Kidney stones are small to large stones, some the size of golf balls and others smaller than peas, that develop in the kidneys and can necessitate surgery if they are too large to pass on their own. Stones are of four types: calcium, struvite, uric acid, and cystine. Calcium stones may result from excess calcium in the diet, struvite from kidney infections and too much magnesium, and uric acid stones form when the urine has a higher than normal acid content. Cystine stones may not be easy to prevent, since they are caused by typically inherited disease. They are rare and can be treated with medication and removal of stones as required.
There are several main ways to prevent kidney stones of the first three types. The simplest and most effective way is to drink plenty of water each day. Many doctors recommend consuming about 12 glasses daily.
You can use some juice if you get tired of water, but don’t use calcium-fortified juice if you are prone to calcium stones. A glass or two of cranberry juice that is sweetened with other juices can be helpful since it can help reduce bladder and kidney infections. It acts as a natural diuretic, helping your body to shed urine more quickly. Fewer kidney infections mean less chance of developing struvite stones.
To further reduce infection, when you urinate, try to make sure to void the bladder completely. It may be helpful to wait for a minute after you’re done urinating and try again. Also, be sure to use the bathroom every few hours during the daytime, instead of holding it.
You should limit your intake of caffeinated beverages, which may result in too much loss of fluid, too quickly. Combinations of a couple of cups of tea a day and ice cream have a tendency to put people more at risk for developing kidney stones. You may want to avoid all caffeine if you get stones frequently, but some people find that even by reducing their caffeine intake to a cup or two of coffee, diet soda or tea, they’re able to prevent stones from forming.
Despite changes in bathroom habits, caffeine intake, and water intake, some people may still need to take medication to prevent kidney stones from forming. This is particularly true if you have cystine, struvite or calcium stones that remain unresolved by modification of habits. Even if you do take medication, it can help to follow the above recommendations to reduce the chances of having to deal with the pain associated with passing a kidney stone.
