Are You Drinking Yourself Toward a Kidney Stone? – Emaxhealth

Scientists report that what you drink may make the difference between developing a kidney stone or not, sometime in your life. In the current issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, researchers have found that people who drink sodas and other sweetened drinks such as fruit punch have a significantly increased likelihood of developing kidney stones.

Kidney stones form from the crystallization of urine metabolites and chemicals such calcium, oxalate, and phosphorus into solid chunks referred to as “stones” within the kidneys. Typically, these stones are usually brown or yellow in color, can range in shape and texture from a smooth ball to a jagged and shard-shaped object, and can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball.

The problem with kidney stones is that they can block the flow of urine through the ureters and cause severe pain and bleeding. In most cases, a kidney stone passes normally through the ureter on its own; however, if it is too large or becomes stuck, then more invasive (and painful) treatments such as shock wave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, or percutaneous nephrolithotomy may be required. However, kidney stones whether an inconvenience or a medical problem may not be as innocuous as some believe, but a harbinger of the early stages of a developing kidney disease.

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The cause(s) of developing kidney stones are not well-identified, but many health experts generally attribute it to a combination of genetics, diet and not drinking enough water. The incidence of kidney stones is approximately 20% in men and 10% in women.

While developing a kidney stone sometime in your life may appear to be one of life’s unwanted health lotteries, recent news from Brigham and Women’s Hospital reports that their researchers have found that some beverages may be more helpful than others when it comes to preventing recurrent kidney stones.

According to a press release issued by Brigham and Women’s Hospital:

“Our study found that the relation between fluid intake and kidney stones may be dependent on the type of beverage consumed,” explained Gary Curhan, MD, ScD, a physician in the Channing Division of Network Medicine at BWH and senior author of this study. “We found that higher consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks was associated with a higher incidence of kidney stones.”

Their findings are the result of analyzing health data involving over 194,000 participants over the past several years who supplied continual updates on their medical history, lifestyle, medications taken and diet.

Analysis of the data revealed that study participants who drank one or more sugar-sweetened colas or sweetened non-cola drinks such as fruit punch per day had a 23% higher risk of developing kidney stones in comparison to study participants who consumed less than one serving per week of sugary beverages.

Furthermore, what the researchers also found was that drinking beverages such as coffee, tea and orange juice, were associated with a lower risk of kidney stone formation.

“Our prospective study confirms that some beverages are associated with a lower risk of kidney stone formation, whereas others are associated with a higher risk,” explained Pietro Manuel Ferraro, MD, a physician at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Rome and corresponding author of this study. “Although higher total fluid intake reduces the risk of stone formation, this information about individual beverages may be useful for general practitioners seeking to implement strategies to reduce stone formation in their patients.”

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Reference: “Soda and Other Beverages and the Risk of Kidney Stones” Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, May 15, 2013; Pietro Manuel Ferraro, Eric N. Taylor, Giovanni Gambaro and Gary C. Curhan.

Kidney Care: How to Prevent Kidney Stones in summer – Diet and …

 

summer, summer care, kidney, Kidney Care, Kidney Stones, kidney stone facts, kidney stones in summer

 

In India, approximately 5 to 7 million patients suffer from kidney stone disease and at least 1/1000 of Indian population needs hospitalisation due to kidney stone disease. (Source:Statistical and data mining reports on kidney stones)

We rarely associate kidney stones with the rise in temperature and humidity. “The incidence of kidney stone cases rises by 40% during summer due to rise in temperature. Climate, temperature and humidity are important factors that contribute to kidney stones,” points Dr. Abhinandan Sadlalge, Chief Urologist, RG Stone Urology and Laparoscopy hospital.

People who work in a hot environment or have a work routine that does not allow them to have enough water are prone to develop stones. Specifically a 5 to 7 degree temperature rise due to climate change could yield a 30% increase in kidney stone problems. When people relocate from areas of moderate temperature to areas with warmer climates, a rapid increase in stone formation has been observed. There is a known geographic variation in stone disease that has been attributed to regional differences in temperature. The incidence of kidney stone disease is particularly high in areas with dry, hot climate.

Kidney stones are also caused due to dehydration, which too increases due to rise in temperature. This happens when people lose more water through sweating but fail to consume enough water to make up for the lost volume. The water loss eventually leads to higher urine concentrations, which in turn increases the risk of kidney stone formation.

Dr. Abhinandan chalks out 9 steps to prevent kidney stones

1. Drink plenty of water during the day and at night before bed so that your body stays hydrated throughout each 24-hour period. According to Fox News, William Haley, a nephrologist at Mayo Clinic’s Kidney Stone Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida (US), “If you don’t void (urinate) every couple of hours, you’re not drinking enough. You should shoot for producing a whopping 2.5 liters of urine daily.”

