Preventing Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are a relatively common problem, and a very painful one to have.

Lifetime risk of ever having one in both men and women is 5%. Fortunately, the risk isn't higher since passing a stone can be more painful than childbirth (or so every female patient who has had both has told me).

80% of stones contain calcium. Out of these, 80% are made of a chemical called calcium oxalate.

Happily, these kinds of stones may be prevented by some dietary suggestions:

• avoid high protein, high salt diets
• avoid Pepsi, Coca-Cola, tea and iced tea
• avoid excessive cheese and dairy products in your diet
• drink lemonade regularly (or, 8-10 ounces of lemon juice in 64 ounces of water)
• drink "reverse osmosis" water such as Aquafina, Dasari, or Alhambra instead of tap or well water
• if you take calcium supplements, use the ones that contain calcium citrate and not calcium carbonate (such as TUMS, RolAids or "natural" calcium)

(h/t Dr. Kash Desai, a local urologist)