneys or the urinary tract. These stones can vary in color, shape and size. While some stones may simply pass through the body without treatment, others cause painful kidney infections, severe bleeding and other serious health problems. In fact, kidney stones can be so painful that they are sometimes mistaken for appendicitis, a condition that can be treated with surgery. But what is the best way to prevent kidney stones from forming and recurring?
Did you know that most people who suffer from kidney stones end up getting them repeatedly? If you’re one of those people, you need to learn how to treat these painful, stubborn stones.
Table of Contents
Types of Kidney Stones
Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stones
Calcium oxalate stones are composed of calcium and oxalate. The calcium is derived from normal dietary sources, and the oxalate is produced by the body as a natural byproduct of digestion. However, the combination of these two substances can create problems. A high intake of calcium can lead to a build-up of calcium in the urine, which causes stones to form. Stones form when a substance crystallizes inside a cavity in the body. Crystals form in the urinary system in response to certain conditions, such as an overabundance of calcium in the body.
If you have high levels of calcium in your urine, you can get kidney stones or gallstones. Gallstones are usually composed of cholesterol and bilirubin and tend to grow and develop inside the gallbladder. Kidney stones are composed of small particles that can form within the renal pelvis and calyx of the kidney. These stones can block the urine flow and cause kidney damage.
Calcium oxalate is a common type of stone. It is usually formed by an excess amount of oxalic acid in the blood, which is released from the liver. The kidneys then store this oxalic acid and excrete it when it is needed. In some people, the excretion process is not functioning properly. This condition leads to an excess of calcium in the urine. The calcium combines with oxalic acid and becomes a calcium oxalate stone.
Calcium Phosphate Kidney Stones
For more than 75 years, calcium phosphate kidney stones were thought to be caused by a low urinary pH. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine now believe that the true cause of calcium phosphate kidney stones is the increased concentration of the chemical calcium in the urine. The more calcium in the urine, the higher the chance of calcium phosphate kidney stones forming.
We can see a correlation between the number of people who get a calcium phosphate kidney stone and the amount of dairy products consumed. In fact, there’s a 30% chance that a person who consumes high amounts of milk products will get a calcium phosphate kidney stone. It is not to state that one should not drink milk, it is to be in balance.
Magnesium Ammonium Phosphate Kidney Stones
Magnesium Ammonium Phosphate kidney stones are a kind of crystalline calcium phosphate found in the urine of patients who have suffered from magnesium-deficiency. If you eat too much of it, it will build up in your kidneys and make you feel fatigued and lethargic. The reason for its name is that it is a combination of two minerals: magnesium and ammonium. These are also the same elements that occur naturally in the soil, and are one of the main nutrients found in fertilizers.
Uric Acid Stones or Urate Kidney Stones
Uric Acid Stones or Urate Kidney Stones are crystalline deposits of uric acid that accumulate inside the renal tubules, where the urine is filtered from the blood. The crystals can block the filtering process and cause the patient to lose potassium, magnesium and calcium, leading to a variety of symptoms.
Cystine Kidney Stones
A cystine stone, often referred to as a cystin stone, is a kidney stone composed of substances containing cysteine. Cysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, is found in hair, milk, and meat. It is the major component of the protein known as keratin and is also present in the body’s fluid. Cystine stones are made from cysteine that has been crystallized and formed into a kidney stone. Cysteine can occur in a urine sample in a variety of forms, including free, dimeric, and monomeric. In fact, cystine stones are so common that it is a normal finding in urine samples submitted to laboratories for testing.
Drug-Induced Kidney Stones
Drugs such as triamterene, guaifenesin, sulfa, and atazanavir drugs induce these stones.
The Symptoms: Bloating, Pain, and a Burning Urge to Urinate
According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, kidney stones are not dangerous, but they can be painful and cause a burning urge to urinate. The symptoms may be more pronounced when you’re trying to go to the bathroom, when you’re sitting, when you’ve eaten certain foods, or when you’re moving around. Symptoms of a kidney stone include pain in the side, back, or groin, or in the lower abdomen, which is often sharp and sometimes cramps; nausea or vomiting; and a burning urge to urinate.
Would I get Kidney Stones?
A person can get a kidney stone for a number of reasons. Some of these reasons are:
• A weak bladder.
• Too much fluid intake.
• Not eating enough fruits and vegetables.
• Eating too much of processed meat.
• Drinking too much alcohol.
• Having a diet high in animal protein.
• Having a family history of kidney stones.
