Watching someone you love deal with a kidney stone is difficult. So is having one. It is one of those experiences that you never want to go through again, and finding a way to prevent it is key.
Before I go into causes, I would like to point out that if you’ve had a stone, you need to have it analyzed. The type of stone will be an important part in prevention.
Dehydration: Your kidneys are your body’s waste filters. When you have enough fluid intake, the kidneys can function at their best. If not, it is harder for them to do the job and stuff can be left behind. That stuff, the waste products not filtered out, can be the basis for stone formation.
Excess Calcium Oxalate: While your body does produce some oxalate, the problem of calcium oxalate stones is really exacerbated by foods high in content. As an example, spinach, almonds and soy products all contain it. If you have a tendency to develop these stones (analysis will tell you), then you need to limit the number of these foods you eat.
Excess Uric Acid: Uric acid is a waste product of a component of protein called purine. Purine is found in all proteins, both animal and vegetable, but it’s highest in animals. In fact, organ meats are particularly high in this constituent.
When too much purine is consumed, the kidneys can’t filter all of it out. Some gets taken off by the blood stream and can cause gout. The rest stays behind and can cause a stone. Excess uric acid may also be a result of kidney damage. In either case, avoiding foods high in purine are your best preventative.
Infection: There is a special kidney stone caused by an infection. It is called a struvite stone, and they are fairly rare in humans. They are much more common in cats and dogs. If you have frequent urinary tract infections, you may be at risk for this type of stone.
Kidney Disease: It makes sense that kidney stones can be a result of kidney disease. That’s because the kidneys can no longer adequately remove all of the waste products.
Kidney stones are very painful. If they become lodged in the duct leading to the bladder or in the duct releasing urine, they can also be deadly. Avoidance is your best bet, but if you’ve had one, talk to your doctor about how to avoid another one. The above information should help you know what to ask and how to interpret the answers.