A new study found that light exercise, such as walking around the house or school weekly, can effectively cut the risk of developing kidney stones by up to 31 percent.
Researchers from the University Of Washington School Of Medicine led by Dr. Mathew Sorensen, an assistant professor of Urology, analyzed the data of over 84,000 postmenopausal women. They looked at their eating habits and level of physical activity. They also listed their body mass index (BMI).
After analyzing the data, they concluded that obesity contributed significantly on the development of kidney stones. They computed that if someone will eat more than an average of 2,200 calories a day (equivalent to a box of 14-inch regular crust pizza), he is definitely increasing his risk to developing kidney stones by up to 42 percent.
"Being aware of calorie intake, watching their weight and making efforts to exercise are important factors for improving the health of our patients overall, and as it relates to kidney stones," Sorensen told WebMD.
Thus light exercise can help shed off those calories which in turn can cut the risk of developing kidney stones by up to 31 percent. Simply bathing the dog can help burn 326 calories per hour for someone who weighs 205 lbs, carrying a baby can burn the same calories, and even dusting or cleaning the house can burn 233 calories per hour. See more light exercise you can do here.
"Even small amounts of exercise may decrease the risk of kidney stones," said Sorensen. "It does not need to be marathons, as the intensity of the exercise does not seem to matter."
The study was published in the December 12 issue of Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
According to the National Kidney Foundation, more than 500,000 people rush to the emergency room each year due to kidney stone problems. One in every 10 people has it once in their lives. In the U.S, the number is increasing every three decades by one percent.
Having kidney stones in the body is extremely painful which affects the urinary system. Possible causes include drinking too little water, too much or too little exercise, weight loss surgery, or eating too sweet or too salty foods. Symptoms include severe pain on the side or lower back, blood in the urine, nausea, fever, and cloudy or smelly urine.
