Prevention of Kidney Stones

Without prevention, about half of people who have had one stone get another. The steps below lower that risk.

Drink enough

• Drink enough water to produce at least 2 to 2.5 litres of urine a day
• Keep urine pale in colour through the day, including at night if you wake
• Drink more in hot weather and during exercise

Eat for stone prevention

• Cut down salt to under 5 g a day
• Keep normal calcium intake from food
• Limit large portions of meat, poultry, fish and eggs
• Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
• Include citrus fruit or lemon water
• Limit sugary drinks
• Follow oxalate advice if you form calcium oxalate stones

Avoid unneeded supplements

Avoid high-dose vitamin C, vitamin D and calcium pills unless your doctor advises.

Keep a healthy weight and stay active

Obesity raises stone risk. Avoid crash diets.

Treat related conditions

• Control gout, diabetes and high blood pressure
• Treat urinary infections early
• Follow up for hyperparathyroidism and bowel disease

Medical evaluation

After a stone, ask for stone analysis, blood tests and a 24-hour urine test if advised. These show what to change.

Medicines

Potassium citrate, thiazides or allopurinol may be prescribed for people who keep forming stones.

Follow-up

Repeat imaging or ultrasound as advised, especially for stones left in the kidney.

Ayurvedic lifestyle advice

Ayurveda recommends plenty of water, regular meals and avoiding suppressing urination. This is traditional and not proven to prevent stones.

Key point

More water, less salt, balanced protein and keeping calcium in the diet are the main steps.

Before your appointment

Note when the pain began, where it is, and whether you have noticed blood, fever, nausea or burning in your urine. Record how much you drink and pass urine in a day. List medicines and supplements, especially vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium and herbal products. Mention previous stones, gout, bowel surgery, urinary infections and family history. Bring earlier scans and reports. If you pass a stone, save it for analysis. Ask about tests, the stone type and a prevention plan. Call 112 for fever with pain or if you pass no urine.