Kidney Stones - Other Treatments

Highlights	Diagnosis	Prevention
Introduction	Treatment	Resources
Causes	Medications	References
Risk Factors	Other Treatments
Symptoms	Complications

Prevention

Anyone who has had kidney stones should try to prevent a recurrence. Some general observations include:

The most important dietary recommendations for calcium stone risk are to increase fluid intake, restrict sodium, and reduce protein intake.
Higher potassium intake can also lower the risk for calcium stones.
A high-calcium diet does not appear to increase the risk for kidney stones, as long as the diet also contains plenty of fluids, potassium, and phosphate. (Increasing calcium alone may pose a modest risk for stones.)
Patients should try to correct any dietary habits that cause acid or alkaline imbalances in the urine, which promotes stone formation.

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Because different kidney stone types may require specific dietary changes, patients should work with their doctors to develop an individualized plan. Nutritional considerations are very important in preventing recurrences, and patients should comply with the proper diet.

Fluids (Water, Juice, and Other Beverages)

Of all the preventive recommendations, drinking enough fluids is the most important guideline for people with any type of kidney stones.

In general, patients with calcium or uric acid stones should drink at least 10 full glasses of fluid each day (at least half should be water). They should drink one glass with each meal and drink fluids at night, even if they have to get up during the night to go to the bathroom. Fluid intake should produce at least two-and-a-half quarts of urine each day.
To prevent cystine stones, patients should drink even more water -- more than a gallon, or 16 8-ounce cups, every day. Patients should drink this amount at regular intervals throughout the day and night.

In all cases, patients need more fluid after exertion and during times of stress. If they drink enough, the urine should be pale and almost watery, not dark and yellow.

Water. Water hardness (meaning how much calcium is in the water) generally plays only a small role in stone formation. By far, the amount of fluid intake is most important in preventing stones.