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November 7, 2008
Dear Parents/Guardians:
As per our Fishkill Plains’ Wellness initiative, we are always researching informational articles
that might be of benefit to us and to our children. Please read the following article taken from the
CWK.com website posted on Wednesday November 5, 2008. I hope you will find it helpful when
you consider the amount of salt that our children are consuming on a daily basis.
Kidney Stones
“There are a number of different things that have been shown to increase
your risk of kidney stones. One is high salt intake. So if you eat a lot of
salt, it causes more calcium to go in your urine.
And when you have more
calcium in your urine, you are more likely to form kidney stones.” – Larry
Greenbaum, M.D., Ph.D., Pediatric Nephrology, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
A doctor told of a recent case when a 14-year-old adolescent, in great pain, was rushed to
the emergency room. It was determined that he had a kidney stone- the size of two grains of
sand. She explained to the parents that, “what happens is it causes a little spasm in the tube
that leads from the kidney down into the bladder. It’s really the spasm that’s causing you the
pain.”
Research shows that across the country, the number of kids with kidney stones is growing
dramatically. Not so long ago, doctors realized that kidney stones in children had been a
disorder that a pediatric nephrologist might see once or twice a year. Today, however,
pediatric nephrologists report that they are seeing these cases about once a month!
One reason for the increase is a diet that’s full of salt! Doctors are cautioning that if
people eat a lot of salt, it causes more calcium to go into the urine. Unfortunately, an
increase of more calcium in the urine, there is more likelihood for kidney stones to form.
Studies show that that once someone has had one stone, there’s a good chance that he may
have a second stone, and maybe a third or a fourth stone! The good news is that doctors
say there are several ways to prevent kidney stones:
1- First, of course, is to reduce salt in the diet. And drink plenty of water.
2- Foods that have been shown to help prevent kidney stones are fruits, vegetables, and
anything with calcium.
Tips for Parents
Kidney stones are much rarer in children than in adults. Experts at Johns Hopkins Medical
Institutions say children get kidney stones about 1 percent as often as adults – it is estimated
that adults have a one-in-10 lifetime chance of developing serious kidney stones. However,
doctors are now seeing a steep rise in young patients.
Adults are more likely to pass their stones with only medical management for pain. Children
are more likely to have their stones removed. According to pediatric urologist Dr. Steven G.
Docimo, “Odds are that the stones will eventually cause trouble, growing to obstruct the
kidney.”
Some stones can be treated with extra corporeal shock wave lithotipsy. But the more
“resistant” kidney stones may have to be surgically removed.
Kidney stones have plagued mankind for thousands of years. Scientists have even found
traces of kidney stones in mummies more than 7,000 years old. Today, more than 1 million
cases are reported each year in the United States, mostly in adults.
Kidney stones sometimes occur when urine becomes too concentrated. This causes
minerals and other substances in the urine to form crystals on the inner surface of the
kidneys. Eventually, these crystals may combine to form a small, hard, stone-like mass.
Sometimes this mass, or stone, breaks off and passes into the ureter (one of the two thin
tubes that lead from the kidney to the bladder). If the stone blocks the ureter, pain occurs.
Not all kidney stones cause symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, it’s not unusual for
stones to be discovered in the kidneys during X-rays for an unrelated problem. If the kidney
stone becomes large or causes a blockage or an infection, your child may experience
“intense, colicky pain” that fluctuates in intensity over a period of five to 15 minutes. The pain
starts in the back or side just below the edge of the ribs. As the stone moves toward the
bladder, the pain may radiate down toward the groin. If the stone stops moving, the pain may
stop, too. Other symptoms may include the following:
Bloody, cloudy or foul-smelling urine
Nausea and vomiting
Persistent urge to urinate
Fever and chills if an infection is present
In children, kidney stones are frequently linked with what Dr. Docimo calls “an underlying
anatomical abnormality,” such as spina bifida, a reconstructed urinary tract or augmented
bladder. The Mayo Clinic also lists the following “risk factors” that may increase the chances
of developing kidney stones:
Family or personal history: If someone in your family has kidney stones, you’re
more likely to develop these stones, too.
Age, gender and race: Most people who develop kidney stones are between 20
and 40 years of age. Men are more likely to develop kidney stones than women are,
although for unknown reasons the number of women with kidney stones is
increasing.
Certain diseases: Rare, inherited diseases, such as renal tubular acidosis and
cystinuria, can increase the risk of kidney stones.
Certain medications: Taking certain types of water pills (diuretics), some thyroid
medications or calcium-based antacids (Tums, Alka-Seltzer, Rolaids) may increase
your risk of forming kidney stones. On the other hand, thiazide diuretics may help
lessen the chance of stone formation.
A single kidney: Although most people have two kidneys, approximately one in
every 1,500 babies is born with only one kidney. Many people live full healthy lives
with a single kidney, but they do have an increased risk of kidney stones.
Diet: A diet that’s high in protein (meat, chicken, fish, etc.) and low in fiber (fruits,
vegetables and whole grains) may increase your risk of some types of kidney
stones.
A lack of fluids: If you don’t drink enough fluids, especially water, your urine is
likely to have higher concentrations of substances that form stones.
Limited activity: You’re more prone to develop kidney stones if you’re bedridden or
very sedentary for a period of time. That’s because limited activity can cause your
bones to release more calcium.
The best way to prevent kidney stones is to drink lots of water so the
stones get washed out of the body before they become large.
References: *Mayo Clinic *Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta *Johns Hopkins Medicine
*Birmingham Children’s Hospital
To sum it all up, please make sure your children get in the habit of drinking plenty of water
and to eat a diet of whole foods rich in fruits, vegetables and calcium on a daily basis!!!
Have a very healthy day and here’s to our greater wellness!
Sincerely,
Sylvia A. Epstein, Principal