Take lots of water to reduce risk of kidney stones, nephrologists advise
Medical experts who specialise in the care of kidneys have advised Nigerians to drink plenty of water daily, noting that it may reduce the risk of developing kidney stone disease, a condition characterised by sudden, sharp, and severe pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin.
The nephrologists explained that regular intake of water would help the kidney to flush out any form of crystal deposits in the body that may lead to kidney stone diseases, especially during the early formation of the crystals.
According to them, insufficient water intake leads to the formation of crystals in the body. They emphasize that this process typically remains asymptomatic until the crystals shift within the kidney or pass into the tubes connecting the kidneys and bladder, resulting in excruciating pain.
According to an online medical portal, Mayo Clinic, kidney stones also known as renal calculi or nephrolithiasis, are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys.
Mayo Clinic stated that stones form when the urine contains more crystal-forming substances such as calcium, oxalate, and uric acid than the fluid in the urine can dilute.
The online medical blog pointed out that urine may lack substances that prevent crystals from adhering together simultaneously, thereby creating an ideal environment for the formation of kidney stones.
Physicians, who spoke exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise in different interviews, said dehydration, excess calcium, diet, some medical conditions, certain supplements, and medications among others are predisposing factors to the health condition.
Speaking on this, a Consultant Nephrologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Prof Olugbenga Awobusuyi, said kidney stones come with an unbearable pain that can wake someone up from a deep sleep, screaming and vomiting.
Prof Olugbenga Awobusuyi
Prof Olugbenga Awobusuyi
He noted that medical practitioners have begun to see more cases of kidney stones in hospitals in recent times and advised Nigerians to increase their water intake.
The nephrologist explained that the stones are formed when urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallise and stick together in the kidney.
He said that any condition that would increase one’s calcium content is a predisposing factor to the disease, saying that eating a diet that is high in protein, sodium (salt), and sugar may increase the risk of kidney stones.
Awobusuyi, who is also a Professor of Medicine at the Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, said different types of kidney stones affect the kidney in different ways, and they include calcium stone, struvite stone, uric acid stone, and cystine stone
The Consultant, who said that calcium stone is the most common type, stated that too much salt in the diet increases the amount of calcium that the kidneys must filter, thus significantly raising the risk of developing kidney stones.
The President of the Nigeria Association of Nephrology, said, “Most kidney stones are calcium stones, and usually in the form of calcium oxalate. Oxalate is a substance made daily by your liver or absorbed from your diet.
“Certain fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and chocolate, have high oxalate content and one needs to watch it. Too many nuts may not be healthy for someone who already has stones or someone with a family history of stones.
“High doses of Vitamin D, intestinal bypass surgery, and several metabolic disorders can increase the concentration of calcium or oxalate in urine.”
He highlighted two major stages in kidney stone formation, explaining that the first stage involves intense pain comparable to labour pains, while the second stage involves pain during urination accompanied by blood, which could potentially lead to kidney failure.
On the management, he said, “CT scan can detect the presence of crystals. If they are mild, the patient is advised to increase water intake significantly to dilute the crystals and facilitate their elimination through urine.
“The disease mechanism resembles salt in water, depending on the stone type. When there’s water present, salt precipitates. Similarly, with kidney stones, ample water intake aids in dissolving the crystals, allowing them to be expelled through urine.”
Another method he mentioned is using laser treatment to fragment the crystals and push them into the bladder, where they can be expelled through urine. He noted that drugs can also achieve this, but when the buildup is significant, surgery may become necessary.
He added that once the kidneys start producing stones, this process tends to continue, which is why people are advised to drink plenty of water and avoid dehydration.
Corroborating him, a Consultant Nephrologist at the Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital, Ogidi, Anambra State, Dr Fidelis Okechukwu said family history is one of the factors that predispose individuals to kidney stone disease.
Advising those with a family history of kidney stones to always take enough water and stay hydrated, he said, “If someone in your family has had kidney stones, you are more likely to develop stones, too.
“If you have had it once, you are at increased risk of developing another. Not drinking enough water each day can increase your risk of kidney stones. People who live in warm, dry climates and those who sweat a lot may be at higher risk than others.
“Gastric bypass surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, or chronic diarrhoea can cause changes in the digestive process that affect your absorption of calcium and water, increasing the amounts of stone-forming substances in the urine.”
Meanwhile, in a study published in the National Library of Medicine by Tilahun Alelign and Beyene Petros, titled, ‘Kidney Stone Disease: An Update on Current Concepts,’ the authors said kidney stone is an increasing urological disorder of human health, affecting about 12 per cent of the world population.
The authors noted that despite considerable improvements in the development of new therapies for managing urinary stones, the incidence of urolithiasis is increasing worldwide.
The study stated that renal cell injury, crystal retention, cell apoptosis, and associated stone inhibitors or promoters play important roles in kidney stone formation.
“These seem to be critical targets that lead to developing a novel strategy to prevent kidney stone disease and drugs against kidney stones,” the study stated.
