More Kidney Stone Info in the form of FAQ

Does stress play any role in the development of kidney stones?

Does my diet contribute to kidney stones?

• Lack of proper fluid intake, especially water.
• Carbonated, sugary sodas and beverages.
• Lack of fiber.
• Low-carbohydrate, high animal protein diet that leads to imbalance in purines and uric acid levels.
• Too much salt/sodium, oxalates, and calcium.
• Excess vitamin supplements.

How does water intake prevent kidney stones from returning?

For people who have already experienced kidney stones, the recommended consumption of water is at least twelve 8-ounce glasses per day, which should lead to two quarts of urine over a 24-period - enough to flush out large quantities of any excess substances that increase your risk. Your urine should appear pale and clear almost like water. If it is a dark yellow, this may be an indication that fluid intake should be increased.

What else can I do that may help prevent kidney stones from returning?

No matter what type of kidney stone you may have experienced, your diet - what you eat and drink - play a primary role in determining if kidney stones will return.

• To prevent calcium kidney stones, avoid foods with high levels of calcium and oxalate, including chocolate, carbonated and sugary drinks, cooked spinach and asparagus, peanuts, rhubarb and tea have high levels of both substances. However, dietary calcium found in dairy products may help prevent kidney stones.
• Sturvite and cystine stones should be treated with a significant intake of water.
• For uric acid stones, do not fall victim to diet fads like the recent low-carbohydrate craze which emphasized large quantities of protein that can raise uric acid levels in the urine. Other items to restrict include alcohol, sardines and anchovies, yeast, organ meat (liver and kidney), legumes (peas, dried beans, and soybeans), and vegetables (mushrooms, cauliflower, spinach, and asparagus).

Does weather play any part in kidney stone formation?

Researchers have found a greater occurrence of kidney stones in hot, dry weather climates and have linked this fact primarily to a related cause - dehydration. Nicknamed the “stone belt,” the Southern portion of the United States seems to have the greatest numbers of kidney stone cases.

Are kidney stones hereditary?

While some research has reached some definitive conclusions for a connection between kidney stones and family history, there are other factors of the same or greater importance that must be considered when determining whether or not a person has kidney stones or may be susceptible to them.

Can pregnancy cause kidney stones?

No direct links can be made. At one time, scientists thought that women who increased their calcium intake during pregnancy added to their risk. This thought no longer holds true. The factor that may play the greatest role is the concern for dehydration while pregnant as well as the need to greatly increase fluid intake during this time.

Do kidney stones cause damage to the kidneys?

There is a possibility that damage can occur from the presence of kidney stones. The extent of the damage depends on where the stone is located within the urinary system as well as the size and number of stones present. To minimize the risk of damage, kidney stones and their causes need to be treated so that the body can eliminate them and further occurrences can be prevented.

Looking for More Kidney Stone Info

If you cannot find the answers you are looking for here and seek more detailed kidney stone info about available medical procedures and medicines as well as how to prevent them from coming back, you may go to kidney stones information page. This page provides list of links with a brief detail as to what kidney stone info each link has to offer.