Kidney Stone Prevention

Posted by Sheldon Freedman, MD, on June 23, 2016
An elderly man holds his side in pain

It is extremely hot this week in beautiful Las Vegas. It is also the start of kidney stone season for my patients. Did you know that according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, 26 million American adults have kidney stones1. Most people are unaware they have stones until they end up in the emergency room in extreme pain. Kidney stones often cause pain in the lower back, blood in the urine, and painful and frequent urination. The good news is that most kidney stones are preventable with some minor diet changes. Be sure to force fluids, avoid teas and foods that are high in oxalates, and avoid calcium supplements. For more information, check out one of my favorite resources for kidney stones and kidney stone prevention from the Mayo Clinic. If you think you might have a kidney stone, don’t ignore your symptoms. Call today for an appointment.

References

  1. Coresh et al. JAMA. 2007. 298: 2038-2047