Question

A patient has been diagnosed with a renal stone. Based on knowledge of common stone types, what self-care measure does the

healthcare professional plan to teach the patient when stone analysis has returned?
a. Increase water intake.
b. Decrease soda intake.
c. Restrict animal protein in the diet.
d. Ingest 1000 mg of calcium a day.

Answer 1

A healthcare professional may recommend increasing water intake to produce 2 to 2.5 liters of urine per day, following a diet low in protein, nitrogen and sodium, and avoiding cola drinks, as these strategies help prevent the formation of kidney stones.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most important self-care measure a healthcare professional might suggest for a patient with a renal stone varies depending on the type of stone and other individual factors. Nonetheless, common preventive strategies for kidney stones generally include increasing fluid intake, especially water, to produce 2 to 2.5 liters of urine per day, as it helps flush away materials that might form kidney stones. It is also advised to follow a diet low in protein, nitrogen and sodium intake, and to avoid cola consumption, as these may increase the risk of stone formation.

For calcium oxalate stones, it is often not recommended to reduce dietary calcium since it can aid in binding oxalate in the gastrointestinal tract, potentially reducing stone risk. Instead, medications such as thiazides, potassium citrate, magnesium citrate, and allopurinol may be prescribed based on the cause of stone formation, and reducing intake of oxalate-rich foods can be beneficial.