Reduce risk of kidney stones through lifestyle change

HOUSTON – Kidney stones can be very painful but according to a Baylor College of Medicine

expert, some lifestyle changes can help prevent them.

Men in their 30s or 40s who are overweight and eat a high protein diet are most at risk for

kidney stones. In addition, a family history of kidney stones increases the risk and so does

drinking less than two liters of water per day, said Dr. Alexander Pastuszak, a resident

physician in urology.

Prevention strategies include drinking more water, losing weight and decreasing protein and

salt intake.

Symptoms of kidney stones include blood in the urine and urinary tract infections, as well as

vague, intermittent back or flank pain on the side of the kidney that contains the stones.

Most of the time, kidney stones only trigger symptoms when they make their way into the

ureters, which results in significant pain in the back and flank, and can cause backup of

urine into the affected kidney if the stones obstruct your ureter.

Most kidney stones will pass on their own, particularly if they’re smaller than 5 mm;

however, larger stones may require surgery to remove them. In addition, if you have had

kidney stones more than once, a urine analysis should be conducted to help guide further

treatment and prevention.