In the latest episode of the Balls Deep podcast, Dr. Joe Pazona and Kat Williams take on a topic that many relate to but don’t quite understand: kidney stones. Summer is a popular time for people to get kidney stones, but many people don’t know why. We’re sharing more information about kidney stones, their causes, their symptoms, and prevention.
What Are Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones are hardened mineral and salt crystals that form in the kidneys. These can be made of multiple different substances, calcium oxalate being the most common example. These stones arise when urine contains greater quantities of substances capable of crystallizing in urine than the urine can dilute with fluid. Picture a pot of water to which you keep adding salt. If there is not enough water in the pot, the additional water won’t be absorbed, and thus the excessive salt will start forming into crystals, which eventually can be accumulated into a stone.
Why Do People Have More Cases of Kidney Stones in Summer?
What most people don’t understand is that the incidence of kidney stones is quite high in summer, which is largely due to dehydration. If you are sweating more and perhaps not drinking water to make up for that, the urine gets concentrated due to the loss of water. The concentration of these minerals has been known to facilitate stone formation. It’s a bitter lesson to learn, that one has to drink enough water, more so in the hot weather.
Diet, Genetics, and the Development of Kidney Stones
Although such people might be predisposed to the formation of kidney stones because of their genes, the diet and lifestyle factors contribute majorly. For instance, high salt intake, intake of certain proteins, and eating excessive amounts of oxalate-containing foods like spinach are risk factors. On that note, inadequate amounts of water intake don’t help the cause either, for instance, choosing sweet tea and soda instead of plain water.
What are the Symptoms of Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones are not symptomatic in all cases. A large number of individuals have small stones that travel in the urinary tract without ever being made aware of them. However, when a stone occurs in such a way that it causes a blockage, this may cause quite severe pain. This pain is brought by the fact that the kidney is full of urine that has no outlet because the stone blocks egress. It is a feeling that most people would argue is one of the worst an individual can potentially endure.
Reducing the Existing Kidney Stones
The good thing is that it is possible to eliminate stones from the body. Patients are instructed by Dr. Pazona to drink sufficient amounts of water so that the persons’ urine is not concentrated and hence stones are less likely to form. He adds that such an individual should seek the attention of a urologist for an appropriate work-up, which may include more specialized assessments such as a 24-hour urine collection. From there, dietary alterations and, in rare cases, medications may be provided to avoid the development of kidney stones.
Key Takeaways
One out of every 10 adults will develop a kidney stone at some point in their life, with half of them having a recurrence rate of 50 or 80 in some decades. One effective remedy that helps is diet. Hydration plays a significant role in the formation of kidney stones.
Visiting a urologist can be beneficial in finding out your particular risks and ways to prevent future stones.
In the case of expecting females, they may be more prone to kidney stones owing to the metabolic transformations during the time of their pregnancy. Hence, make sure that you drink a lot of water when you are pregnant and do not hesitate to talk to your doctor.
Lower back pain and kidney stones are ways of life that are painfully expensive, but they can be avoided. Risk factors can be almost eliminated if the patients take adequate amounts of fluids and eat the right foods. If you have questions about kidney stones or other urological problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to Pazona MD!
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your healthcare provider for any medical conditions.
