A doctor has warned of the dangers of drinking too many fizzy drinks, after he was forced to remove 35 stones from the bladder of a man who had a habit of drinking three litres of Coca-Cola every day.
In an Instagram video that’s so far attracted more than 8.5 million views, Brazil-based urologist Dr Thales Andrade said ‘excessive’ consumption of sugary, fizzy drinks can cause kidney stones.
Speaking in portuguese, he showed viewers a dish of several large yellow stones that he had removed, as the patient lay on the table following the procedure.
Kidney stones are calcium deposits that build in the urinary tract and move to the bladder to be urinated out, causing sharp pain, nausea, vomiting, pinching or stinging and potentially blood in the urine.
If left untreated, they can migrate to the bladder and lead to life threatening complications like kidney failure or sepsis—when the body attacks its own tissues and organs.
The caption below the video explained how the stones developed.
Drinking too much Coca-Cola, which contains high amounts of sugar, can increase the amount of calcium in the body, raising the risk of stones forming.
Brazil-based urinary system specialist Dr Thales Andrade has warned of the dangers of drinking too many fizzy drinks, as he had to remove 35 stones from a man’s bladder
Speaking in portuguese, he showed a dish of several of the gruesome, large, yellow stones that he had removed
What’s more, carbonated beverages are filled with chemicals like phosphoric acid, which creates an acidic environment in the kidneys that is further encouraging of the formation of hard stone-like lumps.
Dr Andrade added: ‘Maintaining adequate hydration and avoiding excessive consumption of soda are essential measures for prevention. Kidney health begins with the daily choices of what we drink.’
According to the National Kidney Foundation, the larger the stone, the more noticeable the symptoms.
A severe pain on either side of the lower back is a common complaint. These periods of intense pain may last for minutes or hours.
Blood in the urine, a urinary tract infection and feeling sick or vomiting are also other common warning signs of the ailment.
Kidney stones affect more than one in ten people, mostly aged between 30 and 60, and are caused by waste products in the blood forming crystals.
Over time, crystals build up to form a hard stone-like lump.
Once a kidney stone has formed, the body will tries to pass it through urine. Most are small enough to do so and can be managed at home.
When they get too big, however, surgery is usually needed to remove them.
