Clipping Board » Disease & Prevention ─ Understanding diseases, prevention is better than cure.
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Qingfang, Taipei, June 25, 2006)
Summer is the peak season for urinary tract stones. A small stone can cause excruciating pain, and urology clinics are often crowded with patients seeking extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) during the summer, leading to an overuse of the procedure.
Doctors say that drinking plenty of water is the best way to prevent stones, otherwise the chance of recurrence within seven years exceeds 50%.
Chen Weibao, a urologist and former director of the urology department at Chi Mei Hospital, pointed out that the high temperatures in Taiwan during summer lead to increased sweating and reduced urination, which can easily trigger urinary stones. For urologists, it's common to see clinics filled with stone patients, especially in the hotter southern regions, where doctors sometimes struggle to keep up with the demand.
Chen Weibao noted that over 80% of urinary stones are calcium-containing stones, such as calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate. Currently, male patients outnumber female patients by four times, with the condition most prevalent between the ages of 20 and 55. It is estimated that there are about two million stone patients in Taiwan, with one out of every three urology clinic patients being related to urinary stones.
Since ESWL is a non-surgical treatment, hospitals, regardless of the quality of their equipment, have been attracting patients in recent years. According to statistics from the Central Health Insurance Bureau, 70,000 people in Taiwan underwent this procedure in 2004, costing the health insurance system NT$2 billion. Among them, 400 people underwent the procedure more than five times within a year, and one patient underwent it 62 times in two years.
Additionally, there has been an overuse of ESWL. After discussions between the Health Insurance Bureau and the Urological Association, it was agreed that stones larger than 2 cm should primarily be removed surgically rather than repeatedly treated with shock waves. The Health Insurance Bureau has also lowered the reimbursement standards for ESWL to encourage cooperation between patients and doctors in prevention, reducing the number of shock wave treatments.
Lu Xinghua, director of the urology department at Taipei City United Hospital, pointed out that the high amount of sweating in summer, coupled with insufficient water intake, can easily lead to stone formation and urinary tract infections, making adequate hydration even more important.
As for dietary restrictions, people prone to stones should avoid excessive calcium intake and consume more high-protein foods, such as soy products.
How to prevent stones? Chen Weibao said that the amount of water each person should drink daily should be based on urine output. A normal adult should urinate between 600 cc and 3,600 cc per day. Those with a history of stones should aim for at least 2,000 cc per day, and for those currently suffering from stones, at least 2,500 cc per day is recommended.
Remember, drinking plenty of water and urinating frequently is the only way to avoid the pain of stones.
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ 060625/ 43/ 3a95w. html
Prevent Stones, Reduce Shockwave Abuse: Stay Hydrated in Summer
Summer is the peak season for urinary tract stones. A small stone can cause excruciating pain, and urology clinics are often crowded with patients seeking extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) during the summer, leading to an overuse of the procedure.
Doctors say that drinking plenty of water is the best way to prevent stones, otherwise the chance of recurrence within seven years exceeds 50%.
Chen Weibao, a urologist and former director of the urology department at Chi Mei Hospital, pointed out that the high temperatures in Taiwan during summer lead to increased sweating and reduced urination, which can easily trigger urinary stones. For urologists, it's common to see clinics filled with stone patients, especially in the hotter southern regions, where doctors sometimes struggle to keep up with the demand.
Chen Weibao noted that over 80% of urinary stones are calcium-containing stones, such as calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate. Currently, male patients outnumber female patients by four times, with the condition most prevalent between the ages of 20 and 55. It is estimated that there are about two million stone patients in Taiwan, with one out of every three urology clinic patients being related to urinary stones.
Since ESWL is a non-surgical treatment, hospitals, regardless of the quality of their equipment, have been attracting patients in recent years. According to statistics from the Central Health Insurance Bureau, 70,000 people in Taiwan underwent this procedure in 2004, costing the health insurance system NT$2 billion. Among them, 400 people underwent the procedure more than five times within a year, and one patient underwent it 62 times in two years.
Additionally, there has been an overuse of ESWL. After discussions between the Health Insurance Bureau and the Urological Association, it was agreed that stones larger than 2 cm should primarily be removed surgically rather than repeatedly treated with shock waves. The Health Insurance Bureau has also lowered the reimbursement standards for ESWL to encourage cooperation between patients and doctors in prevention, reducing the number of shock wave treatments.
Lu Xinghua, director of the urology department at Taipei City United Hospital, pointed out that the high amount of sweating in summer, coupled with insufficient water intake, can easily lead to stone formation and urinary tract infections, making adequate hydration even more important.
As for dietary restrictions, people prone to stones should avoid excessive calcium intake and consume more high-protein foods, such as soy products.
How to prevent stones? Chen Weibao said that the amount of water each person should drink daily should be based on urine output. A normal adult should urinate between 600 cc and 3,600 cc per day. Those with a history of stones should aim for at least 2,000 cc per day, and for those currently suffering from stones, at least 2,500 cc per day is recommended.
Remember, drinking plenty of water and urinating frequently is the only way to avoid the pain of stones.
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ 060625/ 43/ 3a95w. html