Prevention

All individuals who have experienced kidney stones should take some specific preventive measures to prevent recurrence. The following are some general observations:

• The most important dietary recommendations for reducing the risk for calcium stones are increasing fluid intake, restricting sodium, and reducing protein intake.
• A lower risk for calcium stones is also associated with higher potassium intake.
• A high calcium diet does not appear to increase the risk for kidney stones as long as it also contains plenty of fluids and dietary potassium and phosphate. (Increasing calcium alone may pose a modest risk for stones.)
• Patients should try to correct any dietary habits that cause acidic or alkaline imbalances in the urine that promote stone formation.

Because kidney stone types may require specific dietary changes, patients should work with their doctors to develop an individualized plan. It should be stressed that nutritional considerations are very important in preventing recurrence, and patients should be vigilant in complying with the proper diet.

Fluids (Water, Juice, and Other Beverages)

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Good voiding habits, particularly frequent urination, is important. Therefore, of all the preventive recommendations, drinking enough fluid 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). This includes one with each meal and drinking fluids at night, even if it means getting up from sleep. Fluid intake should produce at least two and a half quarts of urine each day.
• More water (over a gallon, or 16 8-ounce cups, every day) is needed to prevent cystine stones, and it must be drunk at regular intervals throughout the night and day.