Content

• Steps
• Advice

Composed of minerals and acid salts, kidney stones are hard crystalline particles that form inside the kidney. If the stones are large enough they will not be able to escape and cause severe pain. People who have had this condition in the past need to know how to prevent stone recurrence, as the chance of stone recurrence is up to 60-80%.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Determine Type of Kidney Stone

1. 

   You must ask your doctor to find out specifically which stones you have had in the past. This is very important because only when you know the type of stone you can take specific precautions. Make sure your doctor has checked your parathyroid glands to rule out the possibility that this is a factor in kidney stone formation.
   • Calcium stones are formed because excess calcium builds up in the kidneys and cannot be eliminated through the urine. It then combines with other residues to form gravel. The most typical type of calcium stone is calcium oxalate and it is also the most common. Calcium phosphate stones are not as common but cause more problems because they form larger and harder, so of course they are difficult to treat.
   • Struvite stones form after a urinary tract infection and are composed of magnesium and ammonia.
   • Uric acid stones are produced when the kidneys are too acidic. Reducing meat intake may prevent these stones from forming, since kidney stones are often linked to gout, so they respond similarly to treatment for gout.
   • Cystin stones are not common but tend to inherit in the family. Cystin is an amino acid and some people inherit many of it from previous generations.

2. 

   
   
   Consider future risks. People who have ever had kidney stones are also at a higher risk of relapse. You should consider risk factors that you may not be aware of, by downloading the following application to assess kidney stone risk at http://www.qxmd.com/calculate-online/nephrology/recurrence -of-kidney-stone-roks. You should then discuss these risks with your doctor further.

3. 

   
   
   Consult with doctor. Depending on the type of kidney stone you have, your age, gender, and family history, your doctor can help you develop a plan to reduce your risk of developing kidney stones again. Mainly you have to change your diet, drink plenty of fluids and in some cases take medicine or surgery (but only for specific cases). advertisement

Method 2 of 3: Prevent Kidney Stones with Diet

1. 

   
   
   Drink more water. Water helps to excrete waste, which causes kidney stones to form. You can drink other fluids but water is best. Water has a leaching effect that should prevent stone formation without introducing any other substances such as sugar, sodium, or other ingredients in the drink to the kidneys. Drink at least 8 glasses of water (250 ml / cup) per day. Avoid caffeinated beverages as they dry out instead of hydration. The amount of urine about 2 liters per day is minimal and should be very light yellow.

2. 

   Avoid salt. One of the main causes of kidney stones is excess urine. Salt dehydrates the body and thus causes higher concentrations of urine. If you really like to eat salty, you must reconcile its effects by drinking plenty of water after eating.

3. 

   Reduce your meat intake. Animal protein concentrates urine, so it is also a factor to avoid. Waste from protein enters the urine and increases the risk of kidney stones.

4. 

   Consume more fiber. Some studies have shown that insoluble fiber combines with calcium in the urine and excreted it in the stool, thereby reducing the amount of calcium left in the urine. Good sources of fiber include:
   • Whole grains like oats, bran, and quinoa
   • Dried plum and prune juice
   • Leafy vegetables like spinach, swiss chard or kale

5. 

   Be careful of how much oxalate you consume if you have ever had calcium oxalate stones. The best way is to eat both calcium and oxalate at the same meal, so calcium and oxalate will work together in the stomach instead of waiting for the kidneys to start processing and converting it into kidney stones.
   • Spinach, chocolate, beets, and rhubarb are all high in oxalates. Beans, green bell peppers, tea and peanuts also contain oxalates.
   • Milk, cheese, calcium-fortified orange juice, and yogurt are all high-calcium foods that you can eat in combination with oxalate-rich foods.
   advertisement

Method 3 of 3: Preventing Kidney Stones With Medicine and Surgery

1. 

   Take medication for calcium stones. The most typical drugs are diuretics of the thiazide group or mixture of phosphates. Hydrochlorothiazide (a thiazide diuretic) works to reduce the amount of calcium excreted in the urine by retaining calcium in the bones, thereby reducing the risk of developing calcium stones. This medication is most effective when you are simultaneously adjusting your salt intake.

2. 

   Ask your doctor to prescribe a medication to eliminate uric acid stones. Allopurinol drugs (Zyloprim, Aloprim) maintain the alkalinity of the urine and reduce the uric acid content in both blood and urine. Sometimes allopurinol can combine with an alkaline agent to completely dissolve the uric acid stone.

3. 

   Take antibiotics for struvite stones. Taking a short course of antibiotics can help prevent struvite-forming bacteria from forming in the urine. Usually your doctor doesn't want you to take an antibiotic for the long term, but a short dose can help significantly.

4. 

   Contraction of cystin stones by alkalizing urine. This method requires insertion of a catheter and injection of an alkalizing agent into the kidney. Cystin stones usually respond well to this treatment, especially when you drink plenty of fluids day and night.

5. 

   Control calcium stone formation by surgery. This is only an option if you have hyperparathyroidism, which means that the parathyroid gland is the cause of kidney stones. Calcium stones are likely to form if you have this condition. Surgery to remove one of the two parathyroid glands in the neck can cure the disease and eliminate the risk of kidney stones. advertisement

Advice

• You can't always find out what kind of stone you have in the past. The stone may have passed out without leaving a trace, or the results of the stone test may take a long time.However, you can still treat the stone, which is just a less concentrated and less effective treatment.