2. Drink lemonade as this has been shown to reduce the risk of kidney stones

3. Cut back on products with large amounts of oxalate – an acid that can lead to the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones. These include products like drinking soda, iced tea, chocolate, rhubarb, strawberries and nuts.

4. Cut down the intake of caffeine as it leaves you dehydrated even though you think you are taking in plenty of liquids.

5. Reduce the salt intake and make that a regular habit

6. Ask your physician about medications that can help prevent kidney stones. Medications include those that control the amount of acid, alkali or cystine in the urine – factors that can cause kidney stones to develop.

7. Check your intake of animal protein, including meat, eggs, and fish. These foods contain purines, which are natural substances that metabolise or break down into uric acid.

8. Have more salads as it maintains the coolness levels.

9. Exercise and lose weight and stay healthy

*Images courtesy: © Thinkstock photos/ Getty Images

Health benefits of grapefruit | Sify Health

Lose weight,  fend off the common cold and keep cancer at bay – all this and more with grapefruit.

Grapefruit and its nutrients

It’s tangy with a hint of sweetness – this citrus wonder — has a special flavour that rivals the oh-so popular orange while packing in greater health benefits.

Found in two varieties, red and white insides, the grapefruit is an excellent source of vitamin A and C. This humble fruit also packs in a god dose of dietary fibre and phytochemicals that can keep you safe from damage caused by free radicals.

Health benefits of grapefruit:

Vitamin C-rich food: Grapefruit has a high vitamin-C content, a small serving of grapefruit (less than a glass of juice) has 80% of the vitamin C you need every day. Daily intake of vitamin C can fend off colds, offer protection against free radicals, reducing risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Prevents kidney stones: Grapefruit intake helps increase your urinary pH value, which significantly lowers risk of calcium oxalate stones forming in the kidney.

Increase metabolic rate: Grapefruit helps boost your metabolism, especially when eaten early in the morning. The high water content in addition to the enzymes present in grapefruit propels the workings of your internal organs.

Helps lose weight: One of the most valued benefits of grapefruit is its ability to help shed excess weight. Grapefruit is low in sodium and has a high content of fat burning enzymes. This combination not only helps burn excess fat in the body, but also flush out excess water retained from high sodium diets. So if you want to lose weight, eat a grapefruit within a couple hours of your waking, this will also combine its metabolism boosting properties.

Helps lower cholesterol: According to a recent study, eating the red variety of grapefruit is known to help lower LDL or bad cholesterol, in addition to triglycerides.

Aids detoxification: Grapefruit juice increases the activity and production of liver enzymes that help you detoxify by eliminating toxins from the body.

Helps fend off cancer: The liver is designed to clear out toxins and carcinogens in two phases. And grapefruit is known to help during both these phases, removing cancer causing toxins from the body, thus keeping cancer at bay.

Reduces risk of lung cancer: Research suggests that drinking grapefruit juice everyday helps reduce the activities of enzymes that can activate cancer triggering chemicals found in cigarette and cigar smoke. This makes grapefruit a potent weapon against lung cancer.

Relives indigestion: Suffering from indigestion? Try grapefruit. Grapefruit is considered a light food that can be easily digested. This helps soothe the stomach and rid indigestion.

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Non-dairy calcium seen to lower risk of kidney stone » Amar Health …

Health desk,4th april’13 – Getting plenty of calcium from foods has been shown to lower the likelihood of kidney stones in those most at risk, but a new study makes clear the benefit isn’t just linked to milk products. In a large new analysis, men and women who consumed the most dietary calcium from foods had about 20 percent lower risk of developing kidney stones than peers who consumed the least calcium.

“This is another piece of data to suggest that there’s no role for dietary calcium restriction for kidney stones,” said lead study author Dr. Eric Taylor, a kidney specialist at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Although most stones that form in the kidneys are made of calcium oxalate, people should not be afraid of consuming calcium in foods, Taylor told Reuters Health.

On the contrary, past studies have found that eating calcium-rich foods – though not taking calcium supplements – seems to ward off stone formation. Since those studies focused almost exclusively on dairy products, there was lingering doubt about whether some other component of milk might be responsible for the effect. So Taylor and his colleagues set out to see whether the results held true for calcium from non-dairy foods.

They analyzed data from three large studies that followed more than one million men and women, sometimes for decades, and included periodic detailed food questionnaires.

