3 secret reasons women shouldn’t drink coffee

Caffeine causes cyst formation in the Breasts and Ovaries
Did you know that?  I certainly didn’t!  I LOVED coffee, espresso bars, the ritual, lattes – I’m not gonna lie, the stuff is delicious!  After this scare, I began looking into caffeine and its effects on hormones. Turns out for women with PCOS, Fibroids, Endometriosis, Ovarian Cysts, and Fibrocystic breasts- caffeine is a guaranteed way to make more cysts. For everyone else with hormonal sensitivity, it might not cause cysts, but it will disrupt your system.
Sometimes it seems like coffee is our national drug of choice. We’re too often overworked, under-rested, plus poorly fed, and so coffee has become the crutch many of us use just to get through another busy day. A lot of people feel like coffee must be good for them in one way or another, and with all of the extraordinary marketing by big brands and continuously reported contradictory research, of course you would. The truth however is that we’re addicted and we don’t know the biochemical effects of this substance on our hormones.
Coffee is absolutely terrible when it comes to the female hormonal ecosystem and beyond this cyst formation situation there are 3 other reasons it’s not good for us ladies.
If you’re struggling with your period, fibroids, cysts of any kind in the breast or ovary, endometriosis, infertility, low sex drive, moodiness, low energy, and weight issues – coffee is making all of these problems much worse.
Reason #1 –  You metabolize substances more slowly than men
The coffee-alcohol connection
Just like with alcohol, that other damaging yet socially-sanctified drink, women cannot tolerate caffeine (or any stimulant in fact) in the same way that men can.
We are brilliantly designed to conserve as much energy from whatever we’re taking in so we can grown other tiny humans in our uterus. Whether you are actively doing this or not, your body simply retains fluids for much longer and we metabolize the chemicals contained much more slowly.
Whereas liquids process through the male body at a rapid rate – men drink and urinate out both alcohol and caffeine fast and avoid much of the physical impact as a result.
Yet women are more likely than men to go without breakfast and drink coffee on an empty stomach, even using it as a meal replacement. This makes the negative physical impact even more profound and long-lasting.
Reason #2 –  Caffeine disrupts your entire hormonal cascade for 24 hours
Your body on coffee/caffeine
This is the cyclical journey your body goes through when you drink coffee in the morning, on an empty stomach or not:

1. If you add cream and sugar or grab any of the fancy coffees at Starbucks or Coffee Bean, your blood sugar will rise. Studies show the majority of women don’t actually enjoy the taste of coffee and will certainly add as much sugar and cream as possible to make it more palatable.
2. The caffeine alone causes you to release extra cortisol which makes sure that any sugar goes straight into your bloodstream.
3. That insulin surge makes you crave carbohydrates and sugar when your blood sugar level crashes, causing you to want to overeat or choose unhealthy foods.
4. You are working at a hypoglycemic level, craving more carbohydrates and sugar to keep you going.
5. Your whole endocrine function is focused entirely on dealing with the fall out of your morning coffee and everything else that desperately needs attention – your ovaries! -gets ignored.
6. You cannot reset your body until you go to sleep and wake up the next day, and yet your sleep is disturbed for hours regardless of how long it’s been since the first coffee.
7. You wake up groggy and your first instinct is to boost your energy with more coffee.

Reason #3 – Caffeine depletes the body of micronutrients essential for hormone balance
We all know not to drink coffee when we’re pregnant or breastfeeding, but the fact of the matter is – we shouldn’t be drinking it at all. At every stage it is bad news for your hormones.
Coffee drinking at any time of the day increases insomnia. Even one cup will disrupt your sleep for hours during the night and leave you tired in the morning. Lack of good sleep suppresses your healthy hormone production. Whether it’s trouble getting to sleep or trouble staying asleep, coffee is one of the main causes.
Coffee depletes magnesium and other nutrients and minerals that are vital for happy hormones, such as B vitamins. Here’s more from me on why magnesium is so very important for your ovaries.
The acidity of coffee causes an imbalance in your gut flora and makes it harder for you to absorb the goodness of even the healthiest of diet

 

How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar To Dissolve Kidney Stones

Apple cider vinegar is a completely safe alternative to surgery or a highly toxic medication.
1. ACV And Water

