How Much Water Should I Drink If I Have Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are masses of minerals that form in the kidneys. Excessive minerals such as calcium and uric acid can accumulate in the kidneys and lead to the development of kidney stones. According to Dr. Niren Rao, a leading urologist renowned for performing the best kidney stone surgery in Delhi, some of the risk factors for kidney stones include an excess protein diet, being overweight and consuming too much Vitamin D. The most common advice doctors give to individuals suffering from kidney stones is to stay hydrated and drink lots of water. Though we have heard it several times, do we drink enough water if we have kidney stones?

Let us take a closer look at how much water you should drink if you have kidney stones and why.

How Much Water Should Individuals Drink If Experiencing Kidney Stones?

The human body is made up of 70% of water. The kidneys are responsible for filtering fluid out of the blood and the urinary system. It also flushes out the concentrated filtrate in the form of urine. The kidneys filter a 3-litre plasma volume around 60 times, implying that 180 litres of fluid are filtered daily. A healthy human produces 1-2 litres of urine daily. Therefore, the average daily intake of water recommended for an individual is 2 litres. This compensates for the fluid removed in the form of urine and sweat. Kidney stones arise when the per day output of urine is less than 1 litre. Thus, drinking water becomes even more crucial for individuals dealing with kidney stones.

Sufficient water flushes out toxins and kidney stones. Staying hydrated is the key to stopping existing kidney stones from growing. If individuals drink enough water, it can also help them pass the stones. More water intake implies more urine output, which means that the excess salt and minerals are flushed out from the body. Moreover, water helps move the stone to the urinary tract and eventually gets removed through urine.

If individuals have kidney stones, the doctor usually recommends drinking 3-4 litres of water daily. This quantity makes up for the fluid removed from the body and aids in the passage of stones. Other hydrating fluids you can drink with kidney stones include fresh lemon soda, coconut water, vegetable juices, etc.

Final Thoughts

You should not rely completely on water to get rid of kidney stones. You can seek medical help and discuss what you need to do to improve the condition with a leading urologist. Proper kidney stone treatment can save you from severe complications.

Consider consulting Dr. Niren Rao, the best urologist in Delhi, at Delhi Urology Hospital. The expert urologist has over two decades of experience and performs advanced procedures such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) at the hospital to treat kidney stones. The cost of kidney stone surgery at the hospital ranges between Rs. 35,000 and Rs. 60,000.