Kidney problems include a group of diseases such as kidney failure, poor kidney function and kidney stones, and they affect a person’s health in normal conditions. As for the Hajj, the kidney patient should pay more attention to his health status.
The Saudi Ministry of Health, through its Hajj website, provides a set of tips and instructions for kidney patients, including:
See a doctor to ensure that the Hajj can be performed and receive appropriate health instructions.
Make sure to carry the prescribed medications and store them in a suitable and easily accessible place.
Commit to taking medicines regularly and on time.
Take fluids and salts as prescribed by the doctor in advance.
Refer to the mission doctor or the nearest health center in the event of any disorders in the body such as gastro-intestinal or urinary tract infections.
Avoid exposure to the scorching sun for long periods of time to prevent the loss of fluids and salts from the body.
Not to eat a lot of meat so as not to affect the function of the kidneys.
Refer to the nearest health center or hospital when needed.
Kidney stones
Kidney stones are hard, pebble-like pieces that form in one or both of your kidneys when there are high levels of certain minerals in your urine.
Kidney stones rarely cause permanent damage if treated by a health care professional, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in the United States.
Kidney stones vary in size and shape.
It may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pea.
Some kidney stones are rarely the size of golf balls.
Kidney stones may be smooth or rough, and are usually yellow or brown.
Small kidney stones may pass through the urinary tract on their own, causing little or no pain.
Large kidney stones may stop or get stuck along the way. Trapped kidney stones can block urine flow, causing severe pain or bleeding.
If you have symptoms of a kidney stone, including severe pain or bleeding, seek health care immediately.
A doctor, such as a urologist, can treat any pain and prevent further problems, such as a urinary tract infection.
What are the symptoms of a kidney stone?
Symptoms of kidney stones include
Sharp pain in your back, side, lower abdomen or groin.
Blood in the urine, also called hematuria.
Constant need to urinate.
Pain during urination.
Inability to urinate or urinate only a small amount.
Cloudy or foul-smelling urine.
See a health care professional right away if you have any of these symptoms.
These symptoms may mean you have a kidney stone or a more serious condition.
Your pain may last a short or long time, or it may come and go in waves.
Along with the pain, you may have:
nausea
vomiting
Fever
goosebumps
What causes kidney stones?
Kidney stones are caused by high levels of calcium, oxalate, and phosphorus in the urine.
These minerals are normally found in urine and do not cause problems at low levels.
Certain foods may increase the chances of developing kidney stones in people who are at high risk of developing them.
What foods that cause kidney stones?
There are several types of kidney stones, and foods that are not good for one type may be a good idea to eat if you have another type, according to a report in WebMD.
If you have kidney stones, ask your doctor about it.
This will help you know which foods to avoid.
But if you're not sure — or if you just want to be careful about all kinds of kidney stones — a good rule of thumb is to stay away from plenty of salty foods, meat, and other animal proteins.
And don't forget to drink plenty of water.
It helps dilute the urine to make the stones more difficult to form.
Calcium Oxalate Stones
This type of stone forms when the calcium in your urine combines with oxalate, a chemical found naturally in many foods.
If you have or have had calcium oxalate stones, beware of the following foods:
Or not.
High-oxalate foods: Many plants contain oxalate, so it's hard to avoid it completely.
But some foods contain it more than others. Try to limit:
spinach
Almonds and cashews
miso soup
Baked potatoes with peel
beet
cocoa powder
okra
Bran and shredded wheat grains
fried potato
Raspberries
Stevia sweeteners
sweet potato
If you eat or drink calcium-rich foods at the same time, they can help your body deal with oxalate without turning it into kidney stones.
So pair this spinach salad with low-fat cheese.
Or mix nuts or berries with yogurt.
Drinking milk does not cause kidney stones.
secondly.
the salt
If you eat a lot of sodium, which is a component of salt, it raises the amount of calcium in your urine.
Once you've finished eating, any extra oxalate "sticks" to the calcium in the kidneys.
It can produce gravel.
So reduce canned foods, canned meats, fast foods and spices in your diet.
Third.
animal protein
Limit beef, eggs, cheese, and fish, as they may increase your chances of developing most types of kidney stones.
Fourthly.
Vitamin C
Excessive intake of vitamin C can cause the body to produce oxalate.
So don't take more than 500 milligrams a day.
Calcium Phosphate Stones
They form when calcium in the urine combines with the mineral phosphorous.
If you have or have had a calcium phosphate stone, you do not need to worry about oxalate.
But watch out for:
First, foods rich in animal protein
Organ meats such as chicken liver or beef liver
Milk, cheese and other dairy products
eggs
sea food
Second, foods that can make urine more alkaline, including:
Fresh fruit juices (except orange, cranberry, and nectarine)
vegetable juices
molasses
Processed foods
Phosphorous is a common additive and preservative.
So cut back on junk foods, packaged colas, frozen foods, and lunch meats.
Read the labels for ingredients beginning with "phos".
Sodium.
Uric Acid Stones
You can get it if your urine is very acidic.
These stones contain uric acid, a substance produced by the body as it breaks down chemicals in food.
Unlike calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate stones, sodium is not a particular problem here.
If you have or have had uric acid stones, beware of the following foods:
1- animal protein
Eating a lot of red meat, poultry, eggs, and shellfish does two things: it makes your body make more uric acid.
It can rob your system of citrate, a substance that helps stave off kidney stones and may prevent existing stones from growing.
To get enough protein, you can skip meat and poultry and eat:
Beans, dried peas, lentils and peanuts
Soy milk, soy butter, and tofu
Nuts like almonds, walnuts and cashews
2- sugary drinks
Pungent drinks like lemonade, lime juice, and fruit juices are high in citrates that help keep kidney stones at bay.
But avoid foods and drinks flavored with sugar or especially high-fructose corn syrup, which can lead to stones.
Cystine Stones
This comes from a rare condition that runs in families called cystinuria.
The disorder causes the amino acid cystine to leak into the urine.
Cystine stones tend to be larger than other types.
If you have one, you may have another.
Some things to pay attention to in patients with cystine stones:
Dehydration: Drink plenty of water to help discourage cysteine from forming stones.
Too much acid: Cystine stones grow more easily in acidic urine.
This is the opposite of calcium phosphate stones, which favor alkaline urine.
So for this type of stone, reduce your hunger for meat, and eat more fruits and vegetables that have lower acid levels.
Sodium: Again, try not to overindulge in french fries, canned soup, and canned meat.