This will be the quickest way to use ACV for kidney stones.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of organic apple cider vinegar
8 ounces of lukewarm or hot water.
Instructions:
Mix the ingredients, and drink it immediately on an empty stomach.
For those who already have kidney stones, take it once a day to dissolve the stones, and for everyone else, take it once a week as a preventive measure.
2. ACV and Baking Soda

The consummation of baking soda will help you to heal the damage of your kidneys from being full of stones.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
 • 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
 • 1 glass of water
Instructions:
Mix these ingredients together.
Stir and drink.
Consume it twice a day in order to eliminate kidney stones.
3. ACV and Honey

We all know that honey has antibacterial effects which in this case will prevent the infections in the kidneys, if the stones scratch when they leave the body.
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons of honey
Instructions:
Mix the honey and the apple cider vinegar together.
Consume this mixture twice a day to eliminate kidney stones.
Add a glass of water to the mixture in order to treat the kidney stone problem more effectively.
4. ACV, Olive oil & Lemon Juice

Lemon juice also contains citric acid and will help you to easily dissolve kidney stones as well as the prevention of an infection in the urinary tract.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of ACV
 2 oz of organic extra-virgin olive oil
2 oz of lemon juice
24 oz of water
Instructions:
Mix ingredients together.
 Follow up with a tall glass of water.
Drink 8 oz of the beverage every 30 minutes or so until it’s all finished.
5. ACV, Coconut Oil and Water

This recipe will keep your urinary tract clean and healthy as it adds a little variety into the mix.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of ACV
2 tablespoons of coconut oil
16 ounces of water
Instructions:
Mix all the ingredients together.
Follow up with a tall glass of water.
Drink 8 oz of this mixture in the morning and the rest 8 oz in the evening.

These are natural remedies for dissolving kidney stones only when they are small. However, if you suffer from sever pain caused by kidney stones, you have to visit your doctor.

How to Get 500MB for #25 only, 1GB for #50, 2GB for #100 on your MTN SIMs

How to activate the 500MB for #25!

1. First, you need to migrate to MTN Pulse package (if you are not already there) by dialing *406#.

 

2. Then, ensure you have a minimum of #30 on your MTN SIM.

3. Now, send NIGHT to 131 via SMS and you’ll get a message like this “Dear customer, you have successfully subscribed to Free Night Browsing between 00:00 and 04:00. N25 has been deducted from your account.”

4. With the reply gotten as shown above, you can simply deduce yourself that this plan is usable only within 12am – 4am which is so.

5. Since this is an official data plan from MTN, you are going to use MTN's default Access Point Name, which is - web.gprs.mtnnigeria.net to browse on ANY device where you want to use it.

There are probably some question(s) running through your mind already about this data plan which you are free to ask through the comment box but I will also like to answer a few with my own discretion. Note that you can't accumulate this data plan and you can't subscribe for another 500MB again after you've exhausted the first 500MB, until the following night. This simply means that you only get 500MB for #25 on a SIM in a night, since that's the case, just get yourself as many MTN SIMs as possible and start using them one after the other. If you've got good mathematical knowledge then it simply means that you can get 1GB for just #50 with 2 MTN SIMs, 2GB for just #100 with 4 MTN SIMs and so on like that.

The fact that MTN has an excellent Network coverage almost everywhere in Nigeria makes this kind of superb. Almost, if not everyone, will surely enjoy using this night data plan. I'd rather stay up late at night surfing and downloading on the Worldwide web than stay up late making night calls with some knuckleheads **smiles. Now, you must share this wonderful, new data plan with your friends so they can also enjoy it. What do you think about this night data plan - dope or nope? Do you have other affordable data plans or cheats you are using, kindly share them with us via the comment box. Have a wonderful weekend!

Cheapest Data Plans For Android, iOS and PC Users in April 2016.

