What You Need to Know About Kidney Stones

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones affect around 1 in 10 Americans every year.

While this condition is considered common, kidney stones can result in excruciating pain and cause a number of health complications.

So, what causes kidney stones and how can you prevent them? Let’s take a closer look.

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What Causes Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are formed when minerals and acid salts crystallize inside the kidneys.

They can range in size from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a pearl or even a golf ball!

Kidney stones occur when there is an imbalance between the water and waste products in your urine.

This can happen due to dehydration, which causes the minerals to concentrate and form crystals that eventually turn into stones.

Other factors that can increase your risk of developing kidney stones include high levels of calcium or uric acid in the blood, certain medications, genetics, family history, age, gender, diet high in salt or sugar, obesity, and certain medical conditions such as Crohn’s disease or gout.

Treating Kidney Stones

If you experience pain from kidney stones the best thing you can do is increase your fluid intake and make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day (at least 8-10 glasses).

Painkillers may help with the symptoms but they won’t treat the underlying problem – it’s important to consult with your doctor if you think you have kidney stones so they can diagnose it properly and recommend treatment options for you.

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In some cases surgery may be necessary to remove larger kidney stones but most people will be able to pass smaller ones on their own with proper hydration and medication/treatment prescribed by their doctor.

Preventing Kidney Stones

The best way to avoid kidney stones is by staying hydrated – aim for at least two liters of water per day (more if you live in an area with hot weather).

Eating foods high in fiber like fruits and vegetables can also help keep the amount of minerals in your urine balanced so they don’t form crystals that could eventually become stone-like structures.

You should also limit your consumption of salt, sugar, animal proteins (especially red meat) and processed foods because these tend to increase your risk of developing kidney stones.

Finally, make sure you get enough exercise each day – walking for 30 minutes or more every day has been shown to significantly reduce your risk for developing this condition.

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Conclusion:

Kidney stones are very common but they aren’t something that should be taken lightly – they can cause severe pain and lead to other health complications if not treated promptly.

To prevent them from forming it’s important that we stay hydrated throughout the day as well as eat a balanced diet low in processed foods and animal proteins while increasing our intake of fruits & vegetables for added fiber content.

If we follow these simple steps we can reduce our chances of ever experiencing this painful condition!