Caribbean News
Cleveland Clinic: Are There Home Remedies for Kidney Stones?
Make these lifestyle changes to help prevent kidney stones
If you have kidney stones, you’ve more than likely left no stone unturned when it comes to finding ways to alleviate your pain.
That pain, and other symptoms, comes from the blockage a kidney stone can cause. And it’s typically when the stone is traveling through your ureter, the tube that drains your kidney into your bladder. When the stone causes a blockage, your urine backs up into your kidney and causes swelling and pain.
Whether it’s the size of a grain of sand or a quarter, your kidney stone can be painful.
So, can you get rid of kidney stones at home?
While there are home remedies that may help prevent stones, there isn’t a magic potion or at-home treatment that can dissolve the most commonly seen stones.
Certified nurse practitioner Tiffany Loboda, CNP of Cleveland Clinic, talks about ways to prevent kidney stones, how to manage a stone at home and when you need to see your doctor.
How to tell if you have kidney stones
Kidney stones are solid, often jagged, or even smooth-shaped, masses or crystals made of minerals and salts that form in your urinary tract.
Kidney stones can be caused by several factors like dehydration, diet, medical conditions, medications or genetics. There are different types of stones, too, like calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, uric acid and struvite. Calcium oxalate is the most common kind, making up about 70% of stones.
“Those types of stones, along with others less common are not dissolvable,” says Loboda.
The most common symptom of kidney stones is pain in your back, abdomen or your side. Other symptoms include:
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Blood in your urine.
- Pain with urination.
- Unable to urinate.
- The need to urinate more often.
- Urine that smells bad or looks cloudy.
- Fevers or chills.
“These symptoms typically occur when the stone moves out of the kidney,” says Loboda. “Stones that are within the kidneys generally don’t cause pain. The pain occurs when they begin to migrate out of the kidney and cause blockage.”
So, if you can’t dissolve your kidney stones, what can you do?
Work on prevention, advises Loboda. A few lifestyle changes can help decrease the risk of forming more stones in the future.
Drink fluids
The No. 1 reason kidney stones form is that you aren’t drinking enough fluids.
“Dehydration is a big factor,” says Loboda. “Staying well-hydrated is one of the most important factors for prevention. We always want people to drink plenty of fluids, unless there is a medical reason they are restricted from doing so.”
You should focus on having about 2.5 to 3 liters of urine output a day for adequate stone prevention, which translates to drinking about 80 to 100 ounces a day for the average person.
The internet is full of information on other fluids that can help with kidney stones, but for the most part, sticking with water is ideal.
But a few ingredients show promise, though the research is limited:
“Water is obviously the best thing, but all fluids count,” notes Loboda.
Consume citrus
Fruits and vegetables like lemon, limes, tomatoes, melons and oranges are great for keeping your levels of citrate high.
“Citrus is important because it binds calcium in the urine,” says Loboda. “Citrus can also dissolve some crystals before they have a chance to even turn into a stone.”
Whether you put a squeeze of lemon in your water or chop up tomatoes for your salad, it’s a good idea to incorporate these foods into your diet. You can even use a concentrated version of citrus juice. Loboda recommends about 4 ounces of concentrated juice to about 32 ounces of water.
“Think of citrus as a shield,” says Loboda. “So the more citrus you consume, the stronger your shield is going to be to protect you from stones.”
You can also get citrate in other ways like drinking Crystal Light® and clear-colored soda like Sprite® or Squirt®.
“Those drinks have a good amount of citrate. Clear sodas don’t carry the high risk for stones like darker colored sodas,” says Loboda. “The syrup in the dark sodas like Pepsi® and Coke® contain a lot of phosphoric acid, which can acidify the urine. Soda, regardless of type, can contain a lot of sugar, so it’s best to only use these in moderation.”
Those with conditions like Crohn’s disease or those who’ve had bariatric surgery may have trouble absorbing citrate from diet alone. In these cases, your doctor may prescribe a medication to boost citrate levels.
Don’t be afraid of calcium
Since the most common stone is calcium oxalate, many people think that avoiding or limiting their calcium intake helps prevent kidney stones
“Calcium is not the enemy for stones,” assures Loboda. “Calcium binds oxalates in the gut. If you restrict dietary calcium, then the oxalates you’re consuming aren’t going to leave through the digestive tract via stool. They’re going
to get absorbed and then come out in your urine, which is not what we want.”
You should aim for about 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams of calcium per day. The goal isn’t to overconsume calcium, just get the recommended amounts.
Foods that contain a high amount of oxalates include spinach, beets, rhubarb and nuts. Black tea should only be consumed in moderation.
Watch your sodium intake
Following a low-sodium diet, about 2,000 to 2,300 milligrams a day, can help prevent kidney stones. Having too much sodium in your diet can trigger kidney stones by increasing the amount of calcium in your urine.
