Kidney stones - a marker of overall kidney health

Kidney stones impact one in 10 people and can lead to acute kidney injury; multiple episodes can result in long-term renal issues.

It has been said that experiencing a kidney stone is the closest a man will get to experiencing childbirth, though the pain of a stone is alarming for both sexes. One in 10 people will form a kidney stone in their lifetime.

March is National Kidney Month, and understanding the causes and effects of kidney stones can help one understand markers for overall kidney health. Kidney stones can lead to acute kidney injury, and multiple episodes can result in long-term renal issues.

Kidney stones are calcified deposits that form inside the kidneys and collecting system when urine gets concentrated, causing crystallization. Stones have to pass through one’s ureter and bladder to exit the body. Sometimes, surgical intervention is needed to remove stones that cannot pass. Stones occur for many reasons, ranging from genetics, medication use, and environmental factors like extreme heat and dehydration to comorbidities like obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Diet and lifestyle are also primary causes for stone prevalence, as stones are directly correlated to weight and body mass index.

Most commonly, stones are associated with other diseases, most of which directly cause other kidney problems. The South has been known to produce more stones than other parts of the country due to the region’s exposure to dietary risk factors and seasonally high temperatures. People tend to become more dehydrated in the heat, and those who work outside are the most susceptible to dehydration and stone prevalence.

“The South tends to see a higher rate of stones compared to other parts of the country,” Wood said. “Currently, our regional stone prevalence is 12 percent, nearly double that of the Northeast, so it’s key that we are teaching our residents simple tips for keeping their kidneys healthy, including preventive steps that they can take to improve their overall health.”

Wood notes that simple changes like increasing water intake to 3 liters a day, incorporating more fruits, and vegetables, and decreasing consumption of salt, soda, high amounts of protein, and fatty or fried foods can help improve overall kidney health and ward off stones.

It is not coincidental that these changes can also help improve symptoms or prevent other health issues.

“It’s important that people realize these modifications don’t just help prevent stones — they help decrease your chances of other diseases and can help boost your health if you have another comorbidity,” Wood said. “A lot of changes like drinking water instead of soda seem so simple; but they really do pose long-term benefits, specifically to the health of one’s kidneys.”

Historically, men have been two-thirds more likely to have stones as compared to women; but as of late, the ratio and prevalence are narrowing. Wood attributes a large part of the rise in kidney stones to poor diet factors. At UAB, the departments of Urology and Nephrology saw the need to collaborate in a group clinic setting to help patients understand their specific stone risks.

UAB’s Metabolic Kidney Stone Clinic was designed in a group round-table setting to educate patients about lifestyle changes that can help prevent recurrent stones. Sessions include developing nutritional and therapy regimens tailored to the patient’s specific needs, while also discussing what factors have caused that patient’s stones. These groups are open to anyone who has experienced a kidney stone.

Another initiative is UAB’s Kidney Stone Laboratory, which has a mission to prevent stones from occurring altogether. Through the research conducted in the lab and the patient education in the Department of Urology, Wood hopes that preventable kidney stones will be a thing of the past one day.

There are several signs one may be experiencing a stone. Most people who have experienced stones say the pain is tremendous, specifically intense abdominal, back and groin pain, and this is often the first indicator of stones. In addition, the urge to frequently urinate, or nausea and fever are other factors. It should be noted that blood in the urine can be a sign of a kidney stone; but it could also represent other conditions, and if experiencing — seek immediate medical evaluation.

For people looking for tips to help prevent stones or improve overall kidney health, Wood recommends starting with these and seeking medical attention or advice, should stones develop:

At a minimum, drink at least eight glasses of water a day, as hydration helps ward off stone development; a goal of consuming 100 ounces of water is ideal

Consume 1,000-1,200 mg of calcium a day

Limit intake of animal protein, salt, unhealthy foods

Eating a balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables, specifically citric fruits, as citrate found in fruits like oranges or grapefruits helps stop the crystallization process of stones

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