Home | Site Map | Contact Us | About Us | Articles | Tips | Resources | Links
By: Robert Salant, MD
By: Jon Marks, MD
Dehydration is one of the leading causes of kidney stones, a condition that
causes excruciating pain. This year, half a million Americans will develop
kidney stones, and for these people, summer becomes a danger zone. Over
one-third of these patients will be hospitalized, and according to the American
Foundation for Urologic Disease, seven to ten of every 1,000 hospital admissions
are due to kidney stones.
Dr. Robert Salant of the New York University School of Medicine, and Dr. Jon
Marks of Beth Israel Medical Center, answer some of the most common questions
about this all-too-common condition:
Q: Dr. Marks, what are kidney stones exactly?
JON MARKS, MD: Kidney stones are combinations of protein and various minerals
such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphate that occur within the kidney or
anywhere along the urinary tract.
Q: Dr. Salant, why are they so common during the summer?
ROBERT SALANT, MD: During the summer, people are more active. They sweat more
and are relatively dehydrated. Dehydration is the leading cause of kidney
stones.
Q: Who is most at risk?
JON MARKS, MD: In general, men outnumber women. Those most at risk are men
between the ages of 30 and 50, although sometimes even children can get stones
as can men in the much older population.
Q: How do you know if you have a stone? Is there a certain kind of pain or a
certain type of symptom that is singularly tied to kidney stones?
JON MARKS, MD: Renal cholic, which is the pain from kidney stones, is among the
worst pains anyone will experience. Some people say it's just as bad as
childbirth without anesthesia. So pain is a leading sign of kidney stones. There
may also be blood in the urine, fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting.
Q: So bottom line, if you have a stone and it's a stone that's causing problems,
you'll know it.
JON MARKS, MD: You will know it, and you should be evaluated.
Q: What about the evaluation? What can be done about these stones?
JON MARKS, MD: Well, we need to find out where the stone is, so the first thing
that is done is some form of an x-ray or an ultrasound or a CAT scan. Some
radiographic imaging procedure that shows us inside the body where the stone is
and how large it is.
Q: And if people have stones or they are susceptible to them, how should they
change their diet?
ROBERT SALANT, MD: Depending upon the composition of the stone, that will
determine what types of foods you should either avoid or use as a supplement.
However, the key modality in preventing new stones from forming is to be very
well hydrated. Drink approximately three liters of fluid per day.
Conclusion
So for those who are susceptible, or who have a family history of kidney stones,
stay hydrated in the warm weather, especially during physical activity. It's the
easiest natural protection against this painful condition.
Source :
http://www.healthology.com/focus_article.asp?b=healthology&f=kidney_health&c=kidney_stones&spg=FIA