The kidneys, an important organ in the body, removes waste and excess water from the blood (as urine) and helps maintain the balance of essential minerals and salts such as sodium, potassium and calcium in the body.
However, when the urine contains an excessive amount of these minerals and salts, it leads to the formation of kidney stones. Kidney stones can vary in size. They can be small or may even grow in size.
When kidney stones reach the bladder, they can be passed out of the body through urine. However, kidney stones can be lodged in the ureter and block the urine flow from the body. Kidney stones can be very painful. Some of the most common symptoms of kidney stones is an acute shooting pain in the back and side of your body. Sensing the trouble, your body will try to naturally pass the stones through the urine.
The passing of stones through the urine can take up to several days or up to a few months. This depends on the type and size of stones. You are advised to visit one of the best hospitals in Abu Dhabi, like Ahalia Hospital, for the best kidney stone treatment.
As the saying goes ‘prevention is better than cure,’ it is always best to take steps to avoid the formation of painful kidney stones. Let’s look at some of the things you can do to prevent kidney stones
Water is the natural cure for many ailments, kidney stone being one of them. A research article published in the National Centre for Biotechnology Information in 2016 suggested that drinking more water prevents kidney stones from forming.
Kidney stones are usually formed when the calcium and uric acids are unable to dissolve. These salts form crystals, which in turn become stones. However, the risk of these salts developing into stones is less if the urine is more dilute. Therefore drinking more water is one of the best solutions for kidney stone treatment.
Kidney stones are not a one time affair. About 35% to 50% of those with kidney stones will experience the recurrence of the stone within 5 years from the first stone.
Therefore, to avoid the recurrence of kidney stones, it is always advisable to take the right treatment and follow the advice of professional doctors from Ahalia Hospital, Abu Dhabi.
Oxalate is a type of nutrient naturally present in certain foods. These nutrients are required for the proper functioning of the body. However, excess intake of oxalate rich foods can also lead to the formation of kidney stones. Eat these foods moderately.
Excessive sweating leads to less urine formation. This leads to the stone forming minerals to settle down in the urinary tract or kidney.
Fruits like lemons and limes that are rich in citric acids can help prevent the formation of kidney stones. The citric acid combines with calcium and prevents the calcium from crystallizing.
