Caring for your kidneys to avoid stone formation

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Do you have frequent severe cramps in the lower back? Are you always in pain when urinating? Is your urine cloudy or bloody? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might have a kidney disorder.

Kidney disease is one of the top 10 causes of death in the Philippines, according to recent studies. Every year about 120 Filipinos in every 1 million develop kidney failure due to stone formation.

One of the most painful kidney disorders is kidney stone—when hard pebble-like lumps develop from crystals that separate from the urine within the urinary tract. Calcium combined with oxalate or phosphate is the most common kidney stone. Another type of stone is struvite, which is caused by urinary tract infection.

Furthermore, stones occur more frequently in men than in women. However, people with a family history of kidney stones are also likely to develop stones. Kidney stones can also be associated with external factors like diet and lifestyle. Foods high in protein, fats, phosphorus, and sodium usually disrupt the kidneys’ natural process of filtration.

Plenty of water, healthy diet

To prevent formation of kidney stones, have a healthy diet and drink plenty of water. Also, avoid salty and spicy food additives or flavor enhancers.

Kidney stones can now be easily treated with modern advancements in healthcare. The most common kidney stone removal procedure is through extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). It uses shock waves to break kidney stones into small specks to make them easily move through the urinary tract and out from the body.

Instead of undergoing surgery, a noninvasive treatment is recommended by doctors like taking oral medications that can break down the formation of calcium and uric acid stones and lead to faster recovery.

You can consult a doctor about such preventive medicine.

If you have more than one kidney stone, especially if you have a family history of stones, you are more likely to have kidney stones again. But you can take steps to help prevent them:
Drink more fluids. Try to drink enough water to keep your urine clear, about 8 to 10 glasses of water per day. Slowly increase how much you drink, perhaps adding one more glass of water a day until you are drinking 8 to 10 glasses a day. This slow increase will give your body time to adjust to the extra fluids. You are drinking enough water when your urine is clear or light yellow. If it is dark yellow, you are not drinking enough fluids. If you have kidney, heart, or liver disease and have fluid restrictions, talk with your doctor before increasing how much you drink.
Change your diet. This may be helpful, but it depends on what is causing your kidney stones. Your doctor may do more tests before deciding whether changing your diet will help reduce your risk for developing another stone. The results of these tests may suggest that it could be helpful to do one or more of the following:
Increase how much fiber you eat. Fiber includes oat bran, beans, whole wheat breads, wheat cereals, cabbage, and carrots.
Eat less beef, pork, and poultry.
Eat a moderate or high amount of calcium-rich foods, such as dairy products. Getting your recommended amounts of calcium, combined with a diet low in sodium and protein, may decrease your risk of kidney stones.
Try not to drink grapefruit juice. Drinking grapefruit juice may increase your risk for developing kidney stones.
Avoid foods that are high in oxalate, such as dark green vegetables, nuts, and chocolate.
Try not to add salt when you cook or eat. Try removing the salt shaker from your table.