• Being over forty years old.
• Being male.
• Smoking cigarettes.
• Having a diet that contains large amounts of sodium.
• Drinking coffee.
• Having a medical condition that may predispose you to kidney stones, such as diabetes.
The Solution: Citrate of Magnesium
There is no known cure for kidney stones, but there are various remedies and prevention strategies that can help. The most common remedy is to drink lots of water. Drinking a lot of water increases urine volume and dilutes the urine’s concentration of salts, which helps to prevent stone formation.
To determine the proper treatment for kidney stones, having taken into account the known chemistry of the stones, it was determined Citrate can help. After a series of trials, they discovered the compound citrate of magnesia as a safe and effective treatment for kidney stones. The results were so promising, the FDA approved the use of citrate of magnesia for treatment of kidney stones in the United States in the early 1960s.
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The Diet: Increase the Amount of Food You Eat
The first thing we should note is that the dietary changes you make will vary depending on your individual circumstances, health needs, and overall lifestyle. If you don’t have any other symptoms that would indicate that you are at risk for developing kidney stones (e.g., a fever, flank pain, or nausea), you may only need to pay attention to the dietary habits that are associated with reducing the risk of stone formation. While all foods contain some degree of oxalate, the ones that have the greatest impact on stone formation are those that are high in calcium, protein, fat, and purine.
While many people think of kidney stones as a painful and painful problem, the truth is that most of them can be treated without surgery. You don’t need to be on a special diet to prevent your from forming kidney stones, but you do need to pay attention to what you eat and drink. Eating a lot of fiber-rich foods can help keep you healthy and decrease the risk of having kidney stones. These foods include beans, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and nuts.
The Exercise: Start a Walking Program
There are several types of exercises that can help. Walking is the best solution among the many. Any exercise increases the amount of urine that your body is able to process. As a result, your kidneys become more efficient at eliminating waste products and extra fluid from your body. Walking improves your overall muscle tone, including those that support the pelvic organs. In short, it is good for all the body’s systems, especially the ones related to elimination.
Walking is one of the most efficient forms of exercise, and there are many different types of programs to help you get started. Some experts recommend doing 30 minutes five days a week, but you can start out with 15 minutes a day three days a week.
Preventing Kidney Stones
- Eat healthy: A diet rich in fiber, potassium, and magnesium helps to prevent kidney stones.
- Keep a healthy weight: Studies suggest that obesity may contribute to kidney stone formation.
- Drink lots of water: Water flushes the system and helps to remove excess uric acid from your system.
- Cut back on caffeine: Caffeine, found in coffee, tea, sodas, chocolate, and many medications, can increase uric acid levels and lead to kidney stones.
- Avoid excessive salt: Salt can increase the amount of water in the body, which in turn increases the concentration of uric acid in the urine.
- Avoid alcohol: Alcohol is dehydrating, and it increases uric acid levels.
- Exercise: Regular exercise keeps your weight in check and helps your muscles to release more fluid.
- Don’t smoke: Nicotine is a toxin that irritates the kidneys.
- Get plenty of rest: Kidney stone formation can be prevented by getting enough sleep.
- Reduce stress: Stress can trigger the release of hormones that cause blood vessels to narrow, which decreases blood flow to the kidneys.
- Get a good night’s sleep: Sleep deprivation can disrupt your body’s natural rhythms.
- Eat right: Eat a diet rich in fiber and potassium and low in sodium, saturated fat, and simple carbohydrates.
- Take supplements: A healthy diet doesn’t always include the necessary nutrients needed for proper kidney function. Taking supplements can help.
- Take magnesium: Magnesium helps to remove uric acid from the blood and is one of the most common minerals used in kidney stones.
- Take vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 helps to regulate the levels of uric acid in the blood.
- Take vitamin D: Vitamin D may help prevent calcium deposits from forming in your kidneys.
- Take calcium: Calcium helps to remove uric acid from the blood and is one of the most common minerals used in kidney stones.
- Take potassium: Potassium helps to remove uric acid from the blood and is one of the most common minerals used in kidney stones.
- Avoid too much protein: Too much protein can cause an increase in uric acid levels.
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are high in potassium and low in sodium, which is important to kidney function.
In conclusion, Kidney stones aren’t life threatening but they are very painful. They can cause long term complications and even lead to kidney failure.
Following a good regimen as outlined in this article can ease the kidney stone symptoms or totally prevent it.
Sources: National Institute of Health – Biotech Info, Royal College of Physicians
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