Kidney Stone Prevention: A Guide To Keeping Stones At Bay

The first step in preventing kidney stones is to make sure you stay hydrated. Not drinking enough water or other fluids can cause crystals to form in the urine, leading to the development of stones. Aim for 8-10 glasses of water per day, spread out evenly throughout the day. Avoiding sugary drinks like soda or juice is also important because sugar increases your risk of developing stones.

Another important factor is diet; certain foods are more likely to increase your risk of developing kidney stones than others. Foods high in oxalate such as spinach, rhubarb, chocolate, nuts, and tea are best avoided if you want to keep your risk down. Eating too much salt can also increase your chances of getting a stone; reducing sodium intake will help reduce these risks significantly.

In terms of supplements and medications, calcium citrate has been shown to reduce the formation of calcium oxalate the most common type of kidney stones by 40%.

Vitamin B6 has also been found helpful in reducing rates of stone formation due to its ability to decrease urinary oxalate levels while increasing urinary citrate levels which helps prevent crystal growth within the kidneys themselves.

Finally, it’s important that those who suffer from recurrent kidney stone episodes should see their doctor regularly so they can receive appropriate medical treatment and advice tailored specifically towards their needs when it comes to preventing further episodes from occurring again in future years this could range from dietary changes all the way through medication use or even surgical interventions depending on individual cases needs, etc.

To sum up, there are several steps one can take when trying to prevent kidney stone recurrences including staying well hydrated throughout each day; making conscious food choices with regards to salt oxalate-based items; supplementing where necessary with vitamin B6 & calcium citrate; as well as seeking professional medical advice if needed especially if more serious forms causes are suspected. By following these simple steps one should be able to keep their kidneys functioning optimally and avoid any nasty surprises such as painful recurrent bouts with kidney stones!