Actor Manmeet Singh of 'Jug Jug Jio' fame recently spoke about his kidney stone problem. He revealed in an Instagram video that a few years back he used to get kidney stones every 3 months. The stones caused great pain. He also had to undergo laser treatment every 3 months to get rid of it.
Most people experience pain and discomfort due to kidney stones. Manmeet was tired of the same problem over and over again. Then his doctor told him a secret and his kidney stone problem went away.
Since then, as advised by the doctor, he drinks 1-2 liters of water every morning. He has been following it continuously for 7 years. When he stopped drinking water in the morning for a while, he developed kidney stones again.
Now the question arises whether drinking a lot of water really cures the problem of kidney stones.
So, today' Health water In ' we will talk about kidney stones in detail. You will also know that-
- Does drinking too much water cause kidney stones?
- Which people are at higher risk of kidney stones?
- What dietary changes are preventable?
Kidney stone cases are increasing in the country and the world
According to a report published in the 'National Library of Medicine', in the year 2019, 11.5 crore people worldwide had kidney stone problems. In Saudi Arabia, 20% of people have kidney stones. Every year these cases are increasing.
According to a report by the 'National Center for Biotechnology Information', more than 12% of people in India have kidney stone problems. It is also mentioned that the cases of kidney stones have increased rapidly in the last few years.
Drinking enough water reduces the risk of kidney stones Our blood contains many minerals like calcium, sodium, oxalate. It also contains uric acid. When the kidneys filter them and excrete them in the form of urine, they require fluid or water. Due to lack of water, these substances start to stick together. It becomes stone. So drinking enough water is essential.
Who is at increased risk of kidney stones? Urologist Dr. Atul Goswami says that people who do not drink enough water are most likely to develop kidney stones. Apart from this, see in the graphic which people are more at risk:
Certain medical conditions are also responsible for kidney stones
Apart from lifestyle and diet, some medical conditions also increase the risk of kidney stones. See graphic:
What is the treatment for kidney stones? Dr. Atul Goswami says that if one has a small stone, there is a strong possibility that it will pass on its own. The doctor can give you such medicines, which will not cause discomfort and help pass the stone through urine.
If the stone is large, the doctor may wait a while to pass it with urine. Treatment can be given if the stone is increasing in size or causing any damage to the kidney. In this, first of all, medicine is given to reduce pain and make the urethra comfortable. The urine from the kidneys keeps accumulating in the bladder, when the urine exceeds 300-400 ml, it exits the body through a tube or tube. This tube is called urethra. Kidney stones cause pressure and pain on the urethra. So, doctors try to reduce that pain through medicines.
These treatments may be given to remove stones:
Shockwave lithotripsy: In this, stones are broken up with the help of shock waves. This causes the stones to break into pieces and pass out through the urine.
Ureteroscopy: This treatment is usually given when stones become lodged in the urinary tract or bladder. In this treatment, stones are removed by inserting a scope into the urinary tract.
Laparoscopic surgery: In this surgery, the doctor makes a small cut to remove the stone. Then the stone is extracted with the help of some machines.
Open Surgery: In some cases, a large incision is made and the stone is removed through open surgery.
Some common questions and answers regarding kidney stones
Question: What problems can occur if kidney stones occur?
Answer: Following are the risks of kidney stones.
- Obstruction can cause urine to flow back into the kidney. This can lead to swelling of the kidneys (hydronephrosis).
- Kidney infection (pyelonephritis) may occur.
- Acute kidney injury can occur. This is a type of kidney failure, which can be reversed.
- Frequent urinary tract infection (UTI) may occur.
- Chronic kidney disease can occur
Question: What can happen if a person has kidney stones?
Answer: First of all, it is important to understand that nowadays medical science has advanced so much that now the treatment of this problem is very easy.
All kidney stones smaller than 6 millimeters are considered small stones. 90% of these stones pass on their own.
All stones larger than 6 mm fall into the category of large stones. In this too 60% of stones pass by themselves.
If the stone has grown too large or is obstructing urination, it may need to be broken up or removed. This may require laser treatment or surgery.
Sometimes stones that are expected to pass on their own can grow or cause an obstruction. In such a situation, emergency treatment is required.
Question: Can drinking only water remove kidney stones?
Answer: If your doctor thinks your kidney stone is small enough to pass on its own, they may advise you to drink plenty of water. During this time, medicines should be taken as per the doctor's instructions and necessary dietary precautions should be taken.
Question: What are the food items to avoid if you have kidney stones?
Answer: If you have kidney stones or have had kidney stones in the past, you should be especially careful about your eating and drinking habits. Even those who do not have stones should take care of their diet. such as-
- Do not eat or drink foods high in oxalates. Like chocolate, tea, sweet potato.
- Eat less salt.
- Do not eat meat.
- Do not drink cold drinks.
- Do not eat anything containing high fructose corn syrup.
- Avoid consuming alcohol or anything dehydrating.
Question: What to do if you have kidney stones?
Answer: If you have stones, keep the following in mind.
- Drink at least 12 glasses of water every day.
- Eat citrus fruits like oranges.
- Do not drink tea, coffee and sugary drinks.
- Make a diet chart with the help of a doctor and follow it.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
