The most fearful thing about kidney stones is not the discovery of the stone, but that it will grow back again after being taken out. Repeated recurrence will be very harmful to the patient's body. Many people have this doubt: Can't kidney stones be cured? A radical cure?
Yes, kidney stones are indeed difficult to cure.
According to medical statistics, more than 50% of patients will relapse within five years after the first stone. People with metabolic abnormalities, congenital abnormalities or urinary tract infections have a higher and faster recurrence rate. . Therefore, patients who have suffered from urinary tract stones should have a urine test at least every six months. If there is an increase in urine crystals or waist cramps, further renal ultrasound or x-ray examination should be performed to determine whether the stones recur. If patients have congenital abnormalities, such as ureteral stenosis, vascular ectopia or horseshoe kidney, they should be surgically corrected as soon as possible. After treatment for urinary tract stones, patients will send the removed or passed stone specimens for testing to learn about the composition of the stones. The most common method is to use polarized light microscopy or chemical analysis. More than 80% of stones are calcium oxalate, followed by calcium phosphate. Most stones contain these two components. The less common ones are cystine, silicic acid, and phosphorus. Amine magnesium complex, etc. Adjusting your diet and lifestyle according to the components of the stones will help prevent the recurrence of stones.
How to effectively prevent kidney stones?
1. You must drink enough water
Sufficient water can dilute the substances in the urine that induce constipation, so you must drink enough water.
2. Avoid a high-oxalate diet
Most kidney stone patients have calcium oxalate stones. If the concentration of oxalic acid in the urine is too high, it is easy to induce the recurrence of calcium oxalate stones. It is recommended to eat less high-oxalate foods, such as spinach, chocolate, tea, and walnuts
3. Limit animal protein intake
Red meat, poultry, seafood, etc. that are rich in animal protein will increase blood sugar levels. High uric acid levels can lead to kidney stones. If you want to prevent kidney stones, it is recommended to limit your intake of animal protein.
4. Limit sodium intake
Most salty foods are rich in sodium. Excessive sodium intake will not only increase the calcium content in urine, but also increase the burden on the kidneys. It is recommended that people who are prone to or have suffered from kidney stones should take a daily sodium intake of less than 2,300 mg.
5. Supplement an appropriate amount of calcium
Supplementing an appropriate amount of calcium can prevent kidney stones to a certain extent. After people eat, part of the calcium in the diet is absorbed from the intestines into the blood, while another part of the calcium remains in the intestines and is excreted in the feces. The unabsorbed calcium can combine with the oxalic acid in the food and reduce the body's absorption of oxalic acid.
Due to the tendency of kidney stones to recur, it is recommended that people who have suffered from kidney stones develop good living habits to avoid recurrence of kidney stones.