Summer- The High Time of Kidney Stones

The long, hot days of summer bring people out of doors to play in the sun. Most people think about vacations, sandy beaches, barbecues and pool parties. You probably don't think about kidney stones—but perhaps you should.

According to William Haley, M.D., heat, humidity and lack of proper hydration all lead to a higher prevalence of kidney stones. “In the summer or during hotter months, there is an increased incidence of kidney stones occurring in stone formers. The main reason for this is due to the amount of water we take in and use,” Dr. Haley explains. “Our bodies are made up of mostly water and we use it regularly. But in the heat, we may not be drinking as much as we should, or taking in the right types of fluids, so we become dehydrated, which can lead to the production of more stones.

Kidney stones are more prevalent in the summer since they are linked to water intake. Those high temperatures that make swimming at the beach so much fun tend to make the body lose more water than normal.William Haley says there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of kidney stones and stay healthier in the heat.

● Drink enough water

He recommends at least four to eight glasses a day, and double that in hot weather. Stay away from those ice cold beers and other alcoholic concoctions - drinks that tend to make you lose more water.

● Shake the salt habit

Most salt in our diets comes from prepared foods, not salt we add at the table. Dr. William notes that most fast food is high in salt. If you're eating fast food more than twice a week, you're getting a lot of salt in your diet. Cut down on the chips at your next barbecue and snack on watermelon or other juicy fruits that add fluid that your body needs.

● Cut down on caffeine

If you drink mostly colas, coffee or iced tea, try to switch to decaf at least some of the time. Caffeine is a diuretic which can leave you dehydrated even though you think you are taking in plenty of liquids.

● Buy some lemons

Lemons are high in citrate, which acts as a kidney stone inhibitor. Slice them up and put them in your water or tea. This may make your water more tasty if you don't normally like to drink plain water.