Myths and truths about kidney stones

More than 2 million people in Spain have kidney stones, with kidney lithiasis being the third most common urological condition. However, there are still several myths surrounding this disease.

Below, we will address the popularly held beliefs in society about kidney stones, especially those related to the causes of their appearance, to explain and clarify the reality of having kidney stones.

Diet plays an important role in stone formation

Dietary imbalances are linked to changes in urine pH, which in turn are decisive for the formation of kidney stones. Kidney lithiasis has a preventive urinary pH range of 5.5 to 6.2, as uric acid and calcium oxalate kidney stones usually form when urine is acidic.

There are a series of foods that acidify urine, while others alkalinize it. For this reason, if you want to balance your urine pH, you should follow a varied, balanced diet tailored to each person. Another alternative to restore the acid-base balance of urine is through food supplements that help maintain the proper functioning of pH regulation systems.

Men are more prone to kidney stones

While it is true that kidney lithiasis is more common in men than in women (a ratio of 2-3:1), this trend is beginning to equalize due to changes in lifestyle and an increase in the percentage of the population with obesity.

Children can get kidney stones

Approximately 2% of kidney stone cases occur in children.

My father suffered from kidney lithiasis, is it hereditary?

The percentage of lithiasis cases increases up to 55% with the presence of a family history of kidney stones and risk factors.

During a renal colic, heat should be applied

Applying heat to the area of intense pain is very useful in many cases. Heat causes the vessels through which the stone may be moving to dilate, which can help its expulsion.

Once stones are expelled, no more can form

The probability of recurrence is 30-50% in the 5 years following the first episode of kidney lithiasis and 80% in the following 10 years.

To prevent the formation of kidney stones, it is necessary to make a series of changes in some daily habits, such as drinking more liquids (water, juices, soups, infusions), following a low-calorie, low-salt diet. It is important to know that different types of stones form depending on the urinary pH. Controlling and measuring urine pH would help prevent the new formation of stones, as would taking food supplements. These would help restore the acid-base balance of urine for the same purpose: to prevent the formation of new kidney stones.