The researchers divided those participants into five smaller groups, based on how much calcium they consumed from dairy and other sources over as long as 20 years.Only participants who were generally healthy and had never suffered from a kidney stone before dietary data collection began were included.For both dairy and non-dairy sources of calcium, people who consumed the most calcium were least likely to develop painful, symptomatic kidney stones – overall, their risk was 77 percent of that seen among people who ate the least calcium, Taylor’s team reports in the Journal of Urology.

 



How To Avoid Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stones Development And …

The pain associated with moving calcium oxalate kidney stones is actually almost all of the time described just like the pain associated with giving birth. Certainly, it is an agonizing pain that should be cured with selected kidney stones treatment quickly. Having to deal with this kind of body pain and pocket pain due to purchasing a regular pricey kidney stone treatment is something you cannot laugh about. However, apart from continuous treatment for kidney stones there are other things you could do prior to the actual pain strikes. Specifically, if you really do not have kidney stones yet you can actually still prevent its formation as well as the particular pain it causes.

A particular ounce of prevention is always better than a lot of remedies done in passing kidney stones. In addition, the subsequent preventive measures can help you avoid kidney stone development and critical kidney stone removal.

To reduce the chances of experiencing kidney stone symptoms selected lifestyle adjustments should be tightly followed. Even so, if you already possess kidney stones you may try natural treatment options or maybe better yet seek advice from a physician that can assist you dissolve kidney stones.

1. Hydrate yourself simply by consuming plenty of water every day. This technique will help you get the needed normal level of urine per day.

2. Avoid eating excessive oxalate-rich foods. Medical doctors often recommend limitation of such food items when you tend to develop calcium oxalate stones.

3. Organize meals significantly less in salt content and also animal protein. Rather, go for non-animal protein providers such as nuts.

4. Seek the advice of your medical professional if you feel like you may have kidney stones or perhaps when you have a family background of kidney stones. This can definitely help you reduce the possibilities of kidney stone development.

DISCLAIMER: I hope this would help, however remember to note that I am not a Medical Doctor. You should check with your M.D. or personal Medical doctor before using any medical advice coming from anyone on the net.

Naturally help your Kidney Stones go away… ~ I'm Holistic

What Are Kidney Stones:
 

What Are the Symptoms:
 

1.  Find out What Type of Stones You Have:

2.  Drink plenty of Fluids – WATER or Marshmallow Root Tea (click here for the recipe) No soda or carbonated drinks.  Spring Water or Distilled Water (add Trace Minerals by Concentrace if distilled as distilled water is acidic)

3.  Avoid foods rich in oxalates:

       Foods High in Oxalate
  • Drinks: Beer, chocolate milk, soy drinks, tangerine juice, juice of almost all berries and fruit cocktail, and hot cocoa.
  • Fruits: Rhubarb, currants, marmalade, purple grapes, tangerine and blueberries.
  • Vegetables: Cucumber, kale, green peppers, celery, eggplant, escarole, beets, chives, okra, parsley, spinach.
  • Grains: Whole wheat bread, popcorn, wheat bran, oatmeal, white corn and soybean crackers.
  • Legumes, Nuts and Seeds: Beans, baked beans, peanut butter, sesame
    seeds, sunflower seeds, peanuts, almonds, pecans, cashew and walnuts. (unless sprouted)
  • Condiments: Black pepper, cinnamon and ginger.
  • Starches: Fruit cake, sweet potatoes and grits.

4.  Ask your doctor about taking calcium supplements, and add Magnesium to your diet.  My personal favorite is Calm.This will aid in your bodies ability to absorb calcium and other nutrients and can also aid in the stress your body may be experiencing.

5.  Eat Foods High In Phytate

  • Brazil nuts    1719 
  • Cocoa powder    1684-1796
  • Organic Steel Cut Oat flakes    1174 
  • Almond    1138 – 1400 
  • Walnut    982 
  • Lentils    779 
  • Hazelnuts    648 – 1000 
  • Coconut    357
  • Entire coconut meat    270
  • Strawberries    12

      Other Suggested Foods:

  • Raw Organic Fruits and Vegetables rich in potassium – include leafy greens, dried beans and peas,
    carrots,  dried fruit, and bananas.
  • Reduced intake of vitamin C
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Reduce sodium intake
  • Organic Sprouted Foods – Lentils , Chick peas, Split peas, Adzuki beans, Mung, Alfalfa, Radish, Fenugreek
  • Raw Organic Fruits and Veggies Rich in Complex Carbs – Carrots, Okra, Zucchini, Radishes, Asparagus, Grapefruit, Prunes, Apples, Pears, Strawberries, Yams, Dill pickles, Onions, Tomatoes

6.  Avoid / Severely Reduce these Foods:

  • Dairy
  • Grain
  • Sugar
  • Genetically Modified Foods (GMO) 
  • Foods from a box, can, frozen or fast food restaurants 
  • Animal  – Foods high in protein may cause excess uric acid to be excreted in the urine. When the urine
    becomes too acidic, a person may have an increased risk of kidney
    stones. The excess uric acid can crystallize, which causes the stone to
    form. Although protein is necessary in the diet, excess amounts should
    be avoided in people who are prone to uric acid kidney stones.

