Have you ever had pain in your side and back, just below the ribs? Does this pain grow in intensity and last 20 to 60 minutes? Does this pain continue to intensify in the your back, groin and lower abdomen? You may be experiencing pain from a kidney stone that has formed and is moving from the kidney, the bladder and into the ureter. It is time to schedule an appointment with your primary doctor or urologist...or possibly you will need to go to Urgent Care or the Emergency Room at your local hospital.
Kidney stones are small, hard deposits of mineral and acid salts on the inner surfaces of your kidney. www.mayoclinic.com When one's urine becomes too concentrated, these mineral and salts crystalize and take the form of a stone. If you don't drink enough fluids, especially water, your urine is more likely to have a high concentrate of substances that will lead to the formation of kidney stones.
Most people who develop kidney stones are between the ages 20 to 70 with men more likely to develop the stones than women. Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water is the best preventive measure. A diet of high-protein and/or high sodium increases one's chances for developing kidney stones. Obesity resulting in weight gain and increased waist size as well as high blood pressure increases one's risk for developing kidney stones.
Some lifestyle changes are needed to prevent kidney stones from developing.
* Start with increasing your daily water intake. Urologists suggest that in addition
to water, a glass of lemonade is recommended. Make you own lemonade from
lemons, use frozen concentrate but avoid the powder lemonade mix. Lemonade
increases the levels of citrate which helps to prevent stone formation.
* Studies have shown that a diet low in salt and animal protein can reduce your chances
of developing stones.
* Some doctors and researchers suggest that some food restrictions are helpful.
Some of these restricted foods are rhubarb, beets, beet greens, collards, okra, refried
beans, sweet potatoes, sesame seeds, soy products and almonds.
Should you be diagnosed with kidney stones, it is important to find out the type of stone you have and how it developed. There are 4 different types of stones, therefore the type of diet and/or medication you may need to control the development of more stones is very important.
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