Kidney stones, a urinary condition named for the buildup of crystalline materials in the urinary tract, are an underestimated illness that is on the rise. Also called nephrolithiasis or urinary stone disease, their incidence has risen from 5.2% of US adults in the period 1988-1994 to more than double that in the mid-2020s.
Not only is the number of people who develop kidney stones steadily rising, but the demographics are also widening, with women now getting them at rates climbing faster than those of men. Many of the risk factors for these stones occur year-round, but several factors in the warmer months increase the likelihood of developing kidney stones during the summer.
To reduce your risk of developing kidney stones and treat them when they form, the Urology Center of Florida’s Dr. Craig Herman, Dr. Steven Kester, and our experienced team at are here to help.
All kidney stones form from minerals, acids, and other substances in your urine, but you can have one of four types: calcium-oxalate and calcium phosphate, uric acid, struvite, and cystine stones. Each develops for a different reason, including not drinking enough fluids, a low-calcium diet, a high-protein diet, bacterial infections, and inherited traits.
Other factors that can increase your chances of kidney stones include high sodium or high sugar foods, high amounts of vitamin C, gastric bypass surgery, some medical conditions, and various medications (diuretics, calcium-based antacids, antiseizure drugs).
Humidity in the summer heat plays a major role in the risk of kidney stones, due to its link to dehydration. We sweat quite a bit in the hot weather, and while it cools off our bodies, it also causes us to lose fluids, which concentrates urine and leads to kidney stone formation by building up higher levels of the minerals that cause them.
The dietary factors that cause kidney stones can also increase in the hot weather, with a rise in the consumption of meat, sodas, and sweets high in fructose corn syrup. If you already have diabetes or are obese, the chances of getting kidney stones are even higher.
To reduce your risk of kidney stones in hot weather, you can take some basic steps including:
If you have kidney stones, we can treat the problem with several methods, including a ureteroscopy to remove them, ultrasonic treatments, and, in the case of large stones, surgery.
Kidney stones can be painful and ruin a good summer, so make an appointment with our office in Pompano Beach, Florida today to get them treated or determine the best ways to avoid them. We serve people throughout the Miami, Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Fort Lauderdale areas.
