How To Avoid Kidney Stones

Passing a kidney stone can be extremely painful, and for those who’ve experienced it firsthand, it’s not something they want to repeat. But there are things you can do to prevent this problem:

Drink Plenty Of Water

Dehydration is one of the primary causes of kidney stones, so make sure to increase your fluid intake. Overall, aim to drink 60 ounces each day. However, if you are working out or are outside on a warm day, you will need more. Compensate for sweating by drinking about 16 ounces of water before you head  outdoors or become active.

Cut Back On Sodium

By limiting the amount of sodium in your diet, you will also cut down on the amount of calcium in your urine, which reduces the tendency for calcium stones to start forming. Avoid hidden salt in things like processed meats, canned soups and salty snacks like chips and pretzels.

Increase Your Citric Acid

When life hands you kidney stones…make lemonade! Lemons and limes offer the greatest amount of citric acid per gram compared to other citrus fruits. Citric acid makes urine less favorable for the formation of stones. So make lemonade your new favorite drink, or make a habit out of always adding a squeeze of lemon or lime to your water.

How Do I Know If I’m Developing A Kidney Stone?

You typically won’t know until the stone starts to move. When it does, it may cause pain that starts in the back and then moves down to the lower abdomen. When this happens, talk with your doctor or gastroenterologist about ways to find relief. If you are diagnosed early, a physician can prescribe a medication that will help the stone to pass naturally, but for larger stones, a procedure might be necessary.

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• citric acid dehydrated dehydration gastroenterology gastroentrologist health healthy choices healthy lifestyle kidney kidney stones nephrology sodium