A woman developed kidney stones after eating persimmons! Doctors remind: Persimmons are delicious, but you need to know when to stop eating them

Recently, a news report about a woman who suffered from gastric stones due to excessive consumption of persimmons has attracted widespread attention. According to reports, the woman ate six or seven persimmons in one go. The next morning, she felt stomach pain, acid reflux, and nausea, so she bought Coke to "eliminate" the stones. Three days later, she still felt bloated and uncomfortable, so she went to the hospital for treatment and was diagnosed with gastric stones, the largest of which was 10 cm in diameter.

So, why does eating persimmons cause kidney stones? Can persimmons be eaten? How can we eat them healthier? Today, let's listen to what Hu Huinong, director of the Department of Gastroenterology at Changsha Taihe Hospital, has to say?

1. What are gastric stones?

Speaking of stones, the first thing that comes to mind may be "gallbladder stones", "kidney stones", "ureteral stones", etc., while "gastric stones" may be relatively unfamiliar, but it is also a common and frequently occurring disease of the digestive system. Especially for the elderly with poor digestive function, "delicious" may turn into "poison", and the risk of death is very high, so we need to pay attention to it.

Gastric stones, also known as gastric lithiasis, are lumps of food or foreign matter that condense in the stomach. They are not real stones. According to the composition and source of the stones, they can be divided into four types: plant, animal, drug and mixed. Among them, plant gastric stones are the most common.

2. Why does eating persimmons cause stomach stones?

This is because persimmons are rich in tannic acid, especially unripe persimmons which contain high concentrations of soluble tannic acid (called persimmon alcohol). Tannic acid can combine with protein in food to form tannic acid protein, which can then combine with dietary fiber in food to form solid substances that are deposited in the stomach and form stones.

In addition, persimmons contain a lot of pectin and gum, which can directly combine with dietary fiber in food and form stones. If the gastric stones are large and difficult to be discharged from the body, they will block the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction.

3. What are the clinical manifestations of gastrolithiasis?

Most patients have upper abdominal pain, bloating, nausea and other discomforts. Mild cases may show symptoms of chronic gastritis, such as loss of appetite, indigestion, upper abdominal bloating, dull pain, acid reflux, heartburn, etc. Some patients may have gastric ulcers, and even gastric perforation, gastrointestinal bleeding, intestinal obstruction, etc.

4. How to treat stomach stones?

1. Gastric stones that have been formed for a short time and are relatively small in size can be treated with oral sodium bicarbonate, proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole, and drugs that protect the gastric mucosa. Pay attention to diet to prevent further enlargement of gastric stones and promote their excretion through the intestines.

2. If the stone is large or there are complications, the stone can be removed through endoscopic lithotripsy or surgery.

Endoscopic lithotripsy is one of the most commonly used and effective methods for treating gastric stones. It uses an endoscope to insert special instruments into the stomach to break up or remove the stones under direct vision. Endoscopic treatment of gastric stones has the advantages of safer process, less trauma, better effect, avoidance of surgery, and quick recovery.

5. Is it true that Coca-Cola can cure stomach stones?

It is true! But it depends on the situation! It is generally believed that cola has a definite dissolving effect on plant-derived gastric stones and is a safe, effective, cheap and non-invasive treatment for gastric stones.

However, it is not recommended for patients to drink Coke to treat their own diseases, because first of all, the specific location of gastric stones must be found out, and secondly, it is necessary to determine whether the stones have caused ulcers, erosions, etc.

If the ulcer is severe and the esophagus and stomach wall are already damaged, drinking cola may cause a sudden increase in intracavitary pressure due to the production of a large amount of gas, which may lead to perforation, aggravate the injury, infection, and even endanger life. Moreover, for patients with diabetes and gout, blindly drinking cola is likely to aggravate the condition.

In short, patients must proceed under the guidance and supervision of a doctor and must not blindly imitate.

6. Can persimmons be eaten? How to eat them more healthily?

Persimmons are rich in carotene, vitamin C, calcium, iron and other elements. The pectin in them is also very helpful in relieving constipation. However, you need to pay attention to the following points when eating persimmons:

1. Do not eat unripe persimmons. Remember to peel them when eating (because most of the tannic acid in persimmons is concentrated in the skin), and do not eat them on an empty stomach.

2. Avoid eating it at the same time as high-protein foods or other acidic fruits, such as fish, shrimp, crab, eggs, milk, oranges, kiwis, etc.

3. Eat persimmons in moderation and don’t eat too many at one time. It is best for adults not to eat more than two persimmons a day.

4. Persimmons are cold in nature, and people with weak spleen and stomach, such as patients with esophageal or stomach surgery, the elderly, children and other people with poor gastrointestinal motility, should avoid eating them. People with postpartum qi deficiency, exogenous wind-cold, etc. should also eat less or not eat them.

5. Persimmons have a high sugar content, which will affect blood sugar fluctuations, so diabetic patients should not eat persimmons; persimmons will hinder the absorption of iron in food, so patients with iron deficiency anemia are not recommended to eat them.

6. If you experience clinical symptoms such as abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and indigestion after eating the above foods, you should seek medical attention immediately.

In short, the same old saying applies: eat less and enjoy more, eat more and upset your stomach, so everyone, don’t be greedy!

Source: Changsha Taihe Hospital

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(Edited by YT)