Take kidney stones for a ride

Kingda Ka is the world’s fastest rollercoaster, going from 0 to 128 mph in 3.5 seconds. That’s enough loosen your fillings, and it’s hard to imagine any doctor prescribing a ride for your good health! But a study published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association suggests that once around on an ever-so-much-more-sedate coaster like Disney’s Big Thunder Mountain, with a max speed of 35 mph, might be a good way to dislodge a kidney stone.

Researchers heard that some people claimed they’d passed kidney stones after riding on Big Thunder Mountain. So they made a 3D-model of a kidney, complete with stones and urine, and took it for several spins at the back of the coaster. The stones passed out of the fake kidney about 64 percent of the time.

Is this a good solution if you’re one of the almost 9 percent of Americans who have kidney stones?

Around 90 percent of small stones pass on their own, but if they don’t, the first line of defense is to drink 2-3 quarts of water daily. Or you may take a medication that relaxes the ureter (through which urine travels) so the stone can pass more quickly with less pain. Sometimes a small tube is inserted to retrieve the stone. For big stones, shockwave therapy or surgery may be needed. As for rollercoaster therapy? Ask your doc first, and if you go with Kingda Ka, think about wearing a mouth guard. Better yet, try a slower coaster!

Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. To live your healthiest, tune into “The Dr. Oz Show” or visit www. sharecare.com.