7.  Reduce Stress:

 

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of I’m Holistic, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experiences of I’m Holistic. I’m Holistic encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

Gallstones and Gall Bladder: Kidney Stone Symptoms in Women

Did you know?
A single kidney can execute the functions, that in normal circumstances two kidneys perform. When we lose one kidney, the nephrons (the individual filter of the kidney) manage to filter as much blood as two kidneys would.
Kidneys are the filtering organ of our body that remove waste materials from the blood, which are then excreted from the body in the form of urine. Stones or stone-like hard masses develop, when minerals and acids present in the urine crystallize and accumulate inside the kidneys. If the stones are small, they can easily pass through the urinary tract, and then out of the body without causing discomfort. But, large stones can get stuck inside the urinary tract, and produce a host of symptoms, including severe pain. It has been observed that the occurrence of kidney stones is less in women than men. Nevertheless, women can also get these stones due to numerous reasons, and experience the painful symptoms.

Symptoms of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones symptoms in women are more or less similar to those experienced by men. These symptoms are usually produced when the stones gets stuck in the kidney, or come out of the kidney and enter the ureter and cause blockage and irritation. Such a situation can produce a number of symptoms, which are mentioned below.

Lower Back PainThe pain caused by kidney stones can be mild or severe, depending on their size. The small kidney stones can produce mild cramping pain in the lower abdomen and the back, which many women may confuse with the pain that they experience during menstruation. On the other hand, the large stones can cause blockage of the ureter, which in turn can result in muscle spasms, and dilation of the ureter and the renal pelvis. This can manifest in a type of sudden cramping pain in the lower abdomen and the groin area, that comes in waves. It is known as renal colic, and many women compare it with the pain of childbirth.

Painful UrinationThis symptom occurs when a kidney stone gets stuck in the ureter, and blocks the passage of urine either partially or completely. Along with pain, one can also experience a burning sensation while trying to pass urine.

Frequent Urge to UrinateLike painful urination, this symptom is also produced when the stone gets lodged inside the ureter, and pushes against the wall of the ureter.

Bloody or Cloudy UrinePresence of blood in urine (hematuria) can indicate an infection caused by kidney stones. Blood can also be present, when the stone becomes lodged in the urinary tract, especially inside the ureter and cuts the lining of the ureter. Some people having kidney stones can pass cloudy urine having a foul smell, which can be a symptom of kidney infection and/or a blocked ureter.

FeverAs mentioned above, kidney stones can cause infection at times, in which case, one can experience fever as well. The fever can be accompanied by chills. Infection usually results when a kidney stone blocks the passage of urine, or causes irritation in the urinary tract.

Nausea and VomitingPassing a kidney stone can be very painful, due to which one can get nausea and vomiting. Likewise, presence of an infection and fever, and the associated weakness can produce such symptoms.
Causes of Kidney Stones
There are different types of kidney stones, such as – calcium stones, oxalate stones, struvite stones, uric acid stones and cystine stones. Usually, kidney stones form when the urine becomes too concentrated and it contains more calcium, oxalate and uric acid than fluid. This allows such substances to crystallize and deposit in the kidney, eventually forming stones. Any factor that blocks the excretion of urine can cause the formation of kidney stones.

Sometimes, frequent urinary tract infection can also cause the development of kidney stones, which are known as struvite stones. Calcium stones are usually found in the form of calcium oxalate, and sometimes also as calcium phosphate. Calcium stones are the most common type of kidney stones which are formed when calcium, not used by the body, combine with phosphate or oxalate. Similarly, high levels of oxalate in the body can contribute to the formation of oxalate stones. Oxalate is a naturally occurring salt that can be found in a number of foods such as nuts, whole wheat, oatmeal, and chocolates.

