Kidney problems

Some kidney problems may be temporary, or symptoms of other conditions like chronic kidney disease (CKD), which can lead to end-stage renal disease (ESRD, also known as kidney failure). 30 million Americans have kidney disease, but most of them do not know it because it has no symptoms in the early stages. In this section, learn more about kidney disease and kidney problems, kidney failure and how it is treated, and other kidney conditions.

• 
  

• Kidney problems

  Some kidney problems can be early signs of chronic kidney disease (CKD), the type of kidney damage that can get worse over time and lead to kidney failure. Other kidney problems can lead to CKD if they are not treated. Knowing your body and contacting your health care provider when you notice something isn’t right can help you prevent bigger problems in the future. Learn about common kidney problems like kidney stones, blood or protein in urine, acute kidney injury, kidney infection and kidney pain.

• Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Kidney Stones

  Can I help prevent kidney stones by changing what I eat or drink?

  Drinking enough liquid, mainly water, is the most important thing you can do to prevent kidney stones. Unless you have kidney failure, many health care professionals recommend that you drink six to eight, 8-ounce glasses a day. Talk with a health care professional about how much liquid you should drink.

  Studies have shown that the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet can reduce the risk of kidney stones. Learn more about the DASH diet .²

  Studies have shown that being overweight increases your risk of kidney stones. A dietitian can help you plan meals to help you lose weight.

  Does the type of kidney stone I had affect food choices I should make?

  Yes. If you have already had kidney stones, ask your health care professional which type of kidney stone you had. Based on the type of kidney stone you had, you may be able to prevent kidney stones by making changes in how much sodium, animal protein, calcium, or oxalate is in the food you eat.

  You may need to change what you eat and drink for these types of kidney stones:

  • Calcium Oxalate Stones
  • Calcium Phosphate Stones
  • Uric Acid Stones
  • Cystine Stones

  A dietitian who specializes in kidney stone prevention can help you plan meals to prevent kidney stones. Find a dietitian  who can help you.

  Calcium Oxalate Stones

  Reduce oxalate

  If you’ve had calcium oxalate stones, you may want to avoid these foods to help reduce the amount of oxalate in your urine:

  • nuts and nut products
  • peanuts—which are legumes, not nuts, and are high in oxalate
  • rhubarb
  • spinach
  • wheat bran

  Talk with a health care professional about other food sources of oxalate and how much oxalate should be in what you eat.

  Reduce sodium

  Your chance of developing kidney stones increases when you eat more sodium. Sodium is a part of salt. Sodium is in many canned, packaged, and fast foods. It is also in many condiments, seasonings, and meats.

  Talk with a health care professional about how much sodium should be in what you eat. See tips to reduce your sodium intake