If you hope to reduce the chances of your ever getting kidney stones, it helps to understand what causes them to occur. If you have already dealt with this particular problem them you understand just how much it hurts and you know that you need to take steps to keep them from recurring. Kidney stones are caused by lots of different things and this article will explore a few of them but remember that there are lots of other causes as well. In many cases, you can reduce your chances of getting them altogether by living a lifestyle that is very healthy both in terms of exercise and diet.
Eating too much of certain types of foods can be one cause of kidney stones. People who eat lots of junk food, high sodium foods, too much sugar or animal protein are susceptible to many problems, including kidney stones. The reason salt makes you thirsty is that it has a dehydrating effect -and that's also why a high sodium diet puts you at risk for kidney stones. Eating a lot of animal protein also puts stress on the kidneys, so this can also be a factor. Vegetarians have a lower risk for developing kidney stones than meat eaters. Therefore, one way to help prevent kidney stones is to eat less animal protein, as most people don't want to become completely vegetarian or vegan.
Genetics can play an important role and determine if you develop stones. It's also the case that once you develop kidney stones, you have an increased risk of having them return.
There is hope because you can influence your situation by incorporating the right kinds of healthy foods and good living practices. You are not automatically designated as definitely experiencing this condition no matter what. Your history simply indicates you have to do more to avoid them.
There is one particular variety caused by urinary tract infections that are a different composition. Then there is the type of stone which results from bacterial infections of a certain strain. While the typical method of treatment involves antibiotics, if the condition is serious it may cause large stones to form.
While, unlike calcium stones, Struvite stones are not associated with any particular type of diet, you may be able to prevent this kind of kidney stone by maintaining a strong immune system. So that is one very good reason to always keep everything healthy and in good condition. If you have kidney stones, you have to look at your lifestyle, habits and medical history to try to find the cause. These possible causes are important to be aware of, especially since people who suffer from kidney stones have to be careful about avoiding them in the future. With some attention and effort, you may be able to get rid of this problem for good.