Watch the types of food you eat. Pizza, pastas, breads, bacon, sausage — foods that are processed, preserved, cured, canned or pickled have high amounts of sodium.
“We really get the vast majority of our daily sodium from just what’s contained within the foods that we’re eating,” says Loboda. “And unfortunately, a lot of things contain a lot of sodium.”
One way to cut down on the amount of salt in your diet is to start reading labels and thinking about serving sizes.
“Pay attention to serving size on the labels, that’s something that can trip you up,” says Loboda. “If you don’t read the serving size, then you might look at the label and see 100 milligrams of sodium but maybe there’s three or four servings in that package. It’s important to pay attention to both.”
When to see your doctor for your kidney stones
If you think you have a kidney stone, it’s important to see your doctor. If you’re in immense pain, have uncontrollable nausea or vomiting, a fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.33 Celsius), difficulties urinating or are passing thick bright red or clot-filled urine, head to the emergency room.
For nonurgent stone matters, talking to your doctor or a surgeon who specializes in treating and preventing stones like a urologist or nephrologist can help get you on the path to treatment and prevention.
The discussion on prevention often begins with conducting a 24-hour urine analysis.
“A 24-hour urine analysis gives us specifics about your risk factors,” explains Loboda. “We can determine what could be in the diet that can be increasing the risk for stones or causing them to form. It really enables us to come up with an individualized plan for prevention.”
It’s important to note that most people who have a kidney stone have a high chance of developing them again.
“If you don’t start focusing on prevention early on, stones can grow and turn from a very small problem into a potentially large problem,” cautions Loboda.
Caribbean News
Turks and Caicos Retains Championship at 28th Annual Caribbean Classic Golf Tournament
Please note:
Photos by TCI Sports Commission
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – In an historic showing, the Turks and Caicos Islands Golf Association (TCIGA) dominated the 28th annual Caribbean Classic Golf Tournament, held in Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic, from April 25th to 27th, 2024. The victory marks a turning point for TCI golf, and much of the credit goes to the exceptional team of players assembled by Sean Wilson the Head Professional at the Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Course.
56 golfers, playing under the banner of the TCIGA were rewarded for their enthusiastic participation across both the Men’s and Women’s divisions.
“This back-to-back win is an indication of the growing interest and increased participation in the sport of golf in TCI,” stated TCIGA President Fraser Dods.
“We’ve been competing at this tournament since its inception almost 30 years ago, and finally bringing home the George Noon Cup two years in a row is a truly proud moment for Turks and Caicos golf.”
Clean Sweep for Team TCI
The team’s success was based on strong and determined performances in every flight and category.
The Turks and Caicos men’s team secured the Robert Grell Trophy, while the ladies claimed the Jodi Munn Barrow Trophy.
This clean sweep across all team divisions highlights the growing depth and talent within the TCI Golf Association membership.
The “Classic”organized by the Caribbean Golf Association, brings together golfers from the twelve membercountries of the CGA. The Caribbean Classic is an individual and team event, competed for by teams of unlimited number of players from each participating member country, playing eighteen holes of golf each , over 3 days.
Team Turks and Caicos amassed the most points overall and won the George Noon Cup last year, for the first time in 27 years of competing at this event. To repeat as champs is a proud moment for TCI sports in general and for TCI Golf specifically.
Individual Accolades Abound
Beyond the team triumphs, individual golfers from TCI shone brightly. Female players, namely Wendy Ayer, Christine Dickenson, Tazmaraa Gowans, and Andrea Todd, all secured podium finishes in their respective divisions
The men’s side also saw impressive performances from Justin Simons, Mark Fulford, Arthur Lightbourne, Mervin Cox, and Simon Dobbs. Their individual excellence contributed significantly to the overall team victory.
Looking Ahead: Building on Success
TCI Director of Sports Jarrett Forbes is optimistic about the future. “This win exemplifies the immense potential of golf in the Turks and Caicos,” he stated. “We encourage young islanders to take up this fantastic sport.”
Head Golf Professional at Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club, Sean Wilson, echoed the sentiment. “This is a monumental achievement for TCI golf,” he said. “Bringing home trophies in all three divisions is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the TCIGA and its players.”
The Caribbean Classic second victory creates a new legacy for golf in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The TCIGA is administrated by a golf-loving volunteer executive comprised of Fraser Dods, Mark Fulford (VP), Denise Douglas (Secretary), Paul Murray (Treasurer), Andrea Todd and Roberto Stipa.Through their collective efforts, and the growing participation of TCI golfers, the future looks bright for this sport in the region.
The Caribbean Classic is one of the highlights of the Caribbean Golf calendar. Organized by the Caribbean Golf Association, it allows participation of amateurs from 12 countries, including the Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico, Guadalupe, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic, Barbados, the Cayman Islands, Martinique, St Lucia, and USVI.”
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