 

The Internet has become central to our daily lives, either for work or for play, but not everyone can afford to buy data at high rates and as a smartphone user, there is a particular plan that suits you.
So today I compiled lists of the cheapest data plans (GLO, ETISALAT, AIRTEL and MTN) available in this month of April.
GLO 1.5GB For N1,000

To get Glo N1,000 for 1.5GB: Dial *777# and follow the prompt. No additional settings required and it works on all devices.
ETISALAT 1GB, 2GB For N1,000 and N2,000 Only Plus free Airtime
To get Etisalat N1,000 for 1GB: Dial *229*2*7#. You can also get 2GB data for N2000. Dial *229*2*8# . No settings required, works on all devices and valid for 30 days.
Airtel 3GB For N1,500

For Airtel lovers with good network connection, you can get Airtel N1,500 for 3GB. Dial *440*16#. It works on all devices.
Airtel N100 for 1GB

This is a weekend plan and it can be activated twice every weekend. Some sim are not eligible, so you need to check if your’s is eligible first. Dial *474*1#
There is also Airtel unlimited night plan

This plan is unlimited at night; no speed throttling, and it download as you want.
To Get The Airtel Night Plan:
=> For 1hour plan, dial *481*1# and it cost N100
=> For 3hours plan, dial *481*2# and it cost N300
=> For 6hour plan, dial *481*3# and it cost N500.
MTN Unlimited Daily Plan For N150

MTN daily unlimited plan: To get this plan, load your MTN line with N150 and dial *567*59#. It works on all smartphones and PC, but it selects sim so check if your sim is eligible before subscribing by dialling the code above.
MTN Music Plus Data

The current best alternative to MTN BIS on Android is MTN Music Plus. You can use it on PC, iOS and Android devices. You can see more guide on how to activate  and use the MTN Music Plus for N15 here.
MTN 1GB for N1,100

You can also get 1GB for N1,100 from a reliable third party data reseller.
You can call -08086006666 if you have  problem with any of this package

REVEALED : Ladies See why Married Men Always Cheat.

There have been various reasons why lots of married women cheat.

Here are a few reasons….

1. Complacency Most married couples get tired of each other few months after marriage. Being always in each other’s faces and more can push many women to welcome attention from other places other than their husbands. This gradually get even the very innocent of them into what they do not want before they could realize it.

2. Lacking The Fear of God (Very Dangerous) The fear of God has its place in every relationship. A prayer-less woman who is not so conscious of God can do anything just to satisfy her inner canal desires.

3. Not Satisfied With Se.x  A woman who has been around the block will find nothing spectacular about the next in line cock. She has seen her fair share and has realised that their is nothing left to explore. It however takes an understanding husband who does not mind going all the way to satisfy the s.exual desires of his woman. Ask some women why they engage in extra marital affairs and they will tell you it is because of the need for them to explore more ‘grounds’.

4. Financial Situations Women just don’t know how to survive without money and they find it difficult if they are unable to buy some basic things such as panties, br.a, make-up kit, dresses etc. Usually with marriage, some of these things come to a halt or are reduced. She doesn’t get the opportunity to go shopping and all that and before you know it, she’s cheating with a man who can satisfy those needs.

5. Limited Expectations  Quite a lot of women have this high expectation of marriage. The fantasize about how rosy and fairy tale-like marriage will be. When reality comes knocking, their disappointment might push them off the cliff. The look for  satisfaction and fulfilment and get into the wrong places.6. Intimacy With time, couples become distant due to children, jobs and economic pressure, meanwhile, women love the intimacy and privacy shared together. When it’s not forthcoming, she’s likely to get someone who will provide her with that.

7. Low self-esteem This is the most dangerous. Run if you see this trait in a woman. When a woman is insecure about herself, she has a need to seek validation from others. This can be in the form of s.exual, emotional, or intellectual attention. When you don’t love or value yourself, you may project that onto the person you are in a relationship with, and believe they don’t love or value you. Even if your husband or boyfriend loves you greatly, you still may cheat because you find it hard to accept their unconditional love.

Check Out The 4 Simple Positions To Help You Last Longer During S,e ‘X

Here are the secrets to lasting longer in bed! Most men fall short when it comes to satisfying their women. If you take time to explore these positions, you will not only last longer but also give her unending satisfaction.

David Strovny has revealed the most interesting part of a relationship

everyone is talking about. Before you dive head-first into the positions to help you last longer, keep in mind that what might work for some may not work for others. The whole point of it is trial and error, along with positive thinking.

Last-longer position 1: Missionary position 

Perhaps it is not the most explosive of s,e ‘x ual positions and, hey, it may not even merit the “Best Position in the Bedroom” award. This position, nonetheless, is most helpful for men who want to prolong coitus.

Speaking of coitus, you can try practicing coitus interruptus, which entails deliberately withdrawing your friendly fella from her vag ina prior to ejaculation and holding it. Soon afterward, you may insert your buddy back in and continue on your merry way.

Remember that the instant she lifts her legs in the air or you lift your own body, you may end up feeling more intense sensations. We, therefore, recommend that you begin with body-to-body missionary and slowly work your way up with variety.

Last-longer position 2: Face me (sitting inside each other position)

Another great position that’ll help most men last longer in the sack is the “sitting inside each other” position. You sit with your legs crossed and she sits atop you doing the same and controlling the tempo.

The great thing about this position is that you get to rub her back or pull her by the shoulders and suck on her breasts with ease. As well, she can bite into your neck or rub your back while you both enjoy a constant s,e ‘x ual pace.

When you become accustomed to this situation and learn adequate penis control, then you can give her some new instructions and get her to squat up and down on your member while she puts her hands on your knees for balance.

Last-longer position 3: Ride ‘em cowgirl

Although some guys lose control, considering they don’t have any power when the woman on top does all the manoeuvring, many men find a woman’s back-and-forth thrusting (rather than up and down) very comfortable.

Allowing her to take control of the situation can help you concentrate on keeping your orgasm at bay. As well, you get to watch your sweetheart bounce around while she does her thing.

Once the thrusting thing becomes child’s play for you, you can try letting her squat. But be warned: The squatting position is likely to make you lose your mind (and your semen) a lot faster. That’s because her va gina tends to hug your pe ni’s rather tightly, and your genitals and hers are the only two body parts that are touching.

Last-longer position 4: Front-to-back (Spooning)

This position should usually be reserved for morning s,e ‘x. With her back facing you, lift up one of her legs and insert yourself inside her warm fleshy area.

Although the initial feeling may be that of tightness, if you brace yourself, the feeling will become more comforting. Many guys are able to control themselves and last longer in this position.

last longer with these positions

Move slowly and don’t rush things. Getting overly excited won’t do you any good so just keep things calm and at an unhurried, steady tempo. She’ll be impressed with your ability to control yourself.

Obviously, these positions won’t work wonders for everyone, but they will definitely feel great for many. Remember, if you have a problem, see your doctor promptly and don’t play the game of denial. And there you have it, some easy ways to keep her satisfied and get a little satisfaction of your own at the same time.

5 Easy Ways To Lose Weight For Students.

Most students don’t think carrying extra pounds is a health risk. But the harsh reality is that you need to know Ways To Lose Weight being obese can cut as many as 20 years off your life. The impact being overweight or obese has on your body is one of the main reasons to lose weight. The more weight you gain, the more at risk you put yourself for some serious medical conditions. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, type-2 diabetes, sleep apnea, arthritis and even some forms of cancer are linked to carrying around excess weight. According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 112,000 people die every year from conditions related to being overweight or obese. Even losing a moderate amount of weight when you’re obese — 5 to 10 percent — can significantly reduce your risk for chronic disease.

Fortunately, losing even a small amount of weight can reduce and sometimes reverse the risks.

So what are 5 easy ways to lose weight? Especially as a student:

1.  Add Fruits To Your Diet

Add in healthy goodies you really love, like cherries, grapes, pears, bananas.  Slip those favorite fruits into your bag lunch and breakfast cereal; add the veggies into soups, stews, and sauces.”Adding in really works, taking away never does,” says registered dietitian David Grotto, RD, LDN, author of 101 Optimal Life Foods, but do remember to keep an eye on overall calories.

2. Fun Exercising

Many students get scared of the word exercise, so what can you do?  Burn calories and invigorate muscles by beach combing, riding bikes, grass skiing, making snow angels, hiking, washing the car, playing Frisbee, chasing the dog around the yard, or even enjoying great sex. Do something physical that you enjoy, it could be football, basketball or even volleyball

3. Go Walking

Walking when the weather’s nice is a super-easy way tokeep fit, says Diane Virginias, a certified nursing assistant from New York. “I enjoy the seasons,” she says, adding that even when she’s short on time she’ll go out for a few minutes. “Even a five minute walk is a five minute walk.” Walking is highly underestimated, but it does a whole lot of good

4. Cut Back on Foods You Love

One of the easiest ways to cut back without feeling denied is to switch to lower-calorie versions of the foods you crave. A pizza tastes just as good with reduced-fat cheese, and when you garnish low-fat ice cream with your favorite toppers, who notices those missing calories? And while you’re trimming fat calories, keep an eye on boosting fiber, 

 5. Drink a Lot of Water

One of its greatest advantages is that it leaves you feeling full. Drink some water before a meal and you won’t feel so famished, says David Anthony, an information technology consultant from Atlanta. “Drinking a glass of water before a meal helps me watch what I eat. … I don’t just hog everything, since I’m not so hungry.” Easy Ways To Lose Weight.

Symptoms, Diagnosis, & Treatment of ZIKA VIRUS

Symptoms

• About 1 in 5 people infected with Zika virus become ill (i.e., develop Zika).
• The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis (red eyes). Other common symptoms include muscle pain and headache. The incubation period (the time from exposure to symptoms) for Zika virus disease is not known, but is likely to be a few days to a week.
• The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week.
• Zika virus usually remains in the blood of an infected person for a few days but it can be found longer in some people.
• Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon.
• Deaths are rare.

Diagnosis

• The symptoms of Zika are similar to those of dengue and chikungunya, diseases spread through the same mosquitoes that transmit Zika.
• See your healthcare provider if you develop the symptoms described above and have visited an area where Zika is found.
• If you have recently traveled, tell your healthcare provider when and where you traveled.
• Your healthcare provider may order blood tests to look for Zika or other similar viruses like dengue or chikungunya.

Treatment

• No vaccine or medications are available to prevent or treat Zika infections.
• Treat the symptoms:
  • Get plenty of rest.
  • Drink fluids to prevent dehydration.
  • Take medicine such as acetaminophen to relieve fever and pain.
  • Do not take aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen and naproxen. Aspirin and NSAIDs should be avoided until dengue can be ruled out to reduce the risk of hemorrhage (bleeding). If you are taking medicine for another medical condition, talk to your healthcare provider before taking additional medication.
• If you have Zika, prevent mosquito bites[PDF - 2 pages] for the first week of your illness.
  • During the first week of infection, Zika virus can be found in the blood and passed from an infected person to another mosquito through mosquito bites.
  • An infected mosquito can then spread the virus to other people.

  SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF LASSER FEVER
Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by an RNA virus of the arenavirus family. It is most common in a large region of West Africa, and is named after the Nigerian town where it was first discovered by Western medical professionals. It is animal-borne, and the vector is a species of rat named Mastomys natalensis. Besides Nigeria it is endemic in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. It is also found sporadically in neighboring countries due to the distribution of the rat’s habitat over the whole region.
The mortality due to Lassa fever is about 5000 deaths a year, out of 100,000 to 300,000 cases. The death rate depends on the severity of illness. Up to 20% of hospitalized patients die of the infection, but the mortality shoots up to 50% during an epidemic. In contrast, about 1% of all infected cases die.
The virus is shed in the urine and feces of infected rats for possibly the whole lifetime of the animal. This rat is widespread throughout the forests and grasslands of West and Central Africa. It is also common inside homes and food storage areas, leading to a high frequency of transmission to humans.

Routes of infection

The infection may be acquired through:

• Contact between broken skin or mucous membranes and rat excreta
• Inhalation of the aerosol, as occurs during the sweeping of an area where the droppings are present
• Ingestion of food contaminated with rat urine or feces
• The use of the rat as food, with both preparation and eating of the rodent being potential routes of infection
• Person to person contact via sweat, blood, feces, urine or other body fluids
• Contaminated needles, or exposure to an infected aerosol, in healthcare settings.

The symptoms take up to 3 weeks to manifest, and are so mild as to be ignored in about 80% of cases. They start with a low fever, tiredness, malaise, body aches, a sore throat and headache. There may be nausea and vomiting, or diarrhea.
In more serious cases, high fever develops, along with symptoms such as:

• Bleeding from the eyes, the nose or the gums (which accounts for its classification as a hemorrhagic fever)
• Appearance of ulcers, or small vesicles, on the palate and throat, with patches of white or yellow exudate
• Breathing difficulties
• Swelling of the face
• Severe pain in the back, the chest or the abdomen
• Effusion from the pleura or the peritoneum
• Shock
• A few patients also have nervous symptoms such as deafness or tremors

Death occurs within 2 weeks in seriously sick patients, and is due to the failure of multiple organs. Death is preceded by the occurrence of widespread bleeding into the skin, the mucosa and internal organs.
Complications of the disease include:

• Deafness (in about a fourth of affected people), which is permanent in about a third of patients
• Spontaneous abortions
• Fetal death (in up to 95% of pregnant women with Lassa fever)
• Maternal death when infection occurs during the third trimester of pregnancy  

Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis is by:

• Serologic tests, namely, the ELISA for IgM and IgG antibodies, and for the virus antigen
• Virus culture is another technique, requiring a week to 10 days
• Tissue staining with specific antibody-linked stains can show the virus on post-mortem
• A research technique used in lab diagnosis is the use of RT-PCR

Treatment with Ribavirin is quite effective, but needs to be given in the earlier stages of infection, in the first 6 days.
Supportive treatment with oxygen, intravenous fluids, antibiotics for other complicating infections and respiratory support are all vital in maximizing the chances of recovery.

Risk factors

Exposure to a large population of infected rats or humans is an effective means of virus transmission.

Prevention

To prevent rat-human transmission, contact between the rats and humans should be minimized:

• Use rat-proof containers for food storage
• Avoid using rats as food
• Avoid attracting rats to the house by cleanliness and healthy waste disposal practices
• Use rodent-control measures such as traps in and around the house

The infected person sheds the virus in their urine for up to 9 weeks following infection, and in semen for up to 3 months. Sexual contact of any sort should be avoided during this period.
In the healthcare system, the use of barrier nursing precautions is very effective in limiting the spread of infection:

• Use of gown, gloves, mask and cap
• Sterilizing all equipment used for care of the patient
• Careful segregation of biologically hazardous waste
• Isolation of patients till recovery is well advanced

Urology / Nephrology

Kidney Stones: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

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Kidney stones usually comprised of a compound called calcium oxalate, are the result of an accumulation of dissolved minerals on the inner lining of the kidneys. These deposits can grow to the size of a golf ball while maintaining a sharp, crystalline structure.

The kidney stones may be small and pass unnoticed out of the urinary tract, but they may also cause extreme pain upon exiting.

Kidney stones that remain inside the body can lead to many conditions, including severe pain and ureter (the tube connecting the kidney and bladder) blockage that obstructs the path urine uses to leave the body.

Scientists at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA, say that people with kidney stones are at a significantly higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease.

Causes of kidney stones

Kidney stones can vary in size. Some have been known to become as big as golf balls.

The leading cause of kidney stones is a lack of water. Stones commonly have been found in those that drink less than the recommended eight to ten glasses of water a day. When there is not enough water to dilute the uric acid (component of urine), the pH level within the kidneys drops and becomes more acidic. An excessively acidic environment in the kidneys is conducive to the formation of kidney stones.

Medical conditions such as Crohn's disease, urinary tract infections, renal tubular acidosis, hyperparathyroidism, medullary sponge kidney, and Dent's disease have been known to lead to kidney stones. It also has been suggested that water fluoridation - the addition of fluoride to drinking water - is responsible for some cases of kidney stones.

Vitamin D and Calcium supplements linked to kidney stone risk

A study carried out by scientists at Creighton University Medical Center suggested that calcium and vitamin D supplements could increase the risk of developing kidney stones because they raise levels of calcium in the blood and urine.

Head researcher, J. Christopher Gallagher, M.D., explained that perhaps using vitamin D and calcium supplements is not as benign as people had thought. He advised people not to exceed the guidelines for these supplements of 800 international units of vitamin D, and 800-1,200 milligrams of calcium per day (according to the Institute of Medicine).

When asked which of the two supplements might be raising kidney stone risk, Dr. Gallagher said:

"It is not clear whether it is the extra calcium, the vitamin D or both together that cause these problems.

However, it is possible that long-term use of supplements causes hypercalciuria and hypercalcemia, and this can contribute to kidney stones. For these reasons, it is important to monitor blood and urine calcium levels in people who take these supplements on a long-term basis. This is rarely done in clinical practice."

Who gets kidney stones?

Kidney stones are twice as common among males as females. Most people who experience kidney stones do so between the ages of 30 and 50. A family history of kidney stones also increases one's chances of developing them at some point in life. Similarly, a previous kidney stone occurrence increases the risk that a person will develop subsequent stones in the future if preventative action is not taken.

Certain medications can increase the risks of developing kidney stones. Scientists found that opiramate (Topamax), a drug commonly prescribed to treat seizures and migraine headaches, can increase the propensity of calcium phosphate kidney stone.