Uric acid stones, on the other hand, are formed due to dehydration and over-consumption of foods rich in animal proteins, and alcoholic drinks. Medical conditions like, gout and certain metabolic disorders can promote the formation of uric acid stones, by increasing the level of uric acid in the urine. Cystine stones are quite rare. Usually people having a hereditary disorder (where the kidneys expel more cystine from the body, thereby increasing its level in the urine) are more susceptible to the formation of these stones.
Risk Factors
Certain factors have been observed to increase the risk of developing kidney stones. These factors are:Dehydration
A family history of kidney stones
A personal history of kidney stones
A diet rich in protein, sugar, and sodium, but poor in fiber
Obesity
Having an intestinal bypass surgery
Consuming calcium and vitamin D supplements in excess
Diseases of the digestive system such as diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease.
Infections of the urinary tract
Medical conditions like hyperparathyroidism, cystinuria, gout, renal tubular acidosis, hyperoxaluria, hyperuricosuria, and hypercalciuria
Certain medications such as antacids, aspirin, and protease inhibitors

Diagnosis and Treatment
Clinical diagnosis of kidney stones is made on the basis of the symptoms, X-ray, and CT scan of the urinary tract, urine tests, and blood tests. The treatment for kidney stones depends on the type and the size of the stones. If the stone is small, then increasing fluid intake can help to flush it out from the body. Mild pain caused by small stones can be managed with the help of pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen. But, if the stone is large and is causing considerable pain, bleeding, and infection of the urinary tract, then invasive treatment would be required, which can involve the following procedures.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL): This procedure uses ultrasound waves to create vibrations, which are strong enough to break the stones into pieces, so that they can easily pass through the urine. Such vibrations are called shock waves. The procedure can, however, cause pain. That’s why, it is performed under light anesthesia. If the stone has lodged in the ureter, then it is captured with the help of a ureteroscope, which is passed into the ureter through the urethra and the bladder. Once the stone is captured, it is removed or broken down into smaller pieces with laser beam or shock waves.

Ureterorenoscopy: This procedure is used when the kidney stones get stuck in the ureter. It involves passing a ureteroscope into the ureter through the urethra and the bladder in order to locate the stone. Once the stone is located, it is either removed by using a specialized instrument, or is broken down into small pieces by the application of laser beams.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL): If the kidney stone is very large, then it is removed surgically, through this procedure. For surgical removal of the stone, a small incision is made in the back, through which a nephroscope (a telescopic instrument) is inserted into the kidney. Once the stone is located with the help of nephroscope, it is taken out of the body, or broken down into pieces by the application of laser or pneumatic energy. This procedure is usually employed for stones having a diameter of 21-30 mm, and also when the patient is obese and so, and not suitable for ESWL procedure.

Open Surgery: Open surgery for removing kidney stones is used only in rare instances, when the stone is abnormally large and is not possible to remove it with any of the aforementioned procedures. The same goes for some people with unusual anatomy, which makes them unsuitable for other treatment options. Open surgery is carried out by making a cut in the back, in order to gain access to the kidney and the ureter, so that the stone can be removed with the appropriate surgical instrument.

In addition to these four treatment options, sometimes surgery is performed to remove tumor/tumors developed in the parathyroid glands. A tumor formed in the parathyroid glands can cause hyperparathyroidism (overproduction of parathyroid hormone). This can result in the recurrence of calcium stones, as a high level of parathyroid hormone can increase the level of calcium in the body.
Preventive Measures
These simple tips can prove helpful in preventing the recurrence of kidney stones:Drink plenty of water throughout the day, as it will help to keep urine diluted and minimize the risk of getting kidney stones. This can help to flush out small kidney stones as well.
Reduce the intake of coffee and tea.
Avoid over-consumption of foods rich in oxalates, especially if there is a recurrence of calcium stones. Some oxalate rich foods are asparagus, rhubarb, beetroot, celery, parsley, leeks, spinach, sweet potatoes, soy products, nuts (almonds, cashew nuts and peanuts), oatmeal, whole wheat, berries and chocolates.
Reduce the consumption of animal proteins (meat, poultry, and fish), if kidney stones are found to be caused by a high level of uric acid.
Always take calcium supplements only after consulting your doctor, as these supplements have been observed to increase the risk of getting kidney stones.
Reduce the intake of salt.
Drinking some fruit juices, especially the citrus juices (orange or grapefruit juice) may lower the risk of stone formation in the kidneys.
Don’t neglect the symptoms of a urinary tract infection. Seek your doctor’s help to treat such an infection and prevent their recurrence.

A basic idea or knowledge about the kidney stones symptoms in both women and men is quite important to ensure early detection, and removal of the stones. So, be sure to seek immediate medical attention, if you experience symptoms like, an excruciating pain in the lower back area, blood in urine or pain while urinating, cloudy urine with a foul odor, and a pain accompanied by fever and chills. Remember that, kidney stones can sometimes lead to complications like, blockage, infection and inflammation, which can result in kidney damage.

Disclaimer:This article is for informative purposes only, and should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice.