Not drinking enough water, excess body weight, eating a diet high in protein and sodium are known risk factors for developing kidney stones. Addressing these risk factors can help prevent formation of kidney stones as well as recurrence of the condition. If you have had a kidney stone once, you are likely to have another one within five years the chance is 30 per cent as per researchers.
What can you do to prevent recurrent symptomatic kidney stones? Eating a diet high in calcium and potassium may help prevent formation of another kidney stone, according to a study by Mayo Clinic researchers.
The study, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, also stated that eating diet low in calcium and potassium, lower intake of fluids, as well as consumption of caffeine and phytate (an antioxidant compound found in whole grains and nuts) may increase risk of experiencing a first-time symptomatic kidney stone.
To further study the impact of dietary changes in preventing recurrent stones, the researchers followed patients who had experienced a first-time symptomatic kidney stone. Most of them experienced recurrent stones within 4 years. In addition, they found lower levels of dietary calcium and potassium associated with the recurrence.
The researchers suggested that increasing the daily intake of calcium to 1,200 milligrams may help prevent first-time and recurrent kidney stones. However, they didn't mention the daily potassium intake level.
Nevertheless, they advised patients with a history of kidney stone formation to add more fruits and vegetables that are rich in calcium and potassium to their diets. Potassium-rich fruits include bananas, oranges, grapefruits, cantaloupes, honeydew melons and apricots. Vegetables high in calcium and potassium include potatoes, mushrooms, peas, cucumbers and zucchini.
You may not experience any symptoms until the stone starts to move around within the kidney or passes into the ureters. If it is lodged in the ureters, you may experience:
Those with a family history of kidney stones should also be careful as they are at higher risk of developing stones.
