In a shocking incident from Taiwan, a 20-year-old woman discovered the severe consequences of hydrating with hand-shaken beverages instead of water.
Hand-shaken beverages, including bubble tea, fruit juice, and alcoholic drinks, are popular choices, but this young lady’s health crisis exposed the hidden risks associated with these seemingly innocent drinks.
According to ETtoday, the woman ended up having to undergo surgery and doctors found about 300 stones in her kidney.
The Unfortunate Consequences
The woman sought urgent medical attention after experiencing a fever and intense pain in her right waist. To the astonishment of doctors, her right kidney was found to be extremely swollen and filled with around 300 stones. The subsequent surgical procedure successfully removed stones ranging from 0.5cm to 2cm, and the patient’s condition stabilized, leading to her discharge a few days later.
Hand-shaken beverages, colloquially known as ‘手摇饮料,’ involve the shaking or stirring of drinks to achieve a mixed consistency. This category encompasses a wide range, from the beloved bubble tea to refreshing fruit juices and even alcoholic concoctions.
The urgency of the medical intervention highlights the severity of the situation. Surgical extraction was necessary to alleviate the woman’s condition, underscoring the potential harm of substituting water with sugared beverages.
Understanding Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are a result of various factors, and in this case, insufficient water intake and dietary choices played a crucial role. Proper water intake is essential for diluting minerals in urine, preventing their concentration and subsequent stone formation.
The urologist attending to the case emphasized the significance of proper water intake in minimizing the risk of kidney stones. Additionally, dietary factors, such as a diet rich in protein, oxalic acid, and calcium, can increase the likelihood of stone formation.
Insights from a Urologist
According to the urologist from Chi Mei Hospital, minerals in urine can become concentrated if dehydration occurs, creating an environment conducive to the development of kidney stones. The case serves as a stark reminder of the intricate connection between hydration and overall kidney health.
Interestingly, gender plays a role in stone development, with men being three times more likely to develop stones compared to women. Research from Taiwan indicates a significant disparity, with 14.5% of men experiencing stones in their lifetime compared to 4.3% of women.
Images source: ET Today