HHS HealthBeat (July 11, 2012)

More Kidney Stones

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Nicholas Garlow with HHS HealthBeat.

A study finds the number of Americans with kidney stones has gone up.

At UCLA, Charles Scales looked at national health survey data. He says about 1 in 20 people had kidney stones in 1994; by 2007 to 2010, it was 1 in 11.

“Obesity, diabetes and gout were all strongly associated with having kidney stones. This is very important, because all these conditions are preventable, and directly related to diet and lifestyle.”

For all three, weight control is crucial.  For kidney stones, Scales recommends drinking plenty of fluids, and having a balanced diet low in sodium and animal protein, and with a moderate amount of calcium.

The study presented at a meeting of the American Urological Society was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at healthfinder.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Nicholas Garlow.

Last revised: July 11, 2012