Kidney stones are hard deposits that can be found anywhere in the urinary system-from the urinary bladder to the kidneys. They can be formed due to many factors, but genetic susceptibility and the number of fluids you drink has a direct effect on the odds of having kidney stones.
While they can be treated with oral medications in most cases, one can tweak certain habits and change one’s diet to attempt to address the issue of kidney stones naturally. Here are some home remedies for curing kidney stones.
Dehydration is one of the leading causes of kidney stones. Less water concentrates the urine and allows many minerals and salts to coalesce. Drinking more water, a minimum of eight glasses ensure the body is hydrated and even helps in reducing the growth of kidney stones.
Apple cider vinegar contains citric acid that helps in dissolving calcium-heavy kidney stones. The concoction is made by mixing a little bit of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and can be had before meals. Quite a few people swear by this as the home remedy for kidney stones. Also, read 6 health benefits of apple cider vinegar.
Citrate is responsible for the breakdown of kidney stones made with calcium deposits. Lemon juice has abundant citrate, thus making it a good home remedy for kidney stones. Having lemon juice with warm water on an empty stomach is very useful. Having natural lemon juice is preferable as the bottle versions have more sweeteners, which increase kidney stones.
Basil or tulsi has high amounts of acetic acid, another component that helps in the dissolution of calcium-based kidney stones. Basil leaves are known to balance uric acid. Some even believe that having basil juice will end up expelling kidney stones. Read more on the health benefits of tulsi (basil).
This is another home remedy that many people vouch for. Having a glass of pomegranate juice every day can work wonders for your kidney stones. The astringent properties of pomegranate make them an ideal remedy.
Much like how they resemble their namesake, kidney beans are beneficial if you have the problem of kidney stones. They are rich in magnesium, a mineral that helps in dealing with kidney stones. Boil the beans till they are soft and use the water as a broth.
Celery is like the elixir of life when it comes to kidney stones. It helps in increased urine output and is a superfood when it comes to kidney health. You could have it in your soup or mix it with your juice. Celery seeds, if consumed regularly, even discourage the formation of kidney stones.
A diet that is high in processed foods, colas and energy drinks is mainly responsible for kidney stones. Most of these drinks are highly diuretic, thus increasing your dehydration levels. Even alcohol consumption should be discouraged if one is suffering from kidney problems. Changing one’s diet, tilting more towards natural foods has been known to show improvements in kidney health, mainly due to the element of fibre and plethora of vitamins and minerals that the fruits and vegetables bring.
If the kidney stone home remedies were not effective in flushing it out within 6 weeks, it would be in the patient’s best interest to visit a doctor. Moreover, a visit must be made if the following serious symptoms start to persist:
After a consultation, the doctor will prescribe medication or another form of treatment to help the patient pass the stone.
Although a painful process, it is very much possible to pass a kidney stone by yourself. You can simply add the aforementioned home remedies into your daily schedule until it is flushed out. Moreover, making a habit out of these home concoctions may help in preventing the formation of further stones in the future. For the pain, you can always consume some over-the-counter medicines to help ease the discomfort.
Once you do manage to get the stone out, you might want to save it for further examination. In order to do this, you will need to filter out the urine with the help of a urine screen which can be procured from a doctor’s office. An examination of the stone by your doctor can help in determining a specific prevention plan to avoid future inconveniences.
Also, read more on 5 Kidney Stones Symptoms to Watch Out.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
That radiating pain in your back and abdomen might be because of something more than sleeping in an awkward position. Kidney stones could be the reason behind the debilitating pain you have been experiencing. Turns out that when your father told you to drink those gallons of water, he knew what he was talking about. Kidney stones are very painful.
Kidney stones are made formed when minerals and salts get deposited. They can affect you anywhere in your urinary tract. Be it your kidneys, ureters, urethra or your bladder; they can be located anywhere. Kidney stones can be formed in anyone. However, certain people are more susceptible than others. Those who have a family history of kidney stones tend to suffer from them. Not drinking enough water, drinking too much or having a high protein diet all contribute to increasing the odds of developing kidney stones. Too much salt or sugar intake also increases the chances of having kidney stones. Those that have a high body mass index (BMI) or have had gastric surgery too are at risk.
There are mainly four kinds of kidney stones. Calcium stones are formed due to a high amount of oxalates in the diet. High intake of Vitamin D, certain fruits, nuts, vegetables and even chocolate have a high level of oxalates. Uric Acid stones are a result of dehydration. Those who drink fewer fluids or have gout suffer from these. Cystine stones are formed when you are genetically susceptible to them. They are formed when kidneys excrete high amounts of specific amino acids. The last type is Struvite stones. These are formed due to some urinary tract infection and here are some home remedies for UTI if you need some quick relief.
