Blog

4 Surprising Facts That You Must Be Aware Of About Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are a very common problem in both men and women these days. In the context of India, an expectancy of 12% of the total population is reported to be prone to kidney stones. So, it is necessary to be well aware of the snippets of kidney stones. Here, in today’s blog brought to you by the best urologist in Kolkata we shall look into the strange, surprising, and even some “shocking” truths about the development and treatments of kidney stones.

There are various types of kidney stones that exist

Note that there are four major types of kidney stones – calcium, struvite, uric acid, and cystine. Among them, the calcium type is the most commonly seen in both men and women. Besides, struvite stones sometimes occur after repeated urinary tract infections while uric acid stones form when urine is too acidic. However, cystine stones, which are the rarest, form due to a genetic disorder majorly.

Kidney stones can be of different sizes

More or less, we all have heard that passing a kidney stone is just as painful as childbirth — and this is true in some cases, though, the pain level depends on the shape and size of the kidney stone. Remember that kidney stones can be the size of a pea or — although rare — can develop to the size of a golf ball sometimes. However, the largest kidney stone ever recorded, according to the Guinness Book of Word Records, was just over 5 inches at its widest point. Anyway, too small stones can pass without you even noticing. In general, the larger they turn out, the more they usually hurt.

Certain food items can cause kidney stones

According to the best urologist in Kolkata, the foods that might lead to kidney stones are –salt and non-dairy animal protein like all types of meat, beef, chicken, fish, and pork — which are highly associated with increased stone formation. In addition, foods that are pretty rich in oxalates, such as nuts, chocolate, spinach, and tea, may also cause increased stone formation.

Water can prevent kidney stones

While salt may lead to stones, water can help prevent them effectively. Many urologists in Kolkata opine that sufficient water intake is the single most important dietary risk factor for kidney stone formation. This is why urologists recommend patients drink enough water to make 2.5 litters (near about 10.5 cups) of urine per day, or even try to keep their urine clear to very pale yellow.

However, there are a lot more things that will not suffice in a single blog post. So, to know more about kidney stones, get in touch with the best urologist in Kolkata.