The more overweight a person is the more at risk he or she is for forming uric acid kidney stones, a study found.

Additional risk factors for kidney stones include diets that are high in protein and sodium but low in calcium, a sedentary lifestyle,obesity, high blood pressure, and conditions that affect how calcium is absorbed in the body such as gastric bypass surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, and chronic diarrhea.

A study indicated that kidney stones among children are on the rise.

Symptoms of kidney stones

A kidney stone usually remains symptomless until it moves into the ureter. When symptoms of kidney stones become apparent, they commonly include:

• Severe pain in the groin and/or side
• Blood in urine
• Vomiting and nausea
• White blood cells or pus in the urine
• Reduced amount of excreted urine excreted
• Burning sensation during urination
• Persistent urge to urinate
• Fever and chills if there is an infection

• Diagnosis of kidney stones

  Several different tests can verify the existence of a kidney stone. A physical examination may reveal colicky pain (in the groin) and pain in the lower back by the kidneys - often warning signs of the condition. An analysis of the urine will indicate whether or not there is blood in the urine and if there is a subsequent infection. Blood tests can be done to identify complications that may accompany a kidney stone and check the validity of the diagnosis.
  A CT scan of the abdomen is the most thorough way to test for kidney stones. A CT scan will ascertain the state of the ureter, bladder, and kidneys, whether or not a stone exists, the kidney stone's exact size and location, whether or not a blockage exists, and the state of the other adjacent organs such as the appendix, aorta, and pancreas. Pregnant women may receive an ultrasound rather than a CT scan in order to avoid unnecessary radiation.
  Once a patient is diagnosed with a kidney stone, simple x-rays will be used to track the stone's progress through the excretory system.

  Treatments for kidney stones

  Treating kidney stones primarily is focused on symptom management; passing a stone can be very painful. If a person has a history of kidney stones, home treatment may be suitable. A person who has never passed a kidney stone should seek the help of a medical professional.
  If hospital treatment is sought, personnel will hydrate the patient via an intravenous tube and administer anti-inflammatory medication. Narcotics are often used as medication in an attempt to make the pain of passing the stone tolerable. Anti-emetic medication can treat a patient suffering from nausea and vomiting.
  
  Lithotripsy involves sending a shockwave into the kidney stone to break it into smaller pieces.
  In some cases, a urologist can perform a shock wave therapy called lithotripsy - a treatment that will break the kidney stone into smaller pieces and allow it to pass. A study indicated that shock wave therapy for kidney stones may be linked to an increased risk of diabetes.
  Patients with large stones located in regions that do not allow for lithotripsy may receive surgical procedures such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy (removal of the stone through an incision in the back) or ureteroscopic stone removal (removal of the stone through a thin tube into the urethra).

  Prevention of kidney stones

  For individuals in good health, preventing kidney stones can be as easy as staying hydrated. Diluting the urine with water keeps the minerals from concentrating and forming stones. When one's urine is clear, rather than yellow colored, the chance of stone formation is reduced. Doctors may also prescribe medicines to prevent certain types of stones for individuals who are at higher risk.
  If you’ve had a kidney stone, your doctor will probably advise you to increase the amount of water you drink, to reduce your risk of getting another one. You should be drinking enough fluid to make your urine colourless rather than yellow or brown.
  If you’ve had a calcium stone, your doctor may also advise you to do the following.
  • Cut down on salt to less than 3g of salt a day – don’t add it to your food and don’t eat processed foods.
  • Cut down on foods that have high levels of oxalate – such as chocolate, tea, rhubarb, spinach, nuts and strawberries.
  • Eat less meat, fish and poultry. Liver, kidneys, herrings with skin, sardines, anchovies and poultry skin increase the amount of uric acid in your urine.
  • Don’t take vitamin C supplements of more than 500 to 1000mg per day because vitamin C forms oxalate in the body. You should also steer clear of vitamin D preparations, including fish oils and multivitamins. These can increase how much calcium you absorb.
  Depending on the types of kidney stone you get, your GP may prescribe various medicines to help prevent further stones
  
  
  A study published in 2006 suggests that a daily glass of orange juice can help prevent the recurrence of kidney stones better than other citrus fruit juices such as lemonade.
  A different study published in 2004 suggests that if you are prone to kidney stones you should watch your caffeine intake.