Prevent Kidney Stones

DRINK MORE WATER, NOT SUGARY DRINKS

In 2023, doctors remove 300 kidney stones from a Taiwanese woman who had a fondness for bubble tea. The discovery was made when the 20-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with a fever and severe back pain. Doctors discovered she had swollen kidneys with stones which resembled “small steamed buns”.

The Chi Mei Medical Centre in the city of Tainan said on its website that the CT scan indicated that the stones measured between 5mm and 2cm, and the accompanying blood test revealed an increased white blood cell count. Surgeons performed a 2-hour operation to remove the stones.

Kidney stones are usually found in people between 50 and 60 years of age. They can be caused by various factors, including genetic predisposition and chronic illnesses.

According to the hospital’s urologist Dr Lim Chye-yang, the surgeon who led the operation, kidney stones can also form due to insufficient water intake and diets high in calcium and protein. As a result of reduced fluid intake, urine becomes more concentrated, causing minerals to amalgamate and crystallise into stones.

The woman in the case admitted that she rarely drank water and relied on sugary and alcoholic beverages, with a preference for boba tea, for her daily fluid intake. This lifestyle choice led to chronic dehydration, causing minerals to build up in her kidneys and eventually form numerous stones.

The case underscores how chronic dehydration and poor beverage choices can severely impact renal health. It also emphasises the need for increased awareness regarding kidney health and the adoption of healthy hydration practices to prevent the formation of kidney stones and other related conditions.

References: The Independent; NDTV; Docquity

(Picture via Biologs Biotech)