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Will Drinking a Lot of Water Help Dissolve Kidney Stones?

Many people who have kidney stones suffer from them one time and do not suffer from the condition again. Other patients suffer from chronic kidney stones. Drinking lots of water does not help dissovle kidney stones, although many Natural Health websites make this claim. Drinking lots of water does help with the condition. Proper hydration has many other health benefits as well.

  1. Water Does Not Dissolve Kidney Stones

    • Drinking lots of water does not do anything to dissolve kidney stones. However, drinking a glass of water every hour helps the kidney stone to pass. It also helps prevent new kidney stones from forming.

    Other Contributing Factors

    • Water consumption helps kidney stones pass through the body and may keep them from forming. Patients should also follow a doctor's instructions and make the necessary dietary changes. Doctors will perform tests to determine what type of chronic kidney stones a patient suffers from. These tests help a doctor determine the correct course of treatment, according to mdjunction.com

    Drinking Lots of Water Reduces Kidney Stone Risk

    • A person reduces his risk of developing subsequent kidney stones by drinking 2.5 liters of water a day, according to the Mayo Clinic web site. Avoiding pasts, salt, beef, pork, and consuming milk products in moderation further reduces your risk. Patients who suffer from chronic kidney stones should also avoid taking antacids made fro calcium. If a person drinks enough water to reduce the risk of developing new stones, he will have a clear or light yellow urine stream.

    Magnesium and Vitamin B6

    • Magnesium and Vitamin B6 supplements may reduce the risk of developing kidney stones, but the Mayo Clinic states that only weak evidence exists supporting this theory and that the staff cannot recommend that kidney stone patients take magnesium and vitamin B6 supplements.

    Kidney Stone Symptoms

    • Excruciating pain starting in the lower back alerts the person to a potential kidney stone. Small and hard deposits of acids and minerals build up on the walls of the kidney. This condition does not usually cause lasting damage.

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