PREVENTING KIDNEY STONES 1. Drink plenty of fluids. Dr. Highshaw recommends drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses (a total of 64 ounces or 2 quarts) of liquid daily. Water is best. If you perform strenuous outdoor work, you’ll need to drink close to a gallon daily. 2. Stick to a diet that’s low in salt, sugar and animal protein. 3. Reach or maintain a healthy weight. 4. Drink lemonade. Both lemonade and limeade are rich in potassium citrate, a substance that helps to prevent kidney stone formation. Just avoid versions with sugar, which can increase kidney stone risk. Make your own sugar-free lemonade by adding a tablespoon of lemon concentrate per quart of water. To help mask the tart taste, try using stevia, a natural sweetener extracted from the leaves of the stevia plant. 5. Don’t avoid calcium-rich foods. Though most kidney stones are made up primarily of calcium, calcium in food is not linked to an increased risk of kidney stones. However, calcium supplements may be. Ask your doctor what preventive steps are important for you.
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Some patients with a kidney stone experience dull aches between ribs and pelvis. Others develop severe pain (often in waves) in the side, abdomen, lower back or groin. Urine may look cloudy or smell bad. Emergency symptoms include: • Pain with nausea and vomiting • Pain with fever and chills • Blood in the urine • Difficulty passing urine • Pain that makes it difficult to find a comfortable position
FLORIDA HOSPITAL (844) 804-9378 | SPRING 2017
SYMPTOMS TO WATCH FOR
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