What does it mean to have kidney stones?
Nephrolithiasis is a disease caused by kidney stones that can be found inside the kidney or in the urinary tract, i.e., in the ureter or bladder.
Stones are the accumulation of crystals or mineral salts that group together due to substances found in urine. These calculi can be as large as a pearl or as small as a grain of sand.1,2
Recent studies indicate that kidney stones affect 15% of men and 8% of women in Spain. More than 300,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Depending on the time, between 50% and 80% of patients will have a repeat episode of kidney stones, so it is important to take preventive measures for future episodes.3
Does drinking any liquid prevent their formation?
It has been shown that drinking 2 to 3 liters daily reduces the likelihood of having kidney stones. However, when we talk about liquids, not all are valid; we are mainly referring to water, juices, soups, or fresh fruit.4
According to a study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN) there is a link between the consumption of sweetened soft drinks such as cola and a higher risk of certain types of kidney stones or renal calculi. After analyzing data from more than 190,000 patients over 8 years, researchers concluded that individuals who consumed one or more glasses of sweetened soft drinks per week had a 23% higher probability of forming stones in their kidneys compared to those who consumed less than 1 glass per week.5
Remember that apart from fluid intake, maintaining an appropriate diet and an active lifestyle are also important for prevention.
- Official College of Pharmacists of Madrid, http://blog.cofm.es/litiasis-renal-piedras-rinon/
- Urología Clínica Bilbao, https://www.urologiaclinicabilbao.com/patologias/21/las-piedras-en-el-rinon-y-su-tratamiento.html
- Arias Vega MR, et al. Prevalencia de la urolitiasis en la población española de 40 a 65 anos: Estudio PreLiRenE. Med Clin (Barc). 2016;146(12):525–531.
- https://www.efesalud.com/piedras-rinon-medidas-salud
- Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
