Are you at Risk for Kidney Stones? Steps to Take Now to Get 100% Stone Free

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Mar 17, 2016, 12:15 ET

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OWINGS MILLS, Md., March 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- March is National Kidney Month. If you are at risk for developing kidney stones or have had kidney stones in the past, Chesapeake Urology specialists have important tips for preventing kidney stone disease and living a stone free life.

According to Julio Davalos, M.D., director of Chesapeake Urology's kidney stone program, anyone can produce kidney stones, but certain individuals are more prone to them because of hereditary factors and even lifestyle issues.

"For many patients, kidney stones can be a lifelong problem, which is why we are focused on getting patients 100% stone free for the long term," says Dr. Davalos. "The passing or surgical removal of a kidney stone is only a part of our comprehensive treatment program that combines medical metabolic management and annual exams with carefully designed kidney stone prevention plans."

Are you at risk for kidney stones? Find out the risk factors here: http://menshealth.chesapeakeurology.com/mens-conditons/stone-disease/kidney-stones/

Why Metabolic Medical Management is Critical to Keeping You Stone Free

The first step in kidney stone prevention is to understand why the body is producing kidney stones. Dr. Davalos stresses the importance of metabolic evaluation and management as a critical component of his comprehensive kidney stone prevention plan. The metabolic medical evaluation includes:

Urine tests
Blood work
Crystal analysis (when a stone or fragment of the stone is available)

Understanding the factors that caused the body to produce kidney stones in the past ultimately helps your urologist to map out a comprehensive treatment and prevention plan. Dr. Davalos' prevention plan includes regular follow up visits and lab work to monitor a patient's progress. Regular follow up and adherence to the recommended prevention plan can help patients remain 100% stone free.

[Learn more about metabolic medical evaluation for kidney stones - http://menshealth.chesapeakeurology.com/mens-conditons/stone-disease/kidney-stones/metabolic-evaluation-for-kidney-stones/]

Steps To Take Now To Help Prevent Kidney Stones in the Future

Dr. Davalos has the following general recommendations to help patients prevent kidney stones from returning:

Stay well hydrated. Drink enough fluids (water is best) to make 2L or about 1/2 gallon of urine a day. Drink more water in the summer months when you're apt to lose more water through sweat. Lemonade made with real lemons has citrate which can be good for the urinary system.
Cut the salt. Limit the amount of sodium in your diet. The recommended daily allowance of sodium is 2,500 mg, yet the average American diet takes in about 5,000 mg of sodium a day. Don't add salt to food and take the salt shaker off the table to avoid temptation. Limit eating out and processed foods which also contribute to higher sodium intake. Decreasing urinary sodium also decreases urinary calcium, which are leading culprits in kidney stone formation.
Moderate calcium intake. If you have a history of stone formation, your doctor may recommend a moderate intake of calcium - about 800-1,200 mg a day. Calcium, however, is necessary in the diet; completely eliminating calcium is not advisable and can actually lead to more kidney stones.
Cut the protein. Your doctor may also recommend that you cut down on your protein intake.

For more information on kidney stones and getting 100% stone free, visit http://menshealth.chesapeakeurology.com/mens-conditons/stone-disease/kidney-stones/, call 877-422-8237 or visit http://www.chesapeakeurology.com/physicians/ to find a Chesapeake Urology physician near you.

About Chesapeake Urology

Chesapeake Urology is a fully-integrated urology practice providing a comprehensive array of urologic services to its patients. The Company operates 21 medical offices and 14 AAAHC-certified ambulatory surgery centers in Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Carroll, Montgomery, Prince George's, Charles and Anne Arundel counties and in Baltimore City, and has a staff of more than 500 including 63 physicians. Chesapeake Urology has been named one of the top 100 places to work in healthcare nationally by Modern Healthcare magazine and locally by Baltimore magazine. For information about Chesapeake Urology, please visit www.ChesapeakeUrology.com or follow us on social media: Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ChesUrology; Twitter: www.Twitter.com/ChesUrology; and YouTube: www.YouTube.com/ChesapeakeUrology.