If you have ever passed a kidney stone, you know the pain can be excruciating. You wouldn’t wish it on your worst enemy, well, maybe…. While some stones are so small, they pass without the person even knowing it, very large ones can be impossible to pass, and surgery may be required. If you are lucky, you can rely on self-care for kidney stones for both prevention and to help pass them when they decide to move.
What Are Kidney Stones and How Do We Get Them?
Before we learn about ways to pass them, let’s find out what they are and how they form.
Kidney stones are pieces of solid material that form in your kidneys. They form when an environment allows their minerals to stick and grow together, similar to a pearl in an oyster. While they are sitting in the kidney, they usually do not cause trouble. But when they decide to move out of the kidney, they can get stuck in your ureters, bladder, or urethra. When they can block the flow of urine, it causes severe pain.
There are four types of kidney stones:
- Calcium oxalate stones are the most common.
- Uric acid stones are a bit more rare and form when your urine is too acidic.
- Struvite stones form after an infection in your urinary system and can be large and branched, often called staghorn calculi.
- Cystine stones are rare and run in families who have had the disease, Cystinuria.
If you feel like you may be prone to stones or do pass a stone, strain your urine and collect the stone so our board-certified urologist, Dr. Edward Sanchez can determine what kind of stone it is and work on a prevention plan to avoid future stones. Call our urology clinic in Houston, TX at (281) 351-5174 to schedule an appointment.
Self-Care for Kidney Stones
Drink More Water
Drinking more water helps kidney stones to pass more easily. Dehydration is one of the main reasons these stones form, so increasing your daily water intake can help you avoid getting them and help you pass one without a lot of pain.
Check the color of your urine for signs of dehydration. Very light yellow means you are getting enough water, but a darker yellow means it is too concentrated and stones may form.
Apple Cider Vinegar
This might be a surprise to many, but drinking apple cider vinegar helps to dissolve or disintegrate kidney stones. Vinegar itself may help reduce the formation of kidney stones and studies are ongoing.
While studies are limited, some suggest to add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to 6-8 oz of water. Don’t consume more than 8 oz a day of this mixture. Too much apple cider vinegar can damage your teeth’ enamel, and give you acid reflux, and a sore throat.
Diabetics should consult with their primary care doctor as apple cider vinegar can interact with insulin and diuretics.
Lemon Juice
Want to flavor your water and prevent stones while doing it? Lemon juice! Squeeze fresh lemon juice into as much water as you want. Lemon contains citrate which prevents calcium stones from forming. It can also break up some small stones and allow them to pass more easily.
If that weren’t enough, lemon juice inhibits the formation of bacteria and provides Vitamin C (natural sources are great but be careful with Vitamin C supplements as these can actually induce stones).
Low Salt Diet
Salt helps calcium enter your urine and can help form stones when consumed too much. Limit salt in your diet if you are prone to stones or have had them in the past.
Lower Animal Protein
If you have had several stones in the past, limiting your animal protein is another good way to help avoid new stones.
While you don’t need to make dramatic changes all at once, some of the above may help in the long run. The great news is that a personalized plan can be made that maximizes the chances of preventing or treating any stone issues you may have.
Speak to Dr. Sanchez in Houston, TX before trying these as they may not mix well with your current medications or an existing disease.
Contact our board-certified urologist, Dr. Edward Sanchez at (281) 351-5174 if you suspect you have a kidney stone you cannot pass and may need treatment.
Sources:
How to Treat Kidney Stones at Home (upmc.com)
4 Home Remedies for Kidney Stone Prevention – Cleveland Clinic
