What can we do to minimize having kidney stones?
Have you ever had kidney stone pain? Has your stone been identified as the most common type? Was it a calcium oxalate stone? Did you say, ‘yes’! If so, did you know that for most part and likewise type 2 diabetes, calcium oxalate urinary stones are self-inflicted, and lifestyle-acquired ailments? I understand that there are some unlucky individuals out there, who have medical conditions such as sarcoidosis, hyperparathyroidism, diabetes, and certain morbid cancers that predispose them to frequent stone precipitation. But trust me when I say this: for most other people dehydration, high salt intake, habitual utilization of vitamin C and vitamin D, and high milk and calcium intake, are the most common precipitating causes of their urinary calcium oxalate crystallizations. If you’re one of those individuals who have had one self-inflicted episode of excruciating calcium oxalate stone, there is no reason, whatsoever, that you should go through it again!
If they’re lodged in our ureters they will cause the most agonizing pains of our lives!
How can we avoid kidney stone colic? Just follow the rule of “5’s” for busting calcium oxalate crystals forever off you: (1) hydration, hydration and more hydration; (2) low or sensible salt consumption; (3) addition of a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to your water; (4) taking occasional tablets of potassium citrate supplements; and (5) following up with your urologist to see if s/he recommends an exploratory abdominal CT scan or X-ray for you, every 3 to 5 years, to ensure that no more kidney stones are brewing in your urinary system.
Diagnostic Gold Standards!
One final note: CT scanning is currently the gold standard for identifying non-blocking crystallizations that may be unnoticeably growing in your flanks. An X-ray that is interpreted by a radiologist can equally do justice for you! However, please never forget that not all kidney stones are created equal, and what we’ve just mentioned mainly applies to the calcium oxalate ones!
Where can we find more information on kidney stones?
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/kidney-stones
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/kidney-stones
Postscript
Please do not forget your bottle of water while tagging along in the passage for excellence at your longevity!
Dr. E
Dr. Eftekar (Dr. E) is the founder and head coach of the Center for Conquest of Longevity and Northwestern Medical Review. A unique attribute of Dr. E is his well-rounded academic background that, in addition to the science of medicine, extends over several other disciplines such as physiology of aging and longevity, philosophy of science and medicine, and integrated kinesiology.