Causes Of Kidney Stones And How To Prevent Them

As many as 1 in 10 people have kidney stones at some point in their life. It is quite a common occurrence. Inquire with your doctor about how much is appropriate for you. They can cause a lot of pain and also lead to some serious, even potentially fatal consequences. That’s why it is important that you know what causes kidney stones and how to prevent them.

Causes Of Kidney Stones And How To Prevent Them

Section: Causes Of Kidney Stones

Section: Kidney Stone Symptoms

Section: How To Prevent Kidney Stones

Takeaway: There may be a variety of reasons for kidney stones, but it's important to seek treatment and try some preventive measures.

Causes Of Kidney Stones

In this article, we will discuss the causes of kidney stones and how to prevent them. Inquire with your doctor about the appropriate amount. Dehydration is when you do not drink enough water and you have lost water from your body. This causes the waste products in your urine to become concentrated and form crystals that may turn into stones.

Other causes are: if you have too much calcium, oxalate, or uric acid in your urine if you have too little citrate in your urine, or if you have a urinary tract infection (UTI)

The best way to prevent kidney stones is to drink at least 2 liters of water a day and reduce your salt intake. You can also cut back on foods high in oxalates like nuts and spinach, drinks with caffeine like coffee and soft drinks, and sugary drinks like fruit juice and energy drinks. You should also increase your vitamin C intake by eating more fruits like orange, pineapple, and berries as well as vegetables like broccoli and kale.

Kidney Stone Symptoms

Kidney stones are tiny salt and magnesium "small stones" in the urine. The most common symptom is severe pain. The majority of kidney stones pass on their own, however, others require medical intervention to be removed.

Kidney Stones Symptoms

The most common sign of both kidney stones and a kidney infection is pain. Rarer symptoms include blood in the urine (hematuria) and vomiting.

The pain can be anywhere in your back, but it is often the worst where your kidneys are, just above your waistline in the middle of your back. Pain from a kidney stone may change — for instance, shifting to a different location or increasing in intensity — as the stone moves through your urinary tract.

Pain caused by a kidney stone may change — for example, shifting to a different location or increasing in intensity — as the stone moves through your urinary tract. You also may experience nausea or vomiting.

Other signs and symptoms include:

Blood in your urine (hematuria)

Pus or infection in your urine (pyuria)

Section: How To Prevent Kidney Stones

Kidney stones can be a painful and annoying problem, but they don't have to keep you in bed. With a few common-sense changes, you can reduce your chance of getting them.

Here are a few tips for preventing kidney stones:

Stay hydrated. Drinking more water is the most crucial thing you can do. Most people should aim for about 2 liters (about 9 cups) of water every day. If you're at risk for stone formation or have had stones in the past, you may need to drink more water — as much as 3 liters (about 13 cups) per day.

Add lemon juice. Citric acid may help prevent calcium-oxalate kidney stone formation. Add the juice from one lemon to your drinking water each day. Don't overdo it, though — too much citric acid can increase your risk of uric acid stones. Consult your doctor to determine how much is appropriate for you.

Cut back on salt and animal protein. A high-sodium diet increases the excretion of calcium in the urine, which enhances mineralization and stone formation. And uric acid stones are formed when there's too much uric acid in the urine — something that happens when there's too much purine in the diet (