KIDNEY STONES
A small, hard deposit that forms in the kidneys and is often painful when passed. Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and acid salts that stick together in concentrated urine. Waste products in the blood can occasionally form crystals that collect inside the kidneys. Over time, the crystals may build up to form a hard stone-like lump.
This is more likely to happen if you:
Kidney stones are usually found in the kidneys or in the ureter, the tube that connects the kidneys to your bladder.
They can be extremely painful, and can lead to kidney infections or the kidney not working properly if left untreated.
Kidney stones come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Some are like grains of sand, while in rare cases others can grow to the size of a golf ball. The main types of kidney stones are:
Calcium stones. Most kidney stones are calcium stones, usually in the form of calcium oxalate. Oxalate is a substance made daily by your liver or absorbed from your diet. Certain fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and chocolate, have high oxalate content.
Struvite stones. Struvite stones form in response to a urinary tract infection. These stones can grow quickly and become quite large, sometimes with few symptoms or little warning.
Uric acid stones. Uric acid stones can form in people who lose too much fluid because of chronic diarrhea or malabsorption, those who eat a high-protein diet, and those with diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Certain genetic factors also may increase your risk of uric acid stones.
Cystine stones. These stones form in people with a hereditary disorder called cystinuria which causes the kidneys to excrete too much of specific amino acid.
Possible causes include drinking too little water, exercising (too much or too little), obesity, weight loss surgery, or eating food with too much salt or sugar. Infections and family history might be important to some people. Eating too much fructose correlates with an increased risk of developing a kidney stone. Fructose can be found in table sugar and high fructose corn syrup.
The best way to prevent kidney stones is to make sure you drink plenty of water each day to avoid becoming dehydrated.
You're advised to:
Keeping your urine clear helps to stop waste products from getting too concentrated and forming stones. You can tell how diluted your urine is by looking at its color. The darker your urine is, the more concentrated it is. Kidney stones are typically a painful condition. Fortunately, diet can be an effective tool in managing and preventing kidney stones.
We at Nutrishilp are there to help you while coping up with kidney stones with our nutritional and dietary assistance.
To book an appointment or to visit NUTRISHILP, call 7581921000 (9:30am - 6:30pm IST)
