Kidney Stone Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention: Exercise May Prevent Kidney Stones In Women, New Study Reveals

Exercise may help women decrease the chance of developing kidney stones, a new study reveals.

Researchers working on the study, discussed Friday at an American Urological Association conference in San Diego, even found that walking for just a couple of hours a day cut back the risk for developing the painful condition by about one-third.

"Every little bit makes a difference," regardless of the intensity level of the activity, said Dr. Mathew Sorensen, who led the study and is from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle.

And while kidney stones are more prevalent among the male population, there is a growing trend of women developing the condition more often. An estimated 9 percent of people will get a kidney stone in their lifetime, while total incidences have increased 70 percent within the past 15 years, mostly quickly among women.

Kidney stones among the female population have been attributed to calcium supplements that are often recommended in post-menopausal women. But a government task force just recently advised against the supplement for older women who are healthy after determing that the benefits outweigh the risks.

For this new study, researchers analyzed data compiled from 85,000 women-ages 50 and older enrolled in the government-funded Women's Health Initiative Study-who received a body mass index evaluation and filled out annual dietary surveys. The women also reported how often they exercised and the length of time was translated into a value known as "METs."

Ten METs per week is considered about 2.5 hours of walking at a moderate pace or one hour of jogging, as an example.

The results showed that 3 percent of the study's participants developed a kidney stone after about eight years.

Researchers also found that women who got up to 5 METs per week displayed a 16 percent decreased risk for developing kidney stones, compared to those who reported no leisure-time exercise.

And the risk was 22 percent lower in women who got between 5 and 10 METs per week, while women who got 10 METs or more showed a 31 percent decreased risk for developing stones.

Any value beyond 10 METs did not prove any more beneficial and researchers also say that intensity did not matter, only the quantity did.

"We're not asking people to run marathons. This is just a very mild to moderate additional amount of activity," Sorensen said.

Exercise decreases the risk for other health issues that increase the risk for developing kidney stones, such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

"There's something about exercise itself that probably produces things in your urine that prevent stone formation," said Dr. Kevin McVary, who was not involved in the study and is chairman of urology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Ill.

"It's not just being skinny or not being fat, it's something about the exercise that protects you," McVary said, who is also a spokesman for the urology group.

Symptoms of kidney stones include severe pain in the side, back and below the ribs, pain that spreads to the lower abdomen and groin, as well as pain that fluctuates in intensity, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Other symptoms include painful urination, a persistent urge to urinate, nausea and vomiting.

If the pain is so severe that you can't sit still or find a comfortable position, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. Blood in urine, difficult passing urine and fever are also signs that medical attention should be sought as soon as possible.

See a complete overview of kidney stones on the Mayo Clinic site.

Treatment for small kidney stones may include drinking water, taking pain relievers or medical therapy. Larger stones are treated via sound wave therapy or different types of surgical procedures.

See a list of treatment options here.