8 Surprising Facts About Kidney Stones
8 Surprising Facts About Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract. You may have heard the oft-cited factoid that kidney stones are as painful as childbirth. However, there are a lot of things about kidney stones that people need to know.
Here we’ll look into the strange, surprising and even “shocking” truths about them.
1. Anybody and everybody can develop kidney stones
The common misconception that people have is that kidney stones happen only in old age. But in reality, it can happen to anyone. Infants, young children, teenagers and the elderly are at equal risk.
2. Certain foods can cause stones — but not calcium
Ironically, although kidney stones are often made up of calcium, they are not caused by calcium intake itself.
So, what foods can cause kidney stones?
Foods with high salt and excess consumption of all types of meat, beef, chicken, fish and pork are associated with an increased risk of stone formation.
Stone formation can also be increased by the foods rich in oxalate, such as nuts, chocolate, spinach and tea.
3. More than one type of kidney stone exists
There are four major types of kidney stones: calcium, struvite, uric acid and cystine. At around 80% of stones, the calcium type is the most common.
4. Cases of kidney stones have increased significantly
In the context of India, kidney stone disease is prevalent, with an expectancy of 12% in a total population reported to be prone to urinary stones. Of this 12%, 50% of the population are severely affected by renal damage, which even leads to a loss of kidneys. [Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
5. Water can stove off kidney stones
Not drinking enough water is estimated to play a role in 50% of kidney stones. To prevent stones returning, you should aim to drink up to 3 litres (5.2 pints) of fluid throughout the day, every day.
6. Kidney stones are more common in summer and in hotter climates
The primary reason for summertime kidney stones is due to dehydration. Without proper hydration, bodily fluids can become more concentrated with dietary minerals that could fixate into stones.
If you regularly sweat a lot, be sure to stay hydrated as well.
7. Kidney stones tend to reoccur
Once you experience a first instance of kidney stones, your odds of having a future recurrence rise significantly. So, once you got a stone, it’s especially important to follow your doctor’s recommendations.
8. Kidney stones can be linked with other conditions also
One reason the incidence of kidney stones may be rising is that one of the risk factors, obesity, is also on the rise. In addition to obesity, diabetes, metabolic disturbances, recurrent urinary tract infections and parathyroid disease are associated with kidney stone formation.
Kidney stones don’t affect everyone in the same way, and your symptoms may seem different from your expectations. Ultimately, if you are experiencing stones, contact urologist. They can not only help you in the short-term, but they can provide you with information about your stones. And possible kidney stone removal and other treatments.
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Source/s:
Kidney Stones Vectors by Vecteezy
