Exercise May Help Reduce Risk Of Kidney Stones In Women

Exercise may help prevent kidney stones in women, according to a new study discussed Friday at an American Urological Association (AUA) Conference.

What’s more, the study found women who just engaged in a few hours of walking every week cut their risks.

In all, researchers examined data from more than 85,000 postmenopausal women living in the United States in order to find that higher levels of physical activity appeared to lower the risk of kidney stones by as much as 31 percent.

The key, according to researchers, was the amount of exercise, not the intensity.

“Every little bit makes a difference,” said study lead Dr. Mathew Sorensen of the University of Washington School of Medicine, according to the AP.

What’s more, according to U.S. News and World Report, the researchers further discovered that reducing consumption of high-calorie foods cut postmenopausal women’s risk of developing kidney stones by more than 40 percent.

“While we know diet is one of several factors that can promote or inhibit kidney stone development, this study shows lifestyle changes such as exercise can also help prevent stones from forming in postmenopausal women,” Dr. Kevin McVary, a AUA spokesman, said in an association news release.

However, as McVary noted, “Further research is needed to understand if this observation is accurate for other demographics.”

In total, about 9 percent of people will experience a kidney stone during his or her lifetime, with incident rates rising 70 percent over the last 15 years and most rapidly in women.

According to the press release, this means more than 3 million Americans every year visit their health care provider for issues related to the condition, and more than half a million to the emergency department.

“We’re not asking peop0le to run marathons,” Sorensen further stated. “This is just a very mild to moderate additional amount of activity.”