PKD Life - Fall 2020 - 4

FRESH START

Self-Care

4 Ways to Prevent
Kidney Stones
age and sex. Try to
get calcium from
foods, as taking
such supplements
has been linked to
kidney stones.
2 Limit sodium.
Current guidelines
suggest limiting
total daily sodium
intake to 2,300
milligrams, and

less if you've had
kidney stones in
the past.
3 Avoid
oxalates. Beets,
chocolate, spinach,
rhubarb, tea, and
most nuts are
rich in oxalates,
which contribute
to the formation of
kidney stones.

-Christina Frank

Certain common prescription
and over-the-counter medications can impair kidney function. Gauri Bhutani, M.D., a
nephrologist at the University
of Wisconsin School of Medicine, recommends avoiding the
following medications if you
have PKD:
Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, such
as ibuprofen.
These can be toxic to kidneys.

Awareness
KICK THE HABIT!
After smoking for 31 years, Maureen Bickings recently celebrated her fifth anniversary of tobacco-free living.
How'd she quit? Bickings, a transplant
recipient from Philadelphia, attributes
her success to seeking support and
encouragement from her friends and
family, determination, wanting to be a
role model for her kids-and Tootsie
Pops, which she says she used in the
beginning as "faux cigarettes."
Other proven methods endorsed by
the American Cancer Society for kicking
the habit include:

MEDICINES
TO AVOID IF
YOU HAVE PKD

Medications. This includes
both over-the-counter options,
such as nicotine gum, and those
available by prescription.
Counseling. Support groups-
in person, online, or via text-can
keep you motivated.
Stop-smoking apps.
Smokefree.gov offers an app
that allows you to set a quit date,
schedule reminders, and access
24/7 support and advice.

Cold medicines that contain
ephedrine derivatives.
These can raise blood pressure.
Diuretics, such as Lasix
(furosemide).
These can cause dehydration,
and a PKD doctor should
confirm if these are OK for you.
Herbal or
alternative preparations.
These are not regulated or
tested for safety.

IMAGES, PEDRO VERDE/GETTY IMAGES

1 Don't avoid
calcium. Too little
calcium can cause
oxalate levels to
rise, upping the risk
for kidney stones.
The recommended
daily allowance
for calcium
ranges from 1,000
milligrams to
1,200 milligrams,
depending on your

4 Drink a lot
of water. Aim
for at least eight
8-ounce glasses
of water a day;
replacing one
or two of these
with lemonade
or another citrus
beverage is also
acceptable,
as citrate may
prevent kidney
stone formation.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: OLHAKOZACHENKO/GETTY IMAGES, ALEKSANDAR NAKIC/GETTY

Having PKD puts you at higher risk of developing kidney stones,
which can block the flow of urine-possibly threatening kidney
function-and cause excruciating pain if they pass. Here are
four ways to prevent them:

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http://www.Smokefree.gov

PKD Life - Fall 2020

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