Did you know there are different types of kidney stones? You may be able to stop some types from coming back by changing what you eat.
Summary
Kidney stones come in several types - calcium oxalate, uric acid, calcium phosphate, struvite, and cystine - and prevention depends on the cause. Diet can help: eat fewer high-oxalate foods for calcium oxalate stones, limit animal protein for uric acid stones, and consider weight loss if uric acid levels are high.
Urine pH is key: uric acid and cystine stones form in acidic urine (uric acid stones may be helped by potassium citrate or sodium bicarbonate), while calcium phosphate and struvite stones are linked to alkaline urine, often with infection.
Drinking plenty of fluids, treating urine infections, checking pH with dipsticks, and using medicines when advised can reduce recurrences.
What are calcium oxalate kidney stones?
These are the most common type of kidney stone, also called calcium oxalate stones. Some foods are high in oxalate. Eating less of these foods will help.
High-oxalate foods include more than 3 cups of tea or coffee a day, nuts and sesame seeds, chocolate, some fruit (figs, plums, berries, currants, tangerines and rhubarb), soy products, some vegetables (celery, spinach, leeks, okra, parsley, beetroot) and high-dose vitamin C.
What are uric acid kidney stones?
These stones have a smooth surface and are a golden colour; they are also called uric acid stones. They are more common if you eat a lot of animal protein. They also occur if your urine is unusually acidic. Being overweight can give you high uric acid levels. Losing weight may help.
Your doctor might give you medicine to make your pee less acidic. This medicine could be potassium citrate or sodium bicarbonate.
What are calcium phosphate kidney stones?
These stones are caused by having urine that is too alkaline (also called calcium phosphate stones). Alkaline is the opposite of acid.
What are struvite kidney stones?
These are also known as "triple phosphate" or "infection" stones, and are often called struvite stones. This is because
they are made of three types of phosphate -- calcium, magnesium and ammonium phosphate.
Some people get them if they have a urine infection.
A urine infection makes urine alkaline, which helps stones grow. It happens more often in women who have gone through the menopause. It can also happen if you have a catheter. This is a soft tube that goes into your bladder. It helps drain your pee.
Cystine stones
Cystine stones are caused by a condition called cystinuria. It makes your urine very acidic. You can help stop these stones forming by drinking at least 4 litres of water or squash a day.
You can check how acidic or alkaline your urine is. You can do this with special pH dipsticks. Your urologist or specialist nurse can give you these. They can teach you how to use them.
Some people are given drugs to help if stones form very quickly you need to have surgery often changing your diet and drinking a lot of fluids isn't enough.
Talk to your doctor or urologist about which type of kidney stone you have and how to prevent another.