There are many warning signs of kidney stones. If you have more than three of these, please consult your doctor immediately.
People who have kidney stones feel nauseous frequently.
Radiating pain that shoots towards the abdomen and groin is another sign of kidney stones. The pain comes in waves and fluctuates in its intensity. The stones go unnoticed until they move down the ureters. This severe pain is known as renal colic.
Also Read: Too Much Protein Symptoms: Exploring the Impact on Your Health
Pink, brown or red urine should ring warning bells about kidney stones in your body. It could be cloudy and even might smell very foul.
Another important sign in males is repeated vomiting and flank pain radiating to scrotum is a specific finding in kidney stone.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Kidney stones induce frequent urination in patients. However, the urine will come in small amounts, sometimes just in drops. The need to urinate will be ever-present. Sometimes the stones can block the urine from being excreted. This is a urinary obstruction and is a dangerous condition as it can lead to kidney damage.
Kidney stones are commonly known to recur within a couple of years of their first occurrence. Severely painful situations are usually encountered in patients who have an impacted kidney stone when the size of the stone is large enough to not allow it to pass through a ureter easily which may require a medical or surgical intervention.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D
Those that have kidney stones and also an infection in their system will suffer from fever and chills.
In case, you do have kidney stones; there is no need to panic. Most can be treated with oral medications and by drinking lots of water. If you have an infection, a round of antibiotics will also be needed.
Also Read: Tips to Keep Kidneys Healthy
Did you know?
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
Kidneys are responsible for purifying our blood and removing the toxins from our body in the form of urine. Located near the lower back area, they are present on either side of the body. If one kidney fails due to some reasons, the other can take over the detoxifying functions, and the person can survive for many years on the basis of that one kidney alone. However, it is essential to maintain good kidney health as poor kidney function can lead to various health complications.
Due to many reasons, kidneys can get affected negatively and lose their blood purifying functions. They cannot filter out the waste, and the toxins stay in the system causing many complications. Permanent kidney failure is one of them, and it can be life-threatening. Unfortunately, poor kidney function or kidney malfunction is not apparent in the initial stages. Let us look at some of the symptoms of kidney problems and find out more about them.
Do You Know
One of the first noticeable signs of some kidney malfunction is reduced urine output.
Having blood in the urine is a significant pointer towards the health of your kidneys. While it does not necessarily mean that the kidneys are malfunctioning, it can mean that there are some problems that could lead to more serious damage to the organs.
Another common sign of kidney malfunction is the presence of protein in the urine. Healthy kidneys throw out the waste materials like excess minerals and keep important nutrients like a protein within the body. When the kidney filters are damaged, they allow the protein in the blood to leak into the urine. Early intervention can prevent further damage.
Kidney stones can cause kidney malfunction. If they are small in size, they are harmless. But the larger ones can move into the urinary tract and cause blockage, leading to complications. Kidney stones are caused by the buildup of certain minerals in the body in the absence of enough fluid to pass them out through the urine. They are a common problem in those who don’t drink enough water. Also, read about common symptoms and warning signs of kidney stones.
Sometimes, urinary tract infections can lead to kidney infections. Common symptoms of a kidney infection include vomiting, pain in the lower back or sides and fever. Women tend to suffer from these kinds of infections due to their susceptibility towards UTIs, and it leads to poor kidney function and can cause permanent kidney damage.
When the kidneys get affected, they do not detoxify the system properly. This leads to an extra buildup of fluid in the legs and feet. The person suffers from swelling of the legs and ankles. The hands may also swell up. A puffy face is also a common sight.
Kidneys are responsible for making EPO, erythropoietin, which instructs the body to make RBCs (red blood cells). When the kidneys get affected, they make less EPO leading to a reduction in RBCs in the body. This affects the amount of oxygen in the body, and one feels tired very quickly.
This happens as there is a reduced supply of oxygen-carrying red blood cells, and this can lead to anaemia. Also, sometimes when the kidneys get affected, there is a buildup of fluid in the lungs.
Since kidney malfunction can cause anaemia, it can lead to a short supply of oxygen to the brain. The person can feel dizzy and weak because of that.
This is again due to the brain not getting enough oxygen because of anaemia. The person begins to suffer from memory problems and has difficulty concentrating.
When the brain does not get enough oxygen, it can lead to seizures. Since the amount of red blood cells gets affected when the kidneys malfunction and they are the vehicles for transporting oxygen, seizures are a definite possibility. Some people may even go into a coma if the condition is left untreated.
When the damage to the kidneys is sudden, it can lead to Acute Kidney Injury. The kidneys stop working in a matter of a few days to a few hours. If left untreated, it is a life-threatening problem. This can happen due to an infection, an injury or even because of some medicines.
Another sign of poor kidney function or kidney malfunction is the pain in the lower back and on the sides of the body as it may or may not signify pain in the kidneys.
Hepatitis C is a viral infection affecting the liver. Both the liver and the kidney are connected as they both help in the detoxification of the blood. Many times, liver diseases like hepatitis C can affect the kidneys and cause damage to them.
Foamy, bubbly urine that is brown, red or purple in colour is another sign that something is not right with the kidneys. The person may feel abdominal pressure while passing the urine. One may feel like passing urine, but nothing might happen.
Those who suffer from kidney damage suffer from bad breath due to the buildup of wastes in the body. The foul smell is due to the presence of ammonia. The person even suffers from loss of appetite as the food doesn’t taste nice. This is because of wastes in the body that affect how the body perceives the taste of food.
A sudden loss of blood flow to these vital organs can lead to kidney failure. Some conditions which can cause that are:
There are many things we can do to avoid harm to our kidneys.
Also Read: Too Much Protein Symptoms: Exploring the Impact on Your Health
Take care of your kidneys by following a healthy lifestyle, drinking enough water and getting immediate treatment if you suspect that something is wrong. Do not overdose on medicines and keep track of any out of ordinary activity concerning urination in your body. Most kidney diseases can be treated, and in acute cases options of dialysis, surgery or kidney transplant are possible.
Also Read About: Tips to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
Diabetes is known as the ‘Silent Killer’. Apart from causing sugar imbalance in the body, it hollows out most organs from the inside. The eyes and the kidneys are the organs most susceptible to damage through diabetes. Kidneys are vital to regulate the fluid levels in the body. They are also responsible for releasing hormones that control blood pressure.
There might be many reasons why diabetes affects kidneys so negatively. The alteration in the blood sugar taxes the kidneys as they are responsible for spewing out waste and toxins from the body. While genes are definitely responsible for making you susceptible to develop kidney diseases, other factors like high blood pressure, steep glucose levels in the blood and diet too contribute significantly.
If you have recently developed diabetes, you will not show any symptoms of kidney disease. For those who have developed kidney malfunction, the toxins in the body build-up and the patient feels sick, lose their appetite, have fluid retention and can even suffer heart failure if left untreated.
Whether it is diabetes Type I or Type II, your kidneys get extremely vulnerable. For some patients, it takes just a decade for the kidney diseases to set in and for others, it may take up to 30 years.
So what can you do? Here are some ways in which diabetic patients can reduce the risk of kidney diseases.
Even a slightly elevated serum creatinine level can indicate presence of clinically significant kidney disease. For patients with decreased kidney function, measures to reduce or retard the progression of renal disease such as control of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperglycemia should be emphasized.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
This is the most fool-proof way to thwart kidney disease. The lesser the fluctuations in your blood glucose, the better are your chances of delaying the onset of kidney disease. Kidneys are made of tiny blood vessels. Any changes in blood sugar will affect them negatively.
Read More: 10 Harmful Effects of Sugar.
Your doctor will give you a diet to follow to keep your diabetes in check. You must follow the diet to ensure that your kidneys stay safe.
Read More: 5 Diet Tips For Diabetes Management.
As is with blood sugar, fluctuating blood pressure can be fatal for your kidneys. To prevent kidney failure, try to maintain stable blood pressure.
Structural changes start occurring in the kidney of diabetic patients which is a common cause of hypertension, chronic kidney disease and kidney failure if left undiagnosed and untreated for a long time, medical attention is a must to diagnose the disease at an early stage.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
Those who are vulnerable to kidney damage are suggested a low protein diet to put less pressure on already weak kidneys. You must consult your doctor or nutritionist about the options available to you.
Weight gain can seriously affect your kidneys, more so when you have diabetes. Eat healthy food and exercise regularly to keep the weighing scales static. A diet recommended by your doctor or nutritionist will ensure that you derive maximum nutrition without increasing your weight.
Get regular tests done to ensure that your kidneys are in tiptop shape. In most cases, by the time the symptoms become apparent, the damage has already been done. Many kinds of tests check your creatine and urea levels in the urine that point towards the health of your kidneys.
Also Read: What Causes Low Creatinine: Medical Experts